Tokyo Trip, by Chris Conway

Tokyo Trip

by Chris Conway

supported by

Jim Tetlow In a way this harks back to Chris's 2003 album 'Scanning Planet 3' in that it combines his instrumental styles into one album, albeit in shorter pieces rather than one long one. Piano, kalimba, zithers, organ, theremin, vocals, rhythmic passages, even electric guitar in the vein of Terje Rypdal - it's all there! Favorite track: Lost In Shinjuku.

Rick Reid (Theremin 30 podcast) thumbnail

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

£5 GBP or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
onbody printed CDr in jewel case with clear tray, 4 side insert and double sided print back tray insert

Includes unlimited streaming of Tokyo Trip via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 2 days

Purchasable with gift card

£10 GBP or more
Full Digital Discography

11

releases

Get all 11 Chris Conway releases available on Bandcamp and save 50%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Theremin Ocean Dreams, Splendid Isolation, Tokyo Trip, Strange New World, Electric Skies, Adagios Electric, Vampire Dreams, The Dream Collector, and 3 more. , and , .

Purchasable with gift card

£27.50 GBP or more (50% OFF)

1.	Take Off 02:29	buy track
2.	Hotel Elevator To First Stroll 01:20	buy track
3.	First Train To Somewhere 10:06	buy track
4.	Kitanomaru Park 06:04	buy track
5.	Scramble Crossing 04:15	buy track
6.	Electric Town Akihabara 02:12	buy track
7.	Jimbocho Train 02:40	buy track
8.	Lost In Shinjuku 07:37	buy track
9.	Sushi Bar Ambiance 04:36	buy track
10.	Last Train And Elevator 07:19	buy track
11.	The Flight Home 01:08	buy track

about

A journey in music and Tokyo sounds..

Field recordings collected on a trip to Tokyo in February 2020 have been blended with electro-acoustic music to create a sound journey.

Background
I took a sound recorder on my 9 day trip to Tokyo at the end of February 2020. Apart from the park I was in an urban situation so city sounds are what I got. The trains sounded amazing, and so did the big crowds in the busy centres, so they predominate. I'm grateful to Simon Stockhausen for the idea - his Trip To Asia album is an inspiration. I wanted to make a blend of music and sounds, making the Tokyo sounds like an instrument - a spice rather than the main meal - and to make a journey for the listener.

Enjoy the trip!

Notes - My Trip--------------------
1. Take Off
Seatbelts on - the trip begins!

2. Hotel Elevator To First Stroll
After the long flight I got to Hotel Niwa, had a meal, changed, took the elevator down and took a gentle stroll in the streets around the hotel in search for a Lawsons general store that sold tickets to a concert the next day. I couldn't believe I was in Tokyo!

3. First Train To Somewhere
Next day I had to work out how the trains worked - which was easy actually - and I was going somewhere! I kept checking each station at each stop. A different tune plays at each station!

4. Kitanomaru Park
I needed a stroll, and Kitanomaru Park was the nearest. A Crepe Myrtle tree in full pink blossom was the only tree in bloom around and it was FULL of little birds tweeting. I then came to an area of ponds and little islands and tall trees full of cawing crows. As I passed by the Science Museum there was a school party of chattering children heading there. Near the end you can hear all 3 together.

5. Scramble Crossing
The iconic meeting of roads in Shibuya with a ring of 5 zebra street crossings. A kind of hush grows as everyone waits for the walk sign for all at once. Then GO! - everyone crosses together, selfies are taken by many, and there is much excited chatter.

6. Electric Town Akihabara
Akihabara is a centre for Anime paraphinalia, maid cafes, and all things electrical. I went into the HUGE Yodobashi-Akiba electrical store - 9 floors of every electrical machine or gadget you can imagine and some you maybe couldn't. It was quite dizzymaking - hence the music - as I made my way to the top floor where a CD store was.

7. Jimbocho Train
Jimbocho was the next town down from my hotel and is the secondhand book centre of Tokyo. On some of the pedestrian subways there, the walls are decorated by an endless bookshelf design.

8. Lost In Shinjuku
One evening I was tired and was going to stay in my hotel room, but I scraped myself up and got on a train to Shinjuku, a commercial centre of skyscrapers and buzzing with clubs, venues, restaurants and more. After visiting Tower Records Store I was even more tired, and hungry, grabbed a few noodles, and ended up wandering aimlessly among all the lights, the crowds, noise, and the buildings reaching up to the sky.

9. Sushi Bar Ambiance
One night I wandered into the Akashi Moriichi Sushi Bar in Jimbocho and was met by greetings all from the staff, some hollering from the kitchen. I took a seat and fell under the spell of all the wonderful characters there, and the sound of orders, and thank-yous cried out in singing calls. Near the end you can hear me ordering "Avacado Machi", and later saying "arigatou" - I left to a chorus of hollered farewells.

10. Last Train and Elevator
Coming back from my last expedition, I was mesmerised again by the sci-fi sound of the train. Back at the hotel the elevator robot voice spoke to me again - we'd become friends on my trip.

11. The Flight Home
Up early and heading homewards. My trip was over. But when you listen you can make your own trip from these sounds. :-)

credits

released August 7, 2020

Chris Conway -
piano, keyboards, electric 9 string guitar, theremin,
voice, Irish whistles, bodhran, zither, kalimba,
metallophone, singing bowl, percussion,
drum loops, effects, Tokyo field recordings.

license

about

Chris Conway Leicester

Electronic ambient music often featuring the theremin.

chrisconway.org

discography

Theremin Ocean Dreams

Nov 2023
Splendid Isolation

May 2021
Tokyo Trip

Aug 2020
Strange New World

Apr 2020
Electric Skies

Oct 2016
Adagios Electric

Sep 2011
Vampire Dreams

Apr 2011
The Dream Collector

Apr 2010
Electronic Flights

Jan 2009
Contact Light

Jul 2004
Scanning Planet 3

Jul 2003

contact / help

Contact Chris Conway

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Chris Conway, you may also like:

Zen Sky
by Chris Conway New Age

supported by 5 fans who also own “Tokyo Trip”
go to album
The Enchanted Forest
by Mo Coulson & Chris Conway

supported by 4 fans who also own “Tokyo Trip”
go to album
Unlocked Songs
by Chris Conway

supported by 4 fans who also own “Tokyo Trip”
go to album
Sligo
by Blinkhorn

Gentle ambient analog electronics combined with field recordings of the natural world makes for a soothing listen. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 21, 2020
go to album
Between Waves (Deluxe Version)
by The Album Leaf

The forthcoming "Between Waves" from The Album Leaf, their first in six years, is layered and expansive, grounded in mournful melodies. Bandcamp New & Notable Jul 18, 2016
go to album
The Fifth Floor
by Mukang Fields

Hanoi, Vietnam-based trio Mukang Fields take to the astral-jazz heavens on their genre-bending, time-distorting second LP. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 16, 2022
go to album
Essence
by Audible Light

supported by 4 fans who also own “Tokyo Trip”
go to album