Hiroshi Sato Featuring Wendy Matthews = Hiroshi Sato Featuring Wendy Matthews

𝙃𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙝𝙞 𝙎𝙖𝙩𝙤'𝙨 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟮, 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮-𝙥𝙤𝙥 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙩𝙝 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠, 𝙟𝙖𝙯𝙯-𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙠 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙤𝙥 𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙨.
As one of Tokyo's most respected keyboardists and session players, Sato fully embraced the possibilities of the Linn drum machine and created an album that feels simultaneously cutting-edge and nostalgic. Featuring revered guest musicians like Tatsuro Yamashita, Yuji Toriyama and Tsunehide Matsuki, the album also has Canadian-Australian vocalist Wendy Matthews on standout tracks like the ever-enduring 'Say Goodbye'. Sato's programming of the drums and extensive instrumentation give Awakening its distinct, breezy vibe that draws from both Japanese city-pop and the American West Coast sound of the era. Mastered by Bernie Grundman and digitally converted from the original master tapes, this reissue preserves the album's rich, high-fidelity sound. Awakening remains a classic for fans of city-pop, Pacific Breeze compilations, or anyone exploring the sophisticated, genre-blurring Japanese pop music of the past. This album's influence continues to resonate, transcending generations with its smooth, polished feel and emotional depth.