As part of our fifteen year anniversary we are releasing a series of mixtapes from the Home Normal catalogue. These are digital only and on a pay-what-you-like basis as a thank you for your kind support all these years.
The mixes have been carefully curated by selected Home Normal artists and friends. The cover artwork for the releases represents a sense of 'home' and is local to the curator of the mix. Each mix is presented as one longform track with links to each album below.
The tenth Home Normal Mixtape is by a close personal friend in Osamu Matsumoto. Osamu runs the Linus Records store in Tokyo, and is one of the most respected supporters of independent music in Japan. Under his guidance, Linus Records has quietly been the backbone of the ambient community not only in Japan but worldwide when so many other record stores have closed down or changed direction. He has been a huge supporter of Home Normal since our inception, as well as a massive supporter of my own music as an artist with Linus Records and releasing my music under his Preco label. He has put on and supported our live events and tours when I lived in Japan and beyond, and I can't thank him enough for his constant support and kindess.
Here are some words from Osamu:
'Congratulations on the Home Normal 15th anniversary!
I met Ian, the label owner, when he lived in Tokyo, and we've been working together since Home Normal catalog # 001 (Library Tapes - Sketches) was released in March 2009. From the time the label was launched until today, Home Normal have continued to produce great releases, and I respect him both as a label owner and as an artist (and also as mastering engineer!).
Since there are so many songs that I like that have been released by Home Normal over the past 15 years, so I set limits on my song selection. I selected albums released between 2010 and 2020, and focusing on songs with piano and Post Classical/Modern Classical songs. Home Normal is an Ambient Music label, but they release a lot of high-quality releases, not only in the Drone, but also in the Classical and the Folk /Acoustic types.
I really love the ambient + classical piano compositions produced by label owner Ian, and I wanted to shine a light on his songs and his label's songs again even if they are songs from a while ago releases. And I wanted to share them with you all, so I took on the responsibility of creating this commemorative mix.
I would like to greatly thank the artists who produced the songs and the labels who released them for giving my store the opportunity to sell these wonderful songs.'
- Osamu Matsumoto (Linus Records)
Please check out Linus Records music here:
www.linusrecords.jp
Finally the cover photo is...well, you know. It is a view shared by both Osamu and myself (from when I lived in far away Kasukabe where the sunset view from our house among the rice paddies was a clear Fuji-san). This is a mark of home for many people, and certainly a sense of home for myself on the other side of the world now.
Thank you Osamu!