Paniyolo + Akio Watanabe

Passage of sky

$15.00

Paniyolo, a guitarist Muneki Takasaka’s solo project, collaborated with a steelpan player Akio Watanabe from WAIWAI STEEL BAND, to release a new album “Sora mo sukoshi (Passage of sky)” from SCHOLE Label.

In February 2019, they performed a session inside the lodge located at Yatsugatake (Yamanashi-prefecture) and it was recorded with the warmth of wood-burning stove which silently crackling flames.
This album includes19 sketches, in total of 52 minutes of music composed with the layers of quiet sound of both a guitar and a steelpan, which express the changing of weather conditions and one’s state of mind.
The openness sound from the steelpan is controlled, as it whispers to the listeners with a guitar sound.
Like reading a short story with a bliss, each music is created with a comfortable and serene tempo.
Mastered by Suguru Oba (no.9 orchestra).
Artwork by a printmaker Hitomi Hiraoka, photographs and design by Shin Kikuchi (SCHOLE).
Live tour schedule is planned after the release date.

Music:
Track 5,8: Muneki Takasaka
Track 3,12,16: Akio Watanabe
Other Track: Muneki Takasaka + Akio Watanabe

Steelpan: Akio Watanabe
Guitar: Muneki Takasaka (paniyolo)

Recorded at Yatsugatake annex inn (February 25,26,27 2019)
Mix: Muneki Takasaka (paniyolo)
Mastering: Suguru Oba

A&R: Akira Kosemura
Sales Promotion: Tokuhei Matsuo
Artwork: Hitomi Hiraoka
Art Direction, Photographs, Design: Shin Kikuchi
Production Management: SCHOLE INC.

Paniyolo
A solo project by a guitarist Muneki Takasaka. Born 1982, from Fukushima, Japan.
In December 2006, Paniyolo started his music career from the gigs in Shimokitazawa. He have released some guitar albums from the music label SCHOLE.
Main works are, “Tama No Koto” featuring a guest guitarist Daishi Nakamura (tricolor, John John Festival). “Sora Mo Sukoshi” co-produced with a steel pan player Akio Watanabe (WAIWAI STEEL BAND). “Sora To Hana” featuring Miho Oota from Cantus.
Paniyolo values the “silence” in between sounds during his performance.


Akio Watanabe
He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays a steelpan, a guitar and an ukulele.
During his working years he met the steelpan, then joined WAIWAI STEEL BAND in 2009.
From January to March 2017, he travelled to Trinidad and Tobago where the instrument was originated, then joined the historic Starlift Steel Orchestra and participated in a competition.
He became the first Japanese to perform in the front line of the steelpan band of 120 members.
In may 2018, he self-releases a first solo album “in my room”
In 2019 autumn, release a duo album “Sora Mo Sukoshi” featuring paniyolo (Guitarist) He is also actively involved in joint productions, most notably the Lo-Fi Project with n’sawa-saraca , where he fuses keyboards and steelpan to create a floating, cosmic sound over Lo-Fi beats, creating a unique world of his own.
With his cheerful personality and gentle music, he spares no effort to give supports to music productions and live performances.