H O M E A B O U T A I K O R E C O R D I N G S S H O W S C O N T A C T
"... in an era when Americans are increasingly
frightened of the unknown, Aiko Shimada's music is almost
revolutionary in its mysteriousness. ... she's a godsend for
Seattleites who, despite out times, are still looking
for beauty in the inscrutable other."
- Nathan Thornburgh, The Stranger, Seattle, Dec. 2001
"Local star Shimada has a love for darker
colors and more complex musical influences, incorporating jazz
and other
ethnic sounds into a style that is deeply melodic, ..."
- Mark D. Fefer, Seattle Weekly, Dec 2001
"Aiko Shimada is certainly one of the most
unique and enchanting performers lurking in the venues of our
city,
with a gorgeous voice and a disarmingly graceful sense of melody.
She challenges the singer/songwriter stereotype
by applying elements of jazz and progressive/experimental music
to her charming folk songs.She often sings in her native
Japanese,
and the arrangements take frequent left turns, but there is
something so elementally pure about the music of
Aiko Shimada that she never lets the listener get away from her.
Noisy bar audiences quickly hush when Shimada and her band
begin piecing together their delicate, artful soundscapes.Can
this really be happening in the intimate confines of the Rainbow
for a relatively modest crowd? It can, but not for long. So don't
talk yourself out of going to this show;
people are bound to find out about Aiko Shimada soon or
later."
- P. Porter, Digital City Seattle, June 2001
"Shimada is one of the most original and
creative musicians on the Seattle scene"
- by Paul de Barros, Seattle Times,
Oct. 2000
"If Joni Mitchell and Billie Holiday ever had a
love child, then Aiko Shimada
might have been it. With Mitchell's sense of irony and Holiday's
sense
of persuasion, Shimada is able to hit a note for every syllable
and create
an uneven rhythm which, if her band is good enough to keep up,
will make
the hairs on the back of your neck stand at attention."
- by Kreg
Hasegawa, the Stranger, Seattle June 2000
"Stunning live"
- The Stranger, Seattle, Sept. 2
’98 (Bumbershoot Festival preview)
"thoughtfully introspective music"
- The Stranger, Seattle, Nov. 12-18
’98
"Magical"
- The Rocket, Seattle, Nov. 4-18
‘98
"Her solo work is magnetic and guileless."
- International Examiner,Seattle,
Jan.’97
"Original and haunting"
- NW Asian Weekly, Seattle, Dec
’96
CD REVIEW
LIKE HANNAH (CD 2004)
One of CD Baby's favorite artists, this woman never
ceases to amaze and indulge the emotions and imagination, with a
stunning and
original, reflective sound that falls somewhere in the open
expanse between the dark and shadowy corners of the subconscious
and the dazzling and penetrated realms of the mind. This gorgeous
album seems to exist in those multiple worlds simultaneously-
dipping deeply into a rich harmonic palette of jazz, the light
accessible delivery of folk and the bright immediacy of pop. If
for no other reason,
find out why CD Baby employees get a spring in their step at the
mentioning of this woman. Aiko redefines the bounds of the word "lush."
- CD Baby, March 2004
BLUE MARBLE (CD 2001)
"With beautifully insightful production from
part-time Seattleite Eyvind Kang, Shimada more than earns
her place among Downtown's highest creative company. Blue Marble
is compact and totally gripping;
every surface reflects. While Shimada normally performs with
trumpet, bass, and drums,
Kang surrounds her in a kind of chamber electronica: thready
strings, drum loops, washes, thumps, cymbals.
Each song has a stark and strange arrangement that finds new
drama in Aiko's already tense compositions.
She sings only in Japanese, with a precise and ceremonial
quality, purified of folk singer embellishments
and more compelling for it. She does not command your attention
so much as arrest it,
with melodies that are lovely, unreachable. It's been a while
since I've heard a record that sounded
so original and so sure of its complicated vision."
- Seattle Weekly, Apr. 2000 by Mark D. Fefer
ANOTHER FULL MOON (CD 2000)
"This is a beautifully textured, evocative
record, richly mysterious and masterfully realized.
Aiko Shimada's music is a spacious, multi-faceted hybrid of jazz,
progressive rock, folk and shades of many other influences...
Like the moon that inspires much of Shimada's imagery, her songs
are both surprising yet somehow inevitable,
with an effortless, inexorable inner motion. She and her band
patiently let each song unfold, gracefully balancing dissonance
and sweetness, rhythmic drive and weightless melodic lines,
always remaining aware of each other
and creating a true ensemble sound."
- Victory Review, Seattle Mar. 2000
"Her gossamer soprano sometimes recalls Joni
Mitchell, as do her careful dissonances,
nonconformist structures and oddly built chords. Her lyrics have
a distant, dreamlike quality.
Their (the band's ) mysterious textures and oblique approach to
song form are hypnotic."
- Seattle Times, Oct. 2000 (Paul de Barros)
"The songs start simply, built on a structure
of simple repeating guitar rolls.
Each is slightly unbalanced by an oddly dissonant note that
threatens to send the whole song falling.
But then, with the introduction of subtle layers of horns,
percussion, guitar and keyboard,
Shimada rounds out the music into off kilter songs whose original
dissonances only serve to slingshot it around the sun.
A very unique and interesting sound emerges. The work is
wonderfully composed,
the simple songs betray hours of careful construction.
All together it equals a slow, haunting work that grows better
with each listen."
- Amazon.com listener's review (All Mighty Ruler!)
"Some vocalist/songwriters can be overwhelmed
by the sheer weight of musicians in the ensemble.
Ms. Shimada, though, has an impeccable sense of structure.
This CD is so rich and deep that it will probably become part of
the fabric of your life. Beautiful!"
- Amazon.com listener's review (Spider)
WINDOW (CD 1998)
"sparingly orchestrated collection of tone
poems that will transport you to
another world where ritual, simplicity, and meditation reign
supreme."
- New Times, San Luis Obispo, Sept. 3-10 ’98
"Singer/songwriter Aiko Shimada is a folkie on
the edge. … even folky songs can interact with
explorations in structure, mood, and instrumental color. Her
understated experimentation
adds a subtle depth to her music."
-The Seattle Weekly, Apr. ’98 Seattle (Andrew
Bartlett)
" Each song stands like a
still-life-super-realistic, a moment caught forever. And that
makes Aiko Shimada
as much artist and poet as musician. It shimmers, and
there’s strength in the silent places. Magical."
-The Rocket, Apr. ’98 Seattle (Chris Nickson)
" With the album 'Window', Aiko Shimada has
created a fusion of poetry and music.
Each word, as well as each note, is vital. The combination of her
reflective, personal lyrics and
her hauntingly beautiful voice is extrememly powerful. The
accompanying music is brilliant.
This results in music that can not be held within the confines of
any one category.
Aiko's music has a beauty that can not be fully expressed in
words. Except perhaps, by her."
- Amazon.com listener's review (Jon Gosting)
BRIGHT AND DARK (CD 1996)
" the ethereal free-folk of Aiko Shimada.
…the sum effect is carefully powerful.. … truly
ingenious with every listen. "
-The Rocket, May 28 ’97, Seattle (Andrew
Bartlett)
"… a sound both striking and elusive.
These melancholy, dream-like songs are decorated with well-placed
and dynamic instrumentation that makes them interesting while
retaining their sparse integrity.
Guitarist/singer Shimada’s musical ebb and flow transcends
categorization and I’m willing to wager, will also transcend
time."
-Seattle Weekly, Feb. ’97, Seattle (Heather
Larimer)
"That record marked the arrival of a different
sort of singer, one with a gift for
simmering sophisticated musical and lyrical ideas down to a taut,
powerful minimalism."
-The Stranger, Apr. ’98, Seattle (Trey Hatch)
photo by yuko suda