For Damage by Yaryu / 野流

Centripetal Force (North America), Cardinal Fuzz (UK), and Ramble Records (AUS) are proud to announce the release of Yaryu’s For Damage. This groundbreaking work blends the meditative qualities of New Age music with the soulful, improvisational ethos of jazz, creating a listening experience that is both spiritually uplifting and sonically captivating. For Damage will be released on October 25 on vinyl, as well as digitally. A limited run of CDs will also be available from Centripetal Force.

Yaryu is a Japanese musical collective known for their ability to seamlessly blend diverse genres and create music that resonates on an emotional and spiritual level. Formed in 2022 with the intention of bringing music and people together in their everyday environments, Yaryu holds improvisational music workshops with both experienced and inexperienced musicians and presents live music events that encourage participation by all of its attendees. As keyboardist/harpist Hyzo explains,

“Yaru helps people realize their ideas and perform. Rather than focusing on someone standing out in terms of creativity or instrumental skill, we place importance on the best expression possible among the members participating at the time and in the performance environment. Even if you have a weak sense of rhythm or pitch, we present ensembles that allow you to enjoy and appreciate the sound itself. Participants' motivations vary, and the members who participate in each project are fluid. Anyone who agrees with this philosophy can call themselves Yaru.”

Over 200 performers have participated in Yaryu through live performances, recordings, and workshops. For Damage is the essence of all those experiences, as well as the group’s favorite sounds: spiritual jazz, electric Miles Davis, Can, and traditional Japanese folk music. Yaryu began as a duo centered around keyboardist/harpist Hyozo (De Lorians) and Indian flute/harpist Hajime Orikawa. For Damage includes, amongst others, Shota Mizuno (Sunday & Cybele), Takuro Okada (Carlos Niño, Sam Gendel, Nels Cline), Makoto Kawabata (Acid Mothers Temple), Ryo Fushimi (Dhidalah), and Hyozo’s sister Jou.

In addition to their commitment to creating community, Yaryu’s mission is to also communicate their activities through recording and releasing their sessions. No fewer than seven sessions have been documented thus far, with For Damage being the latest, and thanks to Centripetal Force, Cardinal Fuzz, and Ramble Records, the most widely distributed.

Drawing on the rich traditions of both New Age music and jazz, Yaryu has crafted a unique sound designed to transport listeners to a place of inner calm and reflection, making it an ideal soundtrack for meditation, relaxation, or simply surviving the calamities of 2024. The album features lush, ambient soundscapes (“Up the Creek” and “Asobe”) and delicate instrumentation, all underscored by rhythmic flourishes (“Utena” and “Gandhara”), organic song structures (“Nagare”), and subtle elements of psychedelia (“Shirabe”).

Yaryu invites you to enter the transformative world of For Damage. Slip into the flow and immerse yourself in this harmonious musical journey.

The new shape of Japanese Psych