Here are the first two albums by Zelda, a Japanese all-female new wave-band that was active between 1979 and 1996. The self-titled debut was produced by Yosuke "Momoyo" Sugawara from Lizard and the second album by Ryomei Shirai from Moonriders.
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"To me, Zelda is not a video-game franchise. Zelda was one of the best band to emerge from the Tokyo punk scene of the late 70's.
The band formed in 1979 after the members discovered punk and new-wave through the 'Blow Up Tokyo Rockers' shows at the S-Ken Studio (the early epicenter of japanese punk). They were close to the band Lizard and its leader Momoyo who produced the first EP released in 1980 on Junk Connection. The band showed a big potential from early on and even with only female members around 15-16 years old (this was quite a novelty at the time) a major company quickly signed them. Zelda became one of the most successful band of the 'indie boom' of the 80's.
You can tell by listening to their first two records that their music is rooted in punk and new-wave. But despite the young age of the members, it's far from being a plain worship of the Tokyo Rockers sound. The general feeling is brighter and every song benefits from a strong melodic pop sense ('Mirage Lover' [Mira-ju.Rava] from their 1982 album makes a great single).
Yet, it would be reductive to say it's pop music as Zelda doesn't seem to care about boundaries. Their second LP 'Carnaval' (1983) already shows their ability to experiment and try new things. Somehow the first track has a light dub flavor while 'Watashi No Orchestra' directly takes inspiration from Guernica, the neo-retro pop unit which revealed Jun Togawa to the world...
What makes the Zelda sound coherent is Sayoko's vocals. She may be the best singer of the japanese new-wave, able to cover a wide range of emotions. She also gives the diaphanous and dreamy edge which makes Zelda a perfect listen to escape reality." - Female Trouble
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artist: Zelda
title: Zelda
type: album
label: Nippon Phonogram
release date: 25 August, 1982
length: 37:17
genre: new wave
country: Japan
language: Japanese
format: mp3
bitrate: 320kbps
credits:
Sayoko Takahashi - vocals
Sachiho Kojima - bass
Yoko Suzuki - guitar
Kuniko Nozawa - drums
Produced by Momoyo.
tracklist:
1. エスケイプ [Esukeipu]
2. 真暗闇 -ある日の光景- [Makkurayami ~ Aru Nichi No Koukei]
3. 月光飛翔（ムーンライト・フライト） [Gekkou Hishou (Muunraito Furaito)]
4. ロボトメイア [Robotomeia]
5. 開発地区はいつでも夕暮れ [Kaihatsu Chiku Haitsudemo Yuugure]
6. ミラージュ・ラヴァー [Mira-ju.Rava]
7. 密林伝説 [Mitsurin Densetsu]
8. Ash-Lah
9. と・ら・わ・れ [To.Ra.Wa.Re]
10. ソナタ815 [Sonata 815]
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artist: Zelda
title: Carnaval
type: album
label: Nippon Phonogram
release date: 5 November, 1983
length: 43:46
genre: new wave
country: Japan
language: Japanese
format: mp3
bitrate: 160kbps
credits:
Sayoko Takahashi - vocals, clarinet
Sachiho Kojima - bass, keyboards, vocals (track 8 )
Fukie Ishihara - guitar, bass (track 9)
Ako Ozawa - drums, percussion, synthesizers, keyboards
Ryomei Shirai - guitar, percussion (tracks 3, 8 )
Katsuya Kobayashi - vocals (tracks 4, 8 )
Mitsuru Kotaki - synthesizers
Hiroyasu Yaguchi - sax (tracks 4, 9)
Masahiro Takekawa - violin (tracks 2, 5)
Hirono Mio - viola (track 2)
Yasushi Sakai - cello (track 2)
Produced by Ryomei Shirai. Track 4 written by Keiichi Suzuki.
tracklist:
1. うめたて [Umetate]
2. 私の楽団（オーケストラ） [Watashi No Gakudan (Ookesutora)]
3. サラブレッド ― ソナタⅡ [Sarabureddo - Sonata II]
4. Are You "Lucky"? ―ラッキー少年のうた [Are You "Lucky"? - Rakkii Shoonen No Uta]
5. スローターハウス [Surootaahausu]
6. 天鵞絨（ビロード）の島 [Biroodo No Shima]
7. セイレーン [Seireen]
8. 東京TOWER [TOKYO TOWER]
9. Z-JA-Z
10. 遊糸飛行 [Yuushi Hikoo]
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"To me, Zelda is not a video-game franchise. Zelda was one of the best band to emerge from the Tokyo punk scene of the late 70's.
The band formed in 1979 after the members discovered punk and new-wave through the 'Blow Up Tokyo Rockers' shows at the S-Ken Studio (the early epicenter of japanese punk). They were close to the band Lizard and its leader Momoyo who produced the first EP released in 1980 on Junk Connection. The band showed a big potential from early on and even with only female members around 15-16 years old (this was quite a novelty at the time) a major company quickly signed them. Zelda became one of the most successful band of the 'indie boom' of the 80's.
You can tell by listening to their first two records that their music is rooted in punk and new-wave. But despite the young age of the members, it's far from being a plain worship of the Tokyo Rockers sound. The general feeling is brighter and every song benefits from a strong melodic pop sense ('Mirage Lover' [Mira-ju.Rava] from their 1982 album makes a great single).
Yet, it would be reductive to say it's pop music as Zelda doesn't seem to care about boundaries. Their second LP 'Carnaval' (1983) already shows their ability to experiment and try new things. Somehow the first track has a light dub flavor while 'Watashi No Orchestra' directly takes inspiration from Guernica, the neo-retro pop unit which revealed Jun Togawa to the world...
What makes the Zelda sound coherent is Sayoko's vocals. She may be the best singer of the japanese new-wave, able to cover a wide range of emotions. She also gives the diaphanous and dreamy edge which makes Zelda a perfect listen to escape reality." - Female Trouble
---
artist: Zelda
title: Zelda
type: album
label: Nippon Phonogram
release date: 25 August, 1982
length: 37:17
genre: new wave
country: Japan
language: Japanese
format: mp3
bitrate: 320kbps
credits:
Sayoko Takahashi - vocals
Sachiho Kojima - bass
Yoko Suzuki - guitar
Kuniko Nozawa - drums
Produced by Momoyo.
tracklist:
1. エスケイプ [Esukeipu]
2. 真暗闇 -ある日の光景- [Makkurayami ~ Aru Nichi No Koukei]
3. 月光飛翔（ムーンライト・フライト） [Gekkou Hishou (Muunraito Furaito)]
4. ロボトメイア [Robotomeia]
5. 開発地区はいつでも夕暮れ [Kaihatsu Chiku Haitsudemo Yuugure]
6. ミラージュ・ラヴァー [Mira-ju.Rava]
7. 密林伝説 [Mitsurin Densetsu]
8. Ash-Lah
9. と・ら・わ・れ [To.Ra.Wa.Re]
10. ソナタ815 [Sonata 815]
artist: Zelda
title: Carnaval
type: album
label: Nippon Phonogram
release date: 5 November, 1983
length: 43:46
genre: new wave
country: Japan
language: Japanese
format: mp3
bitrate: 160kbps
credits:
Sayoko Takahashi - vocals, clarinet
Sachiho Kojima - bass, keyboards, vocals (track 8 )
Fukie Ishihara - guitar, bass (track 9)
Ako Ozawa - drums, percussion, synthesizers, keyboards
Ryomei Shirai - guitar, percussion (tracks 3, 8 )
Katsuya Kobayashi - vocals (tracks 4, 8 )
Mitsuru Kotaki - synthesizers
Hiroyasu Yaguchi - sax (tracks 4, 9)
Masahiro Takekawa - violin (tracks 2, 5)
Hirono Mio - viola (track 2)
Yasushi Sakai - cello (track 2)
Produced by Ryomei Shirai. Track 4 written by Keiichi Suzuki.
tracklist:
1. うめたて [Umetate]
2. 私の楽団（オーケストラ） [Watashi No Gakudan (Ookesutora)]
3. サラブレッド ― ソナタⅡ [Sarabureddo - Sonata II]
4. Are You "Lucky"? ―ラッキー少年のうた [Are You "Lucky"? - Rakkii Shoonen No Uta]
5. スローターハウス [Surootaahausu]
6. 天鵞絨（ビロード）の島 [Biroodo No Shima]
7. セイレーン [Seireen]
8. 東京TOWER [TOKYO TOWER]
9. Z-JA-Z
10. 遊糸飛行 [Yuushi Hikoo]