From: Terre Thaemlitz <Terre_Thaemlitz@qmcumc.mail.cornell.edu>
Date: Tue,  7 Sep 1993 16:22:25 -0500

TOSHIFUMI, HINATA

albums: (many on Alfa Records, including...) Sarah's Crime, Chat d'Ete

Toshifumi is THE GOD of plasticity in Western composition. Using small scale
arrangements of violins, piano, synthesizer and some environmental sampling,
he creates a very intimate, non-grand-scale-orchestral sound. The perfection 
of his compositional style makes his music sterile and alienating, which is 
where I find its appeal  :)  In this way, what might otherwise be considered
the heights of conventional "new age" becomes very environmentally intrusive 


and engaging, which is why it is of interest to me from an "ambient" 
perspective. The music gains it's emotional impact through the listener
being unable to connect with the melodies, which simultaneously function as
signifiers of extreme emotion and complacency. Toshifumi does to muzak what
muzak does to music.