In 1989, pianist and composer Yumiko Morioka put together a group of diverse street musicians and semi-professional players for a project that would come to be called the Synergetic Voice Orchestra. Inspired by Yumiko's love of different musical cultures from around the globe, the band drew on influences from India, Ethiopia, Mali, Korea and China to create an album that merged these sonic identities with more traditional sounds from the southern Japanese city of Okinawa. Having released her solo piano record Resonance a couple of years earlier, Yumiko was thrilled when offered the chance to make an album of 'any kind of music she wanted'. She pulled together artists she knew or had seen playing from in and around Tokyo, many of whom were self-taught and could not read music. It wasn't always easy for Yumiko, a classically taught musician, to work with others who lacked her formal training. But by employing the synergetic principles of American architect and theorist Buckminster Fuller, she fostered an environment where the results of the group had a larger impact than that of the individual. This approach brought a real energy to her compositions and the resulting recording sessions produced MIOS, an exploratory, creative work that felt alive with free-wheeling creativity. Nothing was off limits. The drummer, who ran a vegetable stall by day and practiced in a cemetery at night as to not disturb his neighbours, utilised old washing machine parts for some of the percussive elements.  Although Synergetic Voice Orchestra would eventually morph into a new band, leaving MIOS to exist as a singular moment in time, the album remains as one of Japan's true hidden treasures. Originally a CD only release, MIOS now comes to vinyl for the very first time, complete with brand new artwork by Elvis Barlow-Smith.
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO
Featuring a one-piece carbon fiber tonearm, precision-tuned motor, and a heavy steel platter with TPE damping, it ensures superior stability and sound quality.
-
Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
Features an elliptical stylus that accurately tracks the grooves of vinyl records, delivering a rich, detailed sound with an output voltage of 5.5 mV
-
Nagaoka MP-110H Cartridge
Features a high-quality elliptical stylus that provides excellent tracking and minimizes distortion, delivering a detailed sound reproduction with an output voltage of 5.0 mV
-
Pro-Ject Phono Box DC Pre-Amp
Compact, high-performance phono preamplifier for both MM and MC cartridges, delivering a clean, detailed signal with minimal noise.
-
HumminGuru: Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner
Advanced ultrasonic technology with customizable cleaning cycles and a large tank capacity to thoroughly remove dust, dirt, and contaminants
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Arcade Fire Pink Elephant
Columbia Records Group
May 9, 2025 -
McKinley Dixon Magic, Alive! (Neon Orange)
City Slang
June 6, 2025 -
Volbeat God Of Angels Trust
Republic Records
June 6, 2025 -
Dierks Bentley Broken Branches (Jet Black)
Capitol Nashville
June 13, 2025 -
California Irish The Mountains Are My Friends
7Hz Productions
June 27, 2025 -
The Cat's Table Supernatural Soul Charade
Edition Collage
June 6, 2025 -
Supergrass I Should Coco Zoetrope
Bmg
May 23, 2025 -
MDC The Last War
Cleopatra Records
May 16, 2025 -
Scorpion Child I Saw The End As It Passed Right Through (Milky Clear)
Sono Recording Group
April 25, 2025 -
LARC?NIA RO? Extraction
Unique Leader Orch
May 16, 2025 -
Maria Somerville Luster (Clear)
4Ad
April 25, 2025 -
Joe Jonas Music For People Who Believe In Love (Cloudy White)
Republic Records
May 23, 2025 -
Incite Savage New Times
Reigning Phoenix Music America, LLC
August 15, 2025 -
Lord Belial Unholy Trinity
Napalm Records
June 27, 2025