traces of the ceiling is the new album by Takako Minekawa, an artistic collaboration between Minekawa who composed, performed and recorded the works contained within - and artist Ippei Matsui, who created and designed the accompanying elaborate five-panel fold out sleeve, risograph inserts, and vinyl. ‘traces of the ceiling’ is also the debut release from our in-house tone poem label.

‘traces of the ceiling’ was recorded in los angeles between 2018 and 2020, and many of the works featured on the release were originally created and released (at that time called ‘untitled’) on the occasion of Ippei Matsui’s 2019 exhibition “HOLY VISITOR” held at NO.12 Gallery in Tokyo, Japan - with the titular track composed for this special new release.

The approach to ‘traces of the ceiling’ is that of a diary - shared between Takako’s intimate musical pieces culled from daily experiences, documented between October and December 2018 (with a single piece recorded in August 2020) - alongside pieces of original silkscreened and risograph printed artwork by Ippei, each with their own unique qualities for the viewer to connect with as an intimate snapshot of the creative process as well as a beautiful intricate momentary work to cherish. In this way, both artists’ contributions to the work contain the essence of shasei (写生), or a momentary sketch of life - presented as a personal snapshot musically and visually, as if an entry in a diary.

tone poem is absolutely delighted to release this collaborative work on our in-house label, presented in a very limited vinyl run, by two artists - and friends - whom we respect dearly. Each record was printed and assembled in Portland, Oregon by SP and Secret Room Press, with a five-panel silkscreened folding sleeve and two very special risograph inserts of original artwork by Ippei Matsui. The audio was mastered by Makoto Oshiro.