Legendary independent vinyl retailer, Rough Trade, takes you behind the record shop counter to discuss the most exciting new albums, as well as chatting with the recording artists themselves.

Originally from Tokyo, and now based in London, Anchorsong AKA Masaaki Yoshida is a highly-fêted producer, and solo live act, renowned for crafting immersive and rhythmic releases.

Anchorsong has become globally recognised for his unique live shows, which spectators have described as “like watching a painter drawing on a white canvas”. He creates electronic music entirely live using an MPC2500 and keyboard, right in front of the audience. While he mainly performs solo, he frequently augments this setup with a string quartet, for a genuinely spellbinding show.
 Early on in his career, Anchorsong wowed the crowds at SXSW and found himself the subject of increased attention, going on to make several appearances on BBC Radio 1 with radio play from Rob Da Bank and a live Maida Vale session for Huw Stephens’ In New Music We Trust show in early 2010. Having put out three successful EPs in Japan, all of which were released as double packs containing a CD and a live DVD, Anchorsong’s international debut, ‘The Lost & Found EP’ was released on his own label, Case Study.
 Anchorsong signed to Tru Thoughts and released his single “Ghost Touch/Plum Rain” later that year, followed by his highly anticipated debut full-length album ‘Chapters’. He signed the seismic “Mawa” EP to BBE Recordings for a limited edition clear 10” vinyl release, taking a more element-laden, cut and paste approach with a renewed musical vision.

Masaaki dug deep into the roots of 70s African music on ‘Ceremonial’, while taking inspiration from 70s and 80s Bollywood film soundtracks and traditional Indian percussion on ‘Cohesion’ – a psychedelic, danceable and free-spirited listen that blurs rhythm and melody.

Praised by the likes of Gilles Peterson (BBC 6Music/Worldwide FM), Karizma, Osunlade, Huw Stephens (BBC Radio 1) and Craig Smith, Anchorsong has commanded support from BBC 6Music, being playlisted with his hit singles “Testimony” and “Expo”, ‘Ceremonial’ being hailed as Album of the Year (2016, 5th spot), and ‘Cohesion’ named Album of Day (2018). The unabashedly talented musician has achieved heavy press coverage from the likes of XLR8R, Clash, Magnetic Magazine, Pop Matters, Bandcamp Daily, NME Japan and Rolling Stone Japan, with print reviews from Q Magazine, DJ Mag, and Songlines (which named it as their ‘Top of the World’ album), and airplay across BBC Radio 1, BBC 1Xtra, BBC Asian Network, Worldwide FM, Radio X, FIP and KCRW.

‘Mirage’ is the fourth album from Anchorsong, a record that evokes hazy soundscapes constructed with wind instrumentals, choirs, and global sonic particles. Building on Anchorsong’s long-standing tradition of “borderless music”, ‘Mirage’ fuses intricate rhythms with minimal yet immersive lush interplays of sound to create an auditory odyssey. ‘Mirage’ marks a departure from Anchorsong’s previous two albums – ‘Ceremonial’ and ‘Cohesion’ – specific geographical references. Instead, the album which was half-written during lockdown and when nobody could travel, shows Masaaki internalise his global influences and worldview to conjure a “vague landscape that only exists in my mind”.

Official Soundcloud channel of the band James ❁ Est 1982, Manchester. 
Live in 2025: https://linktr.ee/jamesisnotaperson
New album 'Live At The Acropolis' out now https://james.tmstor.es/

Pre-order the brand new record METEORITES: http://goo.gl/UAjPJ0

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