1. Vor Geschlossener Tur (In Front of a Closed Door)
The lyrics / spoken words are in German, SoSaLa’s favorite language. In 1994 he felt that his life in Tokyo was kind of boring and going nowhere. Every day he felt like he was standing in front of a closed door waiting to see it open. It was a lonely time for SoSaLa, and he had a difficult time communicating and socializing with Tokyoites.
SoSaLa: soprano sax, organ & vocal. Mark C: guitar (right channel). Toshimaru Nakamura: guitar (left channel). David Motamed: bass. James Lo: drums
2. I’m Blind
This song tells of SoSaLa’s dismay for apathetic people who unquestioningly believes in the status quo. In the song’s imagery, the only way to intrude into their mental ignorance is by shooting at them with a water gun.
SoSaLa: soprano sax & vocal. Mark C: guitar (r/c). Toshimaru Nakamura: guitar (l/c). David Motamed: bass
3. Dadada Dadada Daaa
This shows SoSaLa’s love for Dadaism. SoSaLa feels that American politics lack wit and humor.
SoSaLa: soprano sax & organ. Mark C: guitar (r/c). Toshimaru Nakamura: guitar (l/c). David Motamed: bass. James Lo: drums. Peter Gordon: tenor sax.
4. Vor Deiner Tur (In Front of Your Door)
This instrumental track evokes the story of SoSaLa imagining a fictitious person who he tries to meet, but in vain, because the door to the apartment was closed all time.
SoSaLa: organ, Mark C: guitar (r/c), Toshimaru Nakamura: guitar (l/c). James Lo: drums. Peter Gordon: tenor sax.
5. So What
When SoSaLa was in NY in 1993, he expected New Yorkers to be (in contrast to Tokyoites) more communicative, critical, liberal, and emancipated. He was disappointed to learn that New Yorkers are not very different from Tokyoites in this respect. The atavistic aspect of New York City was a shock to him. He was also disappointed with the music scene in New York. This trilingual (English, German, Farsi) track expresses these sentiments
SoSaLa: soprano sax & vocal. Mark C: guitar (r/c). Toshimaru Nakamura: guitar (l/c). David Motamed: bass.
6. Omar Khayyam in New York
Another multi-lingual track (English and Farsi), SoSaLa expresses his deep respect for Iran’s culture and history. In this song he imagined Omar Khayyam (1048-1131: famed Persian astronomer, mathematician, and poet) being in modern day New York and how he would fit in.
SoSaLa: flute & vocal. Mark C: guitar (r/c). Toshimaru Nakamura: guitar (l/c). David Motamed: bass
7. You Want to Be a Sex Star
This song expresses SoSaLa’s distaste of how human sexuality is shown off, misused, degraded, and commercialized in daily American life.
SoSaLa: flute & vocal. Mark C: guitar (r/c). Toshimaru Nakamura: guitar (l/c). David Motamed: bass.
8. Khodahafez (Good Bye)
The lyrics of this track (in English, German, Japanese, and Farsi) are a metaphor for dismissing people who need too much time to make essential decisions. With the state of the world being what it is, SoSaLa believes that doing nothing and staying passive are unacceptable.
SoSaLa: vocal. Mark C: guitar (r/c). Toshimaru Nakamura: guitar (l/c). James Lo: drums. Peter Gordon: jaw harp.
