HISAISHI, JOE

The vinyl release of Joe Hisaishi’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: Image Album (titled Tori no Hito or Bird Person) represents the true genesis of the entire Studio Ghibli musical universe. Recorded in 1983 before the movie was even animated, this 10-track collection was created entirely from early concept sketches and thematic poetry sent to Hisaishi by a young Hayao Miyazaki. Serving as a crucial musical audition that convinced Miyazaki that Hisaishi was the only composer for the job, this album is a beautifully experimental time capsule. It leans completely into a vibrant, pioneering 1980s Japanese synth-pop and progressive electronic style that feels deeply distinct from the final orchestral soundtrack.