Windswept Adan

Windswept Adan
Windswept Adan
	Standard edition cover
Studio album by Ichiko Aoba
Released	2 December 2020
Recorded	July–October 2020
Studio	Studio ATLIO (Setagaya, Tokyo); Victor Studio (Shibuya); Saidera Mastering (Shibuya);
Genre	Chamber folk; psychedelic folk;
Length	49:55
Language	Japanese
Label	Hermine;
Producer	Ichiko Aoba; Taro Umebayashi;
Ichiko Aoba chronology
Singles from Windswept Adan
	"Porcelain"; Released: 30 October 2020;

Windswept Adan (Japanese: アダンの風, Hepburn: Adan no Kaze) is the seventh studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter Ichiko Aoba, released on 2 December 2020 by her label, Hermine. Conceived as a soundtrack for an imaginary film based on a narrative written by Aoba, the concept album follows the story of a young girl who is sent away by her family to the titular fictional island of Adan. Aoba and composer Taro Umebayashi wrote, composed, arranged, and produced the music for the album throughout 2020. Initial development began in January, while recording and mastering sessions were held from July to October. The album was preceded by one single, "Porcelain", which was released on 30 October 2020.

Windswept Adan is a chamber folk and psychedelic folk album with elements of jazz, classical, and ambient music. It marks a departure from Aoba's earlier minimalist instrumentation, drawing inspiration from diverse music traditions and featuring a variety of instruments and sounds, including a celesta, wind chimes, string arrangements, and field recordings taken by Aoba during her trips to the Ryukyu Islands. The album includes instrumental, a cappella, and vocal performances, some of which contain only non-lyrical vocalizations.

Windswept Adan received widespread critical acclaim, with praise for its arrangements, instrumentation, and worldbuilding. Upon its release, the album debuted at number 82 on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart and number 88 on the Oricon Albums Chart. It was promoted in Japan with concerts and alternate versions, including a live album and a three-track single with acoustic renditions of selected songs. It received an international vinyl release on 19 November 2021, the first time one of Aoba's albums was reissued outside of Japan. To further support the album in global markets, Aoba embarked on her first international tour, performing in the United Kingdom, continental Europe, and North America between August and October 2022.