Her debut solo record, "Cinematic," began its gestation a very, very long time before it came to fruition. "It really just started out as a side project with Brian Deck in 1995," Yoshida explains, "when we laid down the tracks for 'Bed Eyes.'"

That initial recording session was Yoshida's first dabbling with solo artistry; at the time, she was a member of the since-departed Squash Blossoms. Between the break-up of that band (circa 1997) and working with her current band Sweeder, the ideas formulated in 1995 never dissolved, and in 1999 she returned to the studio with Deck and tracked four songs. "Initially," she explains, "we were trying to finish it and shop it around, to maybe get somebody else to pay for the studio time." Delays ensued. "Brian Deck," she adds, "is a really busy human being." Regardless, she remained motivated. "I wanted to make a really good record, and eventually I just wanted to finish it. I kept finding people to play with, and I was doing it for a very long time. But I got a lot of good feedback from friends, which helped a lot."

A native Chicagoan (really from the city, not the suburbs) Yoshida played guitar and sang in the Squash Blossoms, before moving to drums and vocals as one-third of Sweeder. (Though the Squash Blossoms were a Chicago entity for more than six years, the band never released a record, though a completed recording does exist. Sweeder's debut record, "Swallowed by the Sun," came out last year.) Her remarkable voice is perhaps more recognizable than her name: Yoshida has recorded duets or sang with the Chamber Strings, Modest Mouse, June of '44 and The Bells.

Where Sweeder, as Newcity's James Porter says, "borders on the ethereal, with the emphasis on the 'real,'" Chiyoko often follows the same path, but imbuing it with a dreamier, richer quality, strengthened by the talent around her. The list of credited performers on the list reads like a litany of Chicago's musicians: notables include Deck, Julie Liu (Sweeder, in addition to playing with Tortoise, Rex and many more), Tim Hurley (Red Red Meat), Fred Lonberg-Holm of improv notoriety, Alianna Kalabba (current drummer for the Dishes) and Ted Cho (former Poi Dog Pondering guitarist). Also helping in the studio—though not credited on the record—was Balthazar De Ley of Menthol, singing background vocals.

"Cinematic" never pins itself into a definable corner, with the possible exception of "low key." Ethereal is a quality, especially in that the quiet space is used to great impact, but at its heart the record is creamy guitar rock, with atmosphere taking a different breath within every track, and mysterious effects subtlety introducing themselves throughout repeated listens. It's all held together beautifully, meticulously, by Yoshida's voice—occasionally soaring, never breathy, always strong, like a vocal pedigree proving its worth.

The fact that "Cinematic" marks her first solo effort impresses even more considering the musical problems that a more collaborative effort helps to navigate. Having been part of more than one band, how does recording and playing as a solo artist differ? "The core difference," she says, "especially with the Squash Blossoms, is that everyone in the band has their own idea about how the song sounds best. With Chiyoko, the focus is that the group concern is all wrapped around being the best part for the song. When I go on stage, I just relax and jump into the mindset of the song."

After the dissolution of the Squash Blossoms, frustration actually drove Yoshida to try and give up music. "It got to a point where it wasn't fun anymore, I felt like writing music was a bad habit, and I wasn't writing for inspirational reasons. Especially in a band—you try so hard to keep motivating, to keep everything flowing along, that you eventually start to force it."

Fortunately, her attempt to kick the music habit was unsuccessful. "I was trying to stop, but I was still working at it the whole time anyway. In fact, I'd really get mad at myself sometimes," she add with a laugh. "I'd be like, 'why can't you just watch TV, or go to a bar, or anything else.'" Her inspiration to really get back into writing music came from, of all things, another record. "This might sound silly, but the first time I heard 'OK Computer' [by Radiohead], it pretty much blew me away. It made me fall in love with music again."

Yoshida hopes to tour for "Cinematic," at least minimally, but the task is daunting. "We wanted to tour this fall, but September 11 really screwed up my plans, and threw me for a loop." Though she's approached the whole project with an entirely DIY ethic (she released "Cinematic" on her own, did all the art, is handling distribution, etc.), she acknowledges that she's not a booking agent. "I once booked a weekend tour," she pauses, then finishes, "that was really hard."

Chiyoko plays with Pele and Ivory Coast, November 4 at the Empty Bottle, 1035 North Western, (773)276-3600. "Cinematic" is officially released the same day.

Also by Dave Chamberlain

RAW MATERIAL
"Everybody in Chicago has to start at ground zero," says Lionel Freeman, aka Brother El. "We can't just walk up to Puff Daddy and ask him to play our songs, we have to do everything from scratch. But it makes us that much stronger—you end up learning everything there is to know about the industry."
(2001-10-18)

RAW MATERIAL
Kelly Hogan's presence in Chicago has been a two-headed beast since she first moved here from Georgia in 1997. First, there's Kelly Hogan the record maker, she of the Jody Grind, Rock*A* Teens and solo records, each with their own unique flavor and angle. Then there's Hogan the live performer, with a voice so affecting and perfect, words can't approach its power.
(2001-10-11)

WEASEL WORLD
My girlfriend and I own four ferrets, and yes, we are aware of how that puts us on the bubble of official "weird animal people" status. Fortunately, we know how to reassure ourselves that we're not members of that strange realm: attend the Greater Chicago Ferret Association's Greatest Ferret Show on Earth.
(2001-10-11)

RAW MATERIAL
Below are records that I haven't had an opportunity to write about since they've been released, and are relatively off the radar in terms of mainstream press. All were released in 2001, and all are available now (meaning no pre-release bragging here).
(2001-10-04)

RAW MATERIAL
(2001-09-20)

RAW MATERIAL
(2001-09-13)

CLOSE CALL
(2001-09-13)

RAW MATERIAL
(2001-09-06)

RAW MATERIAL
(2001-08-30)

CONTINENTAL REPAST
(2001-08-30)

RAW MATERIAL
(2001-08-23)

RAW MATERIAL
(2001-08-09)