Tags: Japanese Pop

Review: This 7" vinyl marks the inauguration of the new Konbini Klassics label and it features expertly curated city pop and funk gems from Japan's golden era. The A-side offers 1983's 'Do What You Do' which is a relaxed synth-driven track with irresistibly catchy vocals. On the B-side you can enjoy the sounds of Cosmos, the all-female supergroup who deliver their slap-funk classic 'Midnight Shuffle' with its big horns, funky bass and twinkling synth melodies. A perfect 45 rpm gem, this release brings Japan's iconic sounds back to life and then some.

Review: Renowned DJ and selector MURO is a Jedi-level compiler and this new collection of his delves into Victor's extensive archives to spotlight a world of Japanese jazz, fusion and AOR. It take sin plenty of internationally known names like Yasuko Agawa on the sunset sounds of 'L.A. Night', Sadistics who offers the more psyched out guitar leans of 'On the Seashore', Yuji Ohno's neo-Balaeric bliss-out 'The Dawn of Seychells' and Hiroshi Fukumura's soul soothing Ry Ayres-style melodies on 'White Clouds.' These are luxurious sounds and timeless tracks with MURO's signature funky perspective making this a brillaint choice for brighter, warmer days.

Review: Choice Cuts 1978-1983 gathers eight tracks from four of Mimi's early albums-Sea Flight (1978), Coconuts High (1981), Nuts Nuts Nuts (1982), and Tropicana (1983). Opening with a funky, syncopated take on Sergio Mendes' 'Mas Que Nada' and the crisp techno-pop of 'Coffee Rumba,' all of which mean the compilation showcases Mimi's eclectic style. It also features the synth jam 'Quiet Explosion' and the piano samba 'Espresso.' Two standout tracks from Coconuts High-the sultry 'Crazy Love' and the lively 'Palm Sr'-highlight her playful Latin-tinged jazz fusion. Released on Takanaka's Kitty Records, this collection reveals Mimi's vibrant and innovative artistry.

Review: For our money, XL Middleton is one of the best producers in the game right now. His ability to craft timeless funk and electro sounds that make you want to move your ass is second to none. Here he does just that with his remix of Hannah Warm's 'Just In Time.' It's defined by his usual sense of LA cool with squelchy synth bass, stepping street soul beats from the 80s and in this case a Japanese vocal that soars through a cloudless sky on a sunny day. Flip over this tidy 7" for the original version which is a pure city pop delight.

Review: Taeko Ohnuki, known for her cult records from the late 70s and 80s, has seen her reputation soar over the years. Among her standout works is Grey Skies, which, despite its initial commercial challenges, has become a beloved classic. This remastered edition revitalizes the album with its rich blend of classic rock, jazz, pop, and AOR. Featuring a diverse array of instruments-synths, trombones, clarinet, wood blocks, harpsichord, electric organs, and more-Grey Skies delivers a lush and dynamic listening experience, showcasing Ohnuki's intricate and innovative sound.

Review: Portablist Lounge have put together this special 7" scratchsafe™ battle record which also includes a sticker. The record has a narrow head-gauged and has been deep cut which means it won't skip no matter how hard you work it, and it' features standard scratch samples with AI generated voices from well-known celebrities including Alex Jones, Bart Simpson, Kermit the Frog, Stan Marsh, Angry Male, Adam Sandler, Alan Partridge, Cleveland Brown, Jerry Springer, Rick Sanchez, Snoop Dogg, Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson, Eric Cartman, Stewie Griffin, Greta Thumburg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Joe Rogan, Limmy, Peter Griffin, Peter Kay and Simon Cowell.

Review: 'Sayonara Ha Syuppatsu No Kotoba' roughly translates as "Goodbye is the Word for Departure" and is a striking blend of Japanese indie and folk music. The album combines rich acoustic melodies with introspective lyrics to make for often poignant and nostalgic atmospheres with Yasuda's emotive voice at the heart of the sounds. The band's intricate instrumentation reveals more with each listen and the record explores themes of departure, self-reflection and the bittersweet nature of transitions. They might sound heavy but the delicate soundscapes also capture both moods of vulnerability and resilience which adds to the tender, affecting nature of the record.

Review: Both of these funk gems are taken from a cult compilation Trans Groove Express, which explored the sounds of Express Records and was assembled by MURO. Fourth Wave now serve them up on a superb 7", starting with Maki Asakawa. 'Hohi Hitotsu' is a delightfully gentle and subtle dub with funky guitars adding movement while the sultry vocal soars. Yasuhiro Abe's 'Night Fish' is a brighter and more retro 80s soul and boogie sound with glowing chords and snappy hits. The Japanese language vocal is emotive enough to mean plenty without understanding the meaning of the words.

Review: Since its inception in 2020, Kunimondo Takiguchi's City Music Tokyo compilation series has emerged as one of the most authoritative and reliable sources of 'city pop' gems - in part because he traditionally looks beyond the style's 1980s heyday and includes older and newer songs that fit into the celebrated style's colourful and Western pop-influenced aesthetic. There's naturally plenty of goodness to be found across the latest edition, subtitled 'Anagram'. The plentiful highlights include the joyous, boogie-era disco swell of Ami Ozaki's 'Love Is Easy', the quirky, big band-sporting eccentricity of 'Maya Maya Beach' by Yuko Kanai, the slow-motion reggae-pop warmth of Seiko Ito's 'Nagisa No Unlucky Boys' and the low-slung wonder that is Parachute's 'Kowloon Daily'.

Review: 'Departures' is one of the most renowned singles by the Japanese band Globe, originally released in 1996. The track achieved significant success and became the group's second number-one hit on Oricon's weekly chart and went on to sell a total of a rather astonishing, especially in comparison to these digital times, 2.2 million copies, making it one of Japan's best-selling singles. Now the tune gets reissued on 7" and is a raw, dense pop-rock tune that comes with a bonus cut on the flip.

Review: Follow Me is the second album from celebrated actress Yasuko Sawaguchi, whose look as well as vocal talent made her a beloved icon of the 1980s. Originally released in 1988, this album features ten tracks including the standout theme song 'Follow Me' from her starring role in the drama Exciting Rock 'n' Roll Street. With acclaimed composer Tetsuya Komuro contributing his musical talents, 'Follow Me' captures the vibrant energy of the era by blending pop melodies with Sawaguchi's unique charm. This release is a nostalgic nod to her career and an essential addition for fans of 80s Japanese pop culture.

Review: Japanese keyboard player, singer-songwriter, music producer Mimi Izumi Kobayashi was born in Funabashi and went on to become a cult artist who released six albums, all of them in the eighties. Tropicana came in 1983 and is maybe the best known of lot and it now gets reissued on limited vinyl via Universal. It's a bright and vibrant blend of city pop, soul, disco and tropical sounds with nostalgic 80s drum sounds, hook vocals in English and Japanese and plenty of camp and catchy grooves. A real exotic wonder.

Review: Get ready to revisit the magic of Miki Matsubara's seventh album, Cool Cut, which is now reissued for the first time on stunning coloured vinyl. Originally released on May 21, 1984, this edgy masterpiece captures the vibrant sound of an era and features the unparalleled production of charismatic guitarist Katsutoshi Morizono who is known for his groundbreaking work with Yonin Bayashi and Prism. Morizono's influence shines through in every note and this reissue brings back the cool, electrifying band sound that made the record a standout.