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Here at Mr Bongo we have been inundated with people asking us to reissue this release. Ana Frango Elétrico's petit cult classic masterpiece 'Little Electric Chicken Heart' from 2019, which was only ever released on vinyl and CD in Brazil and Japan, has fast become a collector's item.

Well received by fans, DJs, and reviewers on release, The Needle Drop expressed "Ana Frango Elétrico's authentically vintage fusion of chamber pop, rock, samba and jazz is a real blast!" listing it as one of its Top 50 Albums of 2019. The album's reputation has been slowly building ever since, gaining a Latin Grammy nomination in 2020, and now solidly cementing itself as a gem of contemporary Brazilian music.

Across the albums nine tracks, Ana blends elements and influences from MPB, Tropicália, indie rock, punk and pop, forging them together with a sumptuous dose of her signature style. The finesse of 'Saudade' kicks off the LP, one of Ana's most known tracks to a non-Brazilian audience. A sublime opener, beginning with a spellbinding piano solo before transcending into a beautiful dream-laden slice of warmth, complete with luscious jazzy horns and deft vocal delivery. ‘Promessa e previsões’ follows, the only track on the album not to be written by Ana, instead being penned by Chico França. It’s a swelling and sweeping twilight groover, building and breaking across absorbing peaks.

Other highlights on the album include the anthemic 'Chocolate', which was a firm favourite with a packed sing-along crowd when we heard Ana perform it live. Elsewhere, 'Se No Cinema' hits with its quirky allure, charm and catchy melodies before transforming into a carnival spirit.

Tapping into the richness of Brazil’s new wave of musical energy, the album also includes a heavyweight lineup of collaborations with artists such as Dora Morelenbaum (Bala Desejo), Tim Bernardes, Antonio Neves and Guilherme Lirio to name but a few.

A short, sweet and refreshing record, that leaves nothing to waste, marrying playful ideas with poignant themes. 'Little Electric Chicken Heart' is a future classic and will beguile fans of ‘70s Brazilian recordings, Gal Costa, Mac DeMarco, Stereolab, Superorganism, Caetano Veloso and more.

Repress.

Welcome to “Through Lines”, a collection of hand picked tracks by genre nomad and bass innovator Martyn, made between 2005 and 2015, carefully recovered and remastered for vinyl and digital release on 3024. Previously only available on 12” across a scattering of different labels, this set includes essential ‘Martyn Music’ (as the producer likes to classify it); tracks like “Vancouver” (A 140 staple to this day), “Mega Drive Generation” and his classic remix of TRG’s “Broken Heart”, as well as deeper cuts like the rare “Friedrichstrasse” and house gem “For Lost Relatives”.

This is not just a compilation of remastered music, it’s a document of an era of UK inspired dance music where ideas, genres, tempos and scenes seemed to rapidly merge and splinter off. An exciting time where producers constantly tried to one-up each other with new ideas and influences, in a vibrant international scene of small club nights from FWD>> and DMZ in London to Red Zone (co-run by Martyn) in the periphery, the earliest online forums like Dubstepforum and radio shows like Dj Flight’s BBC 1xtra show and Mary Anne Hobbs’ Breezeblock. Innovation in music never happens in a vacuum and is always a product of community, producers, writers, and other makers continuously inspiring and pushing each other to come up with the next thing. This ethos is present in all of Martyn’s music throughout the years, but also in his work with Jeroen Erosie as 3024 and within the 3024 Mentoring Program he runs today.

Definitive Recordings revisits 1994 house classic 'Get House' by Calisto with a new version by legend Josh Wink. The iconic house music classic 'Get House' by Calisto from 1994, is now being revitalized by the legendary house music pioneer Josh Wink. Josh Wink, renowned for his pioneering contributions to the Acid House movement, infuses his signature style into 'Get House,' breathing new life into the timeless anthem. The remix pays homage to the roots of electronic music while propelling it into the future, creating an immersive sonic experience that captivates listeners and ignites dance floors with its infectious energy. But the journey doesn't end there. Alongside Wink's groundbreaking remix, the release includes the raw and percussive original version of 'Get House,' straight from the depths of 1994. With a bassline that delves deep into the soul of the dance floor and cut-up vocals interlaced with stiff snares, this track delivers an edgy groove that remains as exhilarating as ever. Remastered for contemporary audiences, the original version retains its raw intensity while boasting enhanced clarity and depth. "I used to rock the original at parties and raves all over the world in the mid-'90s, and it was one of those special records of the time that combined house, acid house, and electro-breaks. It was perfect to segue from different styles as a DJ. One of my favorites on the mighty Definitive Recordings catalog!" says Josh Wink about the original. Adding to the excitement, the release also features the acapella version of 'Get House,' providing DJs and producers with a versatile tool for creative remixing and reimagining. 'Get House' by Calisto, including the Josh Wink remix, the original version, and the acapella, will be available on all major streaming platforms as well as on vinyl.

Der aus Wien stammende und mittlerweile in Manchester beheimatete Produzent salute (Pronomen mittlerweile „him/ they“, folglich im Deutschen wieder Singular) kündigt sein kommendes Album, „TRUE MAGIC“, an, das am 12. Juli 2024 bei Ninja Tune erscheint. Auf dem kommenden Album von salute sind außerdem Disclosure, Empress Of, Karma Kid, Sam Gellaitry, piri, Léa Sen, LEILAH und Nakamura Minami vertreten.

Mit ästhetischer und auditiver Inspiration durch alte japanische Autowerbung, die salute stundenlang in YouTube-Archiven recherchierte, entwickelte er ein Konzept für das Album, bei dem sie den legendären 1985er Toyota MR 2 W1 in einem Rennen namens „TRUE MAGIC“ fahren. Dieses sehr visuelle Konzept half dabei, den Sound des Albums voranzutreiben und dem Album ein Gefühl von treibender Dynamik zu geben. Die Albumankündigung folgt auf seine allererste Nominierung bei den MOBO Awards 2024 in der Kategorie „Best Electronic/ Dance Act“ nach der Veröffentlichung von salutes EP, „Shield“, die von The FADER als „verträumt“ und von Clash als „Surging with spring-like energy“ gelobt wurde. „Shield“ folgte auf die früheren Singles „Joy“ und „Therapy“ und wurde von Künstlern wie Four Tet, DJ Seinfeld, Floating Points, Mall Grab, Daphni, Skrillex, Fred Again und anderen bestätigt, was ihn zu einer Kultsensation machte und die Bühne für ein größeres Album bereitete. salute wurde mit 18 Jahren in die britische Clubszene eingeführt, nachdem er nach Brighton und dann nach Manchester gezogen war. Dort kam er mit der Clubkultur in Berührung, die sich zuvor nur auf Videos bei YouTube und Boiler Room beschränkt hatte. Von hier aus verfeinerte er seinen unverwechselbaren Sound, der sich aus seinem neu gewonnenen Verständnis für Genres wie Grime, Garage und Dubstep speiste.

Der aus Wien stammende und mittlerweile in Manchester beheimatete Produzent salute (Pronomen mittlerweile „him/ they“, folglich im Deutschen wieder Singular) kündigt sein kommendes Album, „TRUE MAGIC“, an, das am 12. Juli 2024 bei Ninja Tune erscheint. Auf dem kommenden Album von salute sind außerdem Disclosure, Empress Of, Karma Kid, Sam Gellaitry, piri, Léa Sen, LEILAH und Nakamura Minami vertreten.

Mit ästhetischer und auditiver Inspiration durch alte japanische Autowerbung, die salute stundenlang in YouTube-Archiven recherchierte, entwickelte er ein Konzept für das Album, bei dem sie den legendären 1985er Toyota MR 2 W1 in einem Rennen namens „TRUE MAGIC“ fahren. Dieses sehr visuelle Konzept half dabei, den Sound des Albums voranzutreiben und dem Album ein Gefühl von treibender Dynamik zu geben. Die Albumankündigung folgt auf seine allererste Nominierung bei den MOBO Awards 2024 in der Kategorie „Best Electronic/ Dance Act“ nach der Veröffentlichung von salutes EP, „Shield“, die von The FADER als „verträumt“ und von Clash als „Surging with spring-like energy“ gelobt wurde. „Shield“ folgte auf die früheren Singles „Joy“ und „Therapy“ und wurde von Künstlern wie Four Tet, DJ Seinfeld, Floating Points, Mall Grab, Daphni, Skrillex, Fred Again und anderen bestätigt, was ihn zu einer Kultsensation machte und die Bühne für ein größeres Album bereitete. salute wurde mit 18 Jahren in die britische Clubszene eingeführt, nachdem er nach Brighton und dann nach Manchester gezogen war. Dort kam er mit der Clubkultur in Berührung, die sich zuvor nur auf Videos bei YouTube und Boiler Room beschränkt hatte. Von hier aus verfeinerte er seinen unverwechselbaren Sound, der sich aus seinem neu gewonnenen Verständnis für Genres wie Grime, Garage und Dubstep speiste.

Habibi Funk is thrilled to share a second collection of deep grooves and unreleased songs from Algeria's Ahmed Malek, often compared to Italian heavyweight Ennio Morricone. Malek’s music effortlessly switches between thematic jazz, funk, reggae and Algerian folk – creating indelible soundscapes that intersect the musical innovations made in African jazz by Mulatu Astatke, Bembeya Jazz National along with some of Europe’s finest experimental composers like Piero Piccioni and Janko Nilovic. “Musique Originale de Films, Volume Deux” is out June 28th, 2024 via Habibi Funk.

Whenever an interview asks about a “memorable moment” in Habibi Funk label history, one we always reference is how we got in touch Ahmed Malek’s (22K Spotify Followers, 285K Spotify Monthly Listeners) music and subsequently his family. It all started with us coming across Ahmed Malek’s music on YouTube in 2012. We were mesmerized by how effortlessly the music would switch between jazz, funk and Algerian folk while counterweighting it with an undertone of melancholia. Musical perception is different for every person, but there is a chance that his music will touch you in one way or another. At the time, we had just started the Habibi Funk label and we felt Ahmed’s music might be a good fit for the sound we were trying to highlight. Fast forward three years: we had become captivated with the idea of reissuing some of Ahmed Malek’s music. We knew some people had tried to locate his family but, but with no success. In the end it was an incredible amount of luck that made it possible for you to read these words and listen to Ahmed’s music. We were on a DJ gig in Beirut playing old Arabic records and we mentioned our passion for Ahmed Malek’s music to a friend. She said she knew one person in Algier, and as much as it would be a shot in the dark, she could ask her if she had an idea of how to find Malek’s family. Two weeks went by before we heard back, and what we got was incredibly good news - her Algerian friend was the neighbor of Ahmed Malek’s daughter! We’re not spiritual people, but it felt like the universe wanted to see the release happen. We started to speak with Henya, Ahmed Malek’s daughter and she was more than happy with our idea. She assured us that her father would have loved the plan as well. She provided us with tons of awesome material, from great photos, to unseen video footage and unreleased tracks. Eventually we visited Henya in Algeria and we licensed some of her father’s music, first for one (Habibi 003), then for another (Habibi 005), then we eventually organized an exhibition in June/July 2019 – Planète Malek – Une Rétrospective – at the Musée Public National D’Art Moderne & Contemporain in Algiers, focusing on Ahmed Malek’s artistic life. We also produced a small movie about him that our friend Paloma Colombe shot and directed. “Musique Originale de Films, Volume Deux” is a deep collection of unreleased songs and stemmed grooves from the Algerian master, from jazz, funk, psych to reggae rhythms and Latin flavors, all under the sonic umbrella of “Planète Malek;” and to quote the maestro, “I didn’t choose music, music chose me.” Lead single is the subtlety funky “Thème Rythme Léger,” out May 3rd along with LP Pre-Order (coincided with Bandcamp Friday for a larger impact) a delicate sonic dance between flute, piano and Spanish guitar with a Bossainfluenced groove. The steady, swingin’ drum groove is cloudlike - definitely toe-tapping friendly so just grab a partner to feel the Rhythme Léger. Second single out May 17th is the reggae-infused “L’Empire Des Rêves” – a sultry sax melody weaves through a prismatic rocksteady thematic groove. 3rd and final single “Thème Djalti feat. Aïda Guéchoud” – is a true Western-inspired ode to his Italian counterpart Ennio Morricone. “Thème Djalti” features the haunting vocals of Aïda Guéchoud, and combines elements of baroque and Bossa-jazz in a timelessly thematic way that seems grandiose yet remains uniquely personal to your ears. Swelling strings, trumpet, fem vox, flute, and plucked guitar expertly arranged, feels like you’re riding a horse into the sunset. Focus track “La La La” is fiery afro-arab-funk of the highest order! Put on your dancing shoes as Ahmed cuts the rug and gets us grooving along. Sonically the cut sounds like if Ahmed ran into The JB’s and Fela Kuti at a Cymande concert. Driving guitar and organ solos vie over pulsating bass riffs and afro-funk drumming that’ll have you out on the dance floor in no time. As always, both vinyl and CD come with an extensive booklet featuring background and interviews with Ahmed compiled through found newspaper clippings and newsreels, also including unseen photos, scans and more. “Ahmed Malek: Musique Originale de Films, Volume Deux” will be out everywhere June 28th.

Come Play With Me and Breed Media are excited to present Come Play With Breed, Vol. 2. Featuring D5, Graft, Hannah Rowe and Mica Sefia, the 10” compilation spotlights the Northern Hip Hop and Soul scenes respectively. On the A-side, D5’s upbeat UK Rap opener, “What’s That”, is followed by Graft’s reflective Jazz-influenced Hip Hop track “Vows To The Art.” Hannah Rowe opens the B-side with an addictive fusion ballad for old souls. Finally, Mica Sefia closes the release with a powerful narration on her experiences as a black woman.

Artist Bios:

D5

Hailing from Leeds, West Yorkshire, D5 draws influence from the likes of Drake, Skepta and Brent Faiyaz and his sound flits between moody R&B and upbeat Rap that oozes a calm confidence. Elements of genres such as Garage, UK Rap and US Hip-Hop intertwine neatly to create his signature style. A style that crystalised on his 2020 EP Channel 5. Consisting of 8 songs, all helmed by producer and close friend CSHARP, the project is D5 at his most personal and led to the video for lead single ‘Silence’ premiering on Link Up TV and garnering him his highest streams to date. However, before ‘Channel 5’ D5 had created the EP If Only We Could Go Outside during the height of the pandemic. The track ‘Movies’ received airplay from the esteemed BBC Radio 1 Presenter Melvoin Odoom. With backing from the likes of GRM Daily and DJ Target spinning 2022 single ‘What’s Up’ on BBC Introducing, D5’s star is surely set to rise as he continues to develop his artistry. In addition to this, he has opened up for the likes of Novelist and fellow hometown hero Graft, proving with every successive performance and release that he is worthy of being a headline act.

Graft

Graft, winner of MOBO Unsung and BBC Three's The Rap Game UK, has propelled himself to national recognition for his unwavering sense of self and musical talent. Hailing from the vibrant city of Leeds, Graft’s topical and poetic approach to songwriting takes inspiration from genres such as Hip Hop, Neo-Soul, Jazz and Alternative Rap. This fusion of inspiration has seen him grace the stage at the acclaimed Reading and Leeds Festival, and has collaborated with esteemed brands such as Adidas, Virgin Media, Boohoo and Leeds United. Now with this national acclaim, Graft prepares for the release of his highly anticipated EP, Golden Child.

Hannah Rowe

Hannah Rowe’s emotional range transcends generations; the young singer writes about experiences and shifts in life, offering all listeners a sense of reflection within her rich, authentic, jazz-infused sound. Hannah is backed by a group of highly accomplished musicians who happen to be her adored closest friends. After finding one another at university, Sam Hughes on guitar, Luke Harrison on bass, Owen Moriarty on keys and Charlie Tanner on drums intertwined their varied influences to paint their own alluring and soulful sound - one difficult to define, but has been said to resemble the likes of Raye, Lianne La Havas, Moonchild and Yebba.

Mica Sefia

Liverpool born, Leeds-based future-soul Queen Mica Sefia endorses the interpretive nature of music as an art to be studied and related to by the public. Mica’s own exploration of self-expression solidified her passion in the production of a timeless and authentic style of music. Preferring to keep her lyricisms and narrative open to interpretation, Mica relates to a balanced approach to songwriting, in which her music remains subjective, but retains its emotive sensitivity. Mica’s music leans into the genres of Alt Soul, Rock and Jazz intertwining them to create atmospheric sounds and textured layers.

AGT Records is onto release 007 and it’s a certified killer.

In the early 2000’s KAELO and DJ Jet AKA Kaelo Gallagher and Jesse Goldfarb combined to create JK47. They produced and pressed their records out of their own pocket with no distribution, handing them to local record shops in and around Toronto. When the shops eventually closed the records found their way out into the world, leading us to today.

The Plastic Aviator EP was a passion project of the duo in 2005. Its influences stretch beyond any one era or genre and you really do get a taste of everything here. The balearic feel of the original mix (shoutout to Queen of the Worms on the guitar) is nicely balanced with the dub inflected UKG attitudes of the Scene Heads and Loopity Goofs Mix, while the previously unreleased Hernan Gutmer mix brings the EP to a deep and head-spinning close.

This is a record to be packed and played throughout the night and day, and we’re happy to have the chance to get it back onto turntables - all in good time.

Paige is a visual Artist, Dj and Co-Founder of London’s loved techno event - NightService. Her musical style involves combining tribal, UK funky infused tracks with heavier techno sounds.

X CLUB. is the production duo of Ben Clarke and Jesse Morath. Founded in Brisbane/Meanjin Australia’s warehouse scene and exported to London and beyond, their music is inspired by early 90s techno all the way through to future-facing drum’n’bass, with X CLUB. carving out a space entirely of their own thanks to their authentic and eclectic take on dance music with serious consideration for underlying groove.

With releases on labels such as Steel City Dance Discs, SPANDAU20/CROWDS, 99CTS Records and Stay On Sight, X CLUB. have seen their records reach global audiences with frequent touring across the UK, Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

New World Expression by X CLUB. is the third release on their own label HIDE THE JUNK, and finds the pair leaning more into house music than ever before, but still with the same distinctive X CLUB. edge. These tracks have been key moments to their sets over the start of 2024, going from demos in the studio to on the road club test in a matter of days, to being pressed onto fresh 12” wax for their most loyal fans within a matter of weeks. This EP is tried and tested house & techno that fans and DJ's alike have come to know and expect in X CLUB.

Wah Wah 45s präsentiert die Debüt-LP des ghanaischen Sängers und Djembe-Trommlers Afla Sackey. Mit seiner Band Afrik Bawantu hat er sich den Traum erfüllt, traditionelle ghanaische Musik mit knisternden Afrobeat-Grooves zu verbinden und das Ganze mit einem unwiderstehlich funky Twist abzurunden. Die einzigartige Mischung aus vitalen, afrikanischen Rhythmen mit flotten, lebhaften Bläsersektionen und heavy Basslinien bringt eine frische Perspektive in das Afrobeat-Genre.

Afrik Bawantu veröffentlichten 2013 ihre vielgelobte Debüt-EP "Noko Hewon" und 2014 die Debüt-LP "Life On The Street". Afla selbst arbeitete mit legendären Künstlern wie Sun Ra Arkestra, Ginger Baker und Tony Allen zusammen und ist bei zahlreichen zeitgenössischen Projekten mit Ibibio Sound Machine, Sons Of Kemet, Dele Sosimi, The Estuary 21, Eparapo sowie seiner jüngsten afroelektronischen Kollabo mit Produzent Raz Olsher, Raz & Afla, dabei.

- "Vibrant, uplifting Afrobeat and highlife from the master of percussion!" - Cerys Matthews, BBC 6 Music

- "Excellent track. Will playlist on PBB Radio." - Laurent Garnier, PBB France

- "If you need a weekend livener then look no further than this Ghana vs Nigeria soundclash from Afla Sakey & his fellow funkateers, it’s a proper trip down Afro funk memory lane. The vibes are unrepentantly throwback, but when the 70s were this good & their essence captured so well I’m all in." - The Slow Music Movement

Acerbic returns after 2 killer EPs of forward thinking Acid Techno for Acid Artists In Action (aaa011) and Stay Up Forever (suf112) which have literally torn the roof of DJ sets from Perc, Choci, Chris Liberator and dozens more. This time he ditches the 303's for throbbing, wiry techno grooves, 4 trax of fast and scuzzy warehouse techno of the highest quality - already being caned by those lucky enough to have a test pressing!

LIMITED 100 copies - heavy 180g pressing! Dive deep into the hypnotic cruise of "Sticky Traxx", the inaugural installment in a series of EPs by the skilled artist Jay Albert. The classic 3-tracker comes with "Waterfloor 4AM" on the A side, where Albert weaves a sonic tapestry that's as warm as it is dancefloor friendly. "Overcome" and "Undermine" ond the flip however are tracks that can glue a DJ set together. Imagine just a basic House groove that makes you move. Add a pinch of deepness and even techyness and you get there.
We are speaking about work tools for DJs who know how to get the hands up without a big drop. With beats, chords and basslines that are as sticky as the title suggests, this EP will resonate with enthusiasts seeking a more soulful and groove-filled experience on the floor. Now? Time to close your eyes and give yourself to the power of music.

DJ Support: Jamie Jones, Riva Starr, Sarah Story, Mele, A Trak, Pete Tong, Audiojack, Maur, MK, Eats Everything, Danny Howard, Dom Dolla, Arielle Free

The series third 7” presents Geneva based singer Jah Bast. ‘Far I Love’ is a chant to the Most High. The riddim and mix get as dread and terrible as Jah Bast message of love gets powerful. Version of the B side for all DJ to mash up the riddim inna dance!

Future Utopia's sophomore album. Future Utopia 'Django's High'

In 2018 Diagonal Records released an intriguing, three track, hand stamped, white label
12” of dancfloor sampledelia by Shit & Shine onto an unsuspecting world. The lead track
on this 12” ‘You Were Very High’ turned a lot of heads and became a club oddity, being
played out by DJ’s around the world – and some movers and shakers have hailed the 12”
as “Shit & Shine’s best ever release.”
Now in 2024, as the original 12” has become a bit of a collector’s item, trading hands for
£60+ on Discogs – Shit and Shine and Rocket Recordings have decided ‘You Were Really
High’ deserves a one off repress. This expanded version of the EP, which is housed in new
art and ltd to only 300 copies, also features a mighty extra track called ‘Dave, Have You
Ever Been To London.

INFLUENCER, dancer, promoter and celebutante
LEVANNA (aka “Northern Soul Girl”) lends here DJ skills
and magnetic personality to a stunning new ‘rare soul’
series honed from the Charly vaults

It’s been exactly a year since the 6th Borough boys emerged from their hiatus to bring us the Rhythm & Truth EP. This killer three tracker picked up where they left off and showed us that fans of deep, dusty, dubbed-out disco were as hungry as ever for new 6BP material and went on to garner praise from the likes of Jamie 3:26, Luke Solomun, Dam Swindle, Young Pulse and the Faith crew to name a few. Here on their follow up we’re treated to more of the good stuff and sees Craig Smith and Graeme ‘Revenge’ Clark whipping up four new cuts spanning speaker- wobbling sub-aquatic grooves and stripped back deep house.

One Way sets the tone with a subtle yet infectious percussive workout which is one of those mood setting tools which looks set to become a lot of DJ’s secret weapons this summer. Filtering strings and tweaked synths add that classic Chicago energy which won’t fail to get you locked into it’s groove. Spare Change treads a similar path but goes heavier on the echoing synth stabs and deep string pads proving that when the rhythm is rolling this nicely just let it roll.

Flip over for Backlash which takes us deeper still with lush chords and driving square wave bassline taking centre stage supported by an unrelent ing kick drum which helps to keep an intensity throughout the arrangement. Closing out the EP we have The Other, which sees 6BP dropping the BPM’s to create a low-slung slice of deep, underground house perfection.

2024 repress

Music From Memory is excited to announce a special compilation that they’ve been working on for some time now; MFM053 – VA – Heisei No Oto – Japanese Left-field Pop From The CD Age (1989-1996). Compiled by long-time friends of the label, Eiji Taniguchi and Norio Sato, Heisei No Oto delves into a world of music released almost exclusively on CD and brings together a fascinating selection of discoveries from a little known and overlooked part of Japan’s musical history.

The last ten or so years have seen a global wave of interest in Japanese music encompassing ambient, jazz, new wave and pop records from the 1980s, some of which is increasingly considered the most innovative and visionary music of that time. Although some music from this period, in the form of ‘City Pop’ or ‘rare groove’ records, had been coveted by collectors and DJs for a number of years, most Japanese music from the time was little known outside and often even within Japan.

Sometime around the mid 2000s, two Osaka record store owners, Eiji Taniguchi of Revelation Time and Norio Sato of Rare Groove, along with a handful of deep Japanese diggers such as Chee Shimizu of Organic Music records in Tokyo, began to explore beyond the typical ‘grooves’ or ‘breaks’. Much like their counterparts in Europe and the US, they began delving into home-grown ambient, jazz, new wave and pop records, discovering visionary music, often driven by synthesizers or drum computers, that broke beyond the typical confines of their genres.

Spending tireless hours in local record stores and embarking on digging trips across the country, Eiji Taniguchi and Norio Sato, much like Chee Shimizu, have been at the forefront of unearthing and introducing many of the very Japanese records now loved and sought after around the world. Yet as YouTube algorithms and vinyl reissues would transport such music into the global consciousness and demand and therefore scarcity intensified for such records, so Eiji and Norio have recently begun to turn their attention to CDs.

The title of the compilation Heisei No Oto refers to the sound of the Heisei era, which began in 1989 and corresponds to the reign of Emperor Akihito until his abdication in 2019. Marking the culmination of one of the most rapid economic growths in Japanese history, 1989 also coincided with the music industry’s final shift away from vinyl in favour of CDs. And, although compact discs were first introduced seven years earlier it wasn’t until late into the ‘80s that, beyond dance music labels, CDs became the exclusive format for major and independent labels in Japan and throughout the world.

This however didn’t signal the end of the innovation in Japan. Many of those same musicians who have become known for their work in the ‘80s would continue to produce outstanding music well into the mid ‘90s, as greater innovation and advances in musical equipment allowed Japanese musicians and producers to refine and explore new sounds. While musicians such as the seminal Haruomi Hosono, whose productions feature on a number of tracks, would continue to push the boundaries of these new technologies, these technological advances also meant less established musicians were able to make use of increasingly affordable but state-of-the-art equipment.

Including music by Haruomi Hosono as well as Yasuaki Shimizu, Toshifumi Hinata and Ichiko Hashimoto who have become known and loved around the world in recent years, Hesei No Oto also features Japanese pop star Yosui Inoue, producers Jun Sato and Keisuke Kikuchi in aaddition to less established artists from the contemporary, jazz, new wave, pop and dance music scenes. Bringing together a selection of tracks that seem to define these specific genres and in fact move fluidly between a number of them, the music on the compilation is again underscored by experimentations with synthesizers and drum computers though with something of a gentle Pop sensibility. Reimagined here then under the encompassing term ‘Left-field Pop’, this is an exciting chapter in Japanese musical history that has only just begun to be fully explored.

VA - Heisei No Oto - Japanese Left-field Pop From The CD Age (1989-1996) is a 2xLP/2xCD that includes liner notes by Chee Shimizu and artwork by Hagihara Takuya and is released on February 28th.