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mimismooth, a one-of-a-kind singer widely recognized for her work with numerous artists such as Sick Team, Senninsho, and Green Butter, as well as for her

collaborative project First Jam Magic released under the name BudaMunk x Takumi Kaneko (cro-magnon) x mimismooth.

1Co.INR, a beatmaker based in Yamaguchi Prefecture on the western tip of Japan’s main island, is known for his releases on Jazzy Sport such as the album
Enough Said and his collaborative work with DJ Mitsu The Beats on BEATS OF THE MONTH SPECIAL. Now, their highly anticipated collaborative project
Kanojo to Umi (""She and the Sea"") is finally being released as a fully limited-edition vinyl pressing!

Breidenbach returns with its third vinyl release, a four-track V.A. titled Nothing Can Go Wrong — a confident outing from the Heidelberg-based imprint, built around minimal house aesthetics, dub accents, and deeply hypnotic cuts. Uniting artists from Japan, Germany, and Sweden, the EP brings together three distinct voices aligned by a shared sense of groove, texture, and restraint.

On the A-side, Sasaki Hiroaki opens with "Groove Keep Practice", a warm, rolling Deep House track laced with sensual female vocal snippets and dubby pads. Subtle delays, spaced-out beats, and a fluid rhythm create the perfect recipe for dancefloor hypnosis. FilOu follows with two cuts: "Stampede" on A2 is crisp and crunchy, driven by a syncopated, funk-leaning bassline and surrounded by micro-glitches, sampled stabs, and airy textures that keep things moving. On the flip, "Astral" expands the palette with similar percussive tightness, but the basslines hit deeper, growling through the arrangement with attitude — hypnotic, consistent, and built for long blends. Chris Llopis closes the V.A. with "Aetherial Haze", a bright and melodic entry full of FM-style synths, scattered vocal snippets, and dubby echoes. It’s the most playful moment of the EP, but still rooted in the heady minimalism that runs through the entire release.

With Nothing Can Go Wrong, Breidenbach continues to define its space — thoughtful, functional records built for DJs who know that less is often more.

Special split Japan-Tour 7" that was especially made for and sold on DJ Fett Burger & DJ Sotofett November 2016 Sapporo-Osaka-Chiba-Tokyo-Fukui tour. Tripped out House with Hip-Hop slang and stiff Digi-Dub-House with serious drum rolling.

Selected songs from Yu Hayami's album "Delicacy of Love" released in 2016, are now available on vinyl from SLENDERIE RECORD, a music label
led by Takashi Fujii!

Contains two songs "" Tokeruyouni kiss me"" a masterpiece with lyrics by Yu Hayami, music by Takashi Fujii, and arrangement by Ken Tomita, and "Boogie
Boogie Love Train (English Version)" an English cover of Anne Lewis' "Koi no Boogie Woogie Train" which was not included on the album.
Experience the charm of the songs anew with the sound that only an analog record can provide. Limited quantities available, so don't miss out.

Yu Hayami Profile
Made her debut as a singer in 1982 with "Isoide! Hatsukoi".
Has had many hits, including "Natsuiro no Nancy" and "Passion"
Yu Hayami spent her childhood in Guam and Hawaii, and is bilingual, fluent in both English and Japanese.
Graduated from the Department of Japanese Culture, Faculty of Comparative Culture, Sophia University. In 1992, she participated in the Earth Summit held in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is active on a global scale.
She is also a certified wine expert and dance fitness ZUMBA® instructor. She has a diverse range of charms not only in music but also in lifestyle.
In 2022, she will celebrate her 40th anniversary since her debut and release her best album, "Affection ~Yu Hayami 40th Anniversary Collection~".
In the summer of 2024, she released a new song, "DISCO de DISCO" (composition: DJ Night Tempo), which she wrote the lyrics for.
She currently appears regularly on NHK Radio's "Midnight Flight NEXT" and NHK World's "Dining with the Chef". She also hosts BS-TBS's "MUSIC X".
Her annual summer solo concert, "Natsuiro no Nancy Festival 2025" is scheduled to take place at Otemachi Mitsui Hall on July 13th.
In recent years, she has also been working on jazz, pursuing new musical possibilities through the fusion of pop and jazz.

Jeroen van der Smut launches the 2nd volume of Smutty Edits. The crew from the first release DJ Mawashi, Tom Bolas and MLiR are joined by Italian Dama and Japanese crew C.O.M.P.A.S… The second edition carries through the concept of 3 electronic and House edits on one side with more disco and synth-pop leaning offerings on the flip.

Edits Collection reaches Volume 5 with NYC-based DJ Monchan. The Japanese producer delivers four expertly crafted re-edits guaranteed to please — essential tools for discerning selectors and dancefloor technicians alike.

After more than a decade of music-making, Durand Jones & The Indications have blossomed as a unit and are basking in their successes. On their aptly titled new album, Flowers, The Indications unfurl their true colors _ embracing all their roots and influences, maturation and confidence, and share them with the world. Since forming in 2012, the road has taken The Indications from those origins at Indiana University, Bloomington to the global stage, selling out shows across Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand to the West Coast_ where DJI has a strong following among the lowrider and vintage soul enthusiasts. For as far as Durand Jones & The Indications have come, Flowers grew from the desire to return to their roots in a Bloomington basement, a space where they first found camaraderie in gritty funk and Southern soul that would inspire their self-titled debut. Pulling sonically and spiritually from each of the group's previous releases and solo work, Flowers is the next stage of DJI's inspired soulful discography. DJI are not only accepting their flowers, but indulging in their sweet and sexy fragrance.

After more than a decade of music-making, Durand Jones & The Indications have blossomed as a unit and are basking in their successes. On their aptly titled new album, Flowers, The Indications unfurl their true colors _ embracing all their roots and influences, maturation and confidence, and share them with the world. Blue Iceberg Splash Vinyl. Since forming in 2012, the road has taken The Indications from those origins at Indiana University, Bloomington to the global stage, selling out shows across Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand to the West Coast_ where DJI has a strong following among the lowrider and vintage soul enthusiasts. For as far as Durand Jones & The Indications have come, Flowers grew from the desire to return to their roots in a Bloomington basement, a space where they first found camaraderie in gritty funk and Southern soul that would inspire their self-titled debut. Pulling sonically and spiritually from each of the group's previous releases and solo work, Flowers is the next stage of DJI's inspired soulful discography. DJI are not only accepting their flowers, but indulging in their sweet and sexy fragrance.

Nautilus are back again, back to the future, with their teaser for the upcoming studio album in 2026! The first single for the theme-based release deals with a true anime icon and a legendary soundtrack, which Nautilus imaginatively and skillfully reinterprets in their typical groove sound. In the feature, Japanese singer and sanshin virtuoso Anna Sato beams the song into a next dimension with her singing.

The single is rounded off by a master of club remixes, DJ and producer Delfonic from Berlin, a highly respected artist by Gilles Peterson, who gives the piece a magical touch for every deep dance floor with heavy beats.

Be quick on this unique release.

"Space is infinitely large and anything is possible in this universe."
Captain Future

Fun Fun was an Italian Euro disco band produced by Dario Raimondi Cominesi and Alvaro Ugolini. The group was fronted by models, while the vocals were recorded by

original singers Antonella Pepe, Angela Parisi, and Ivana Spagna. Spagna left after the release of their first album in 1983.

Their breakthrough came with the hit “Happy Station (Scratch Remix),” by Ben Liebrand which climbed the charts in several European countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium.

The track became a staple in the hottest discos of the era. The Greatest Fun compilation album brings together their biggest hits, including “Happy Station (Scratch Remix),”

“Give Me Your Love,” “Baila Bolero,” and “Living in Japan.” Additionally, the album features the Fun Fun “Mega Hit Mix,” a special mix by

Dutch producer and DJ Martin Boer of 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor fame, along with many more Euro disco tracks.

DIEMAJIN is the duo of Berlin-based producer DJ DIE SOON (Daisuke Imamura) and Tokyo-based vocalist MA. Their self-titled debut is equal parts scrambled hip-hop, simmering noise and spectral Tokusatsu soundtrack. A set of cursed beats and possessed raps inspired by Japanese sci-fi and supernatural-horror films from the 1960s.
The pair, both originally from Japan, first collaborated live at an event in Berlin organised by Morphine Records in 2019. But the eleven tracks on their self-titled debut were made by swapping beats, sounds and acapellas across the internet. Editing, arranging and degrading them into the collection presented here.

After meeting vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, & physician Eki Shola through her first vinyl release and playing her on the Oonops Drops show on Brooklyn Radio, Oonops asked her to be featured on the Nautilus single "Why I Came to California" alongside Denise M'Baye.

After this incredible release, a new common project was needed: so he asked Japanese beatmaker Shin-Ski as well as soul pianist, soul producer and soul dj SWING-O 45 a.k.a. 45 from Tokyo who is the head behind the 45trio. Both of them chose their favorites songs from Eki's album "還 (Kaeru)" to create their own vibrant reinterpretation.

Besides the limited black edition, there will be a hand-numbered edition of 50 on golden 7"-vinyl via Oonops Drops.

The stunning debut album by Peki Momés is back in store after selling out the first edition in a few weeks! This 2nd pressing has a different label design. Featuring twelve outstanding original tunes. Turkish psychedelic, global disco and outernational!

Peki Momés is a Turkish artist living in Germany - who only started to record music by accident in 2024. Blessed with style and intuition rather than formal education, her fresh and uncompromisingly authentic approach to music took hearts and ears by storm.

Ever since her debut 45 on Mocambo Records, Peki Momés has become a little sensation in and outside the organic groove scene: turntablist DJ Koco played doubles of "Göc Mevsimi" in his set, Iggy Pop announced "Rüya" on his "Iggy Confidential" show on BBC and the second vinyl single surprised everyone with a mesmerizing cover of Marco Valle's much loved "Estrelar" in the turkish language. Both records sold out quickly and are in the bags of tastemakers like Coco Maria.

Peki Momés' music is an eclectic mix of sounds from the global underground, tastefully crafted by producer Dustin Braun and a troupe of ridiculously talented jazz musicians. Dirty disco, fuzzy funk, anatolian rare grooves, experimental synth, library music and japanese city pop all blend naturally with her distinct vocals to create a unique ethereal outernational sound that is all her own.

Once dubbed as 'turkish discodelic', Peki's songs have a dreamlike, enchanted and psychedelic quality and instantly take the listener on a journey. In a poetic way, she approaches topics like "dreams and a naive fear of losing or not fulfilling them" or expresses "worries about our weary world and call for solidarity from all" - always with an outlook of hope. You do not have to speak turkish to understand - the message is transported by a universal language.

With her debut album, Peki Momés is now telling her full story. Displaying a young Peki on the cover, the artwork hints at the freshness and enthusiasm of the project. We should consider ourselves lucky that Peki chose to disrespect rules in favor of self-empowerment and made this wonderful longplayer that you never knew you needed.

DJ Sodeyama returns to Sound Of Vast under his The People In Fog guise this June with the nine track 'Too Much Knobs And Cables' LP.

Over the past three decades DJ Sodeyama has been a staple in Japan's underground and beyond across the globe as a DJ and releasing material under his own name via the likes of Radio Slaves' Rekids, Dynamic Reflection, Nina Kraviz' трип and more. Here though, he makes a welcome return under his The People In Fog alias to Tokyo's Sound Of Vast, the platform that's played host to all of his material under this alias as well as others like The Mole, Shinichiro Yokota, San Proper and more.

Across the nine-track 'Too Much Knobs And Cables' LP, The People In Fog once again radiantly showcases his depth and understanding of true underground sounds. From the classic Deep House aesthetic of opener 'Red Morning', 'CC Love' and 'New Life' to more classic Chicago House inspired cuts like 'Animal Kingdom', 'Jack Out' and filtered Disco house jams like 'Dance To The Air', 'New Life' and 'Miraval'.

Sodeyama also dives deeper beyond House once again in true long player fashion to deliver the unique 80's tinged, funk-infused and vintage synth/drum machine laced 'Night Driver' and the cinematic closing piece 'Sun Moon Lake', which leans into a Balearic leaning sonic world via drifting guitar melodies, arpeggios, acid licks and a crunchy rhythm section.

Lemuria, the Hawaiian AOR project helmed by Kirk Thompsonian original member of the legendary Kalapanaireturns with a special 7" reissue featuring their a few of their favourite tracks 'All I've Got To Give' and 'Hunk of Heaven'. Thompson, a multifaceted talent as both a musician and producer, crafted timeless albums that captured the sun-soaked essence of island life. Originally released in 1978, Lemuria's music boasts top-tier production and songwriting, which has seen their songs covered by many artists over the years. Now, P-Vine revives two of their signature tracks on vinyl, offering DJs a dynamic slice of soulful, tropical grooves. 'All I've Got To Give' is a warm, melodic gem, while 'Hunk of Heaven' delivers a breezy, irresistible rhythm perfect for eclectic sets. This 45 is bringing the spirit of Hawaii's musical legacy back to the turntables.

NAD aka Dan Tyler of the legendary Idjut Boys arrives at Duca with a bouncing 4 track of obscurities, all wrapped in a sheen of echo and reverb.

The Idjuts’ have released on a myriad of labels, including Noid, U Star and Smalltown Supersound, being one of the originators of the 90s edits revival, DJing the globe including to almost cult-status in Japan, as well as remixing the likes of DJ Harvey, Brian Ferry and Dimitri From Paris

A master of editing, Dan’s move to Oslo has seen him step out solo to remix the likes of Todd Terje (Olson), Mudd (Claremont 56) and King Sporty (Emotional Rescue) and not forgetting running the Record Mission edits label with old friend Nick The Record.

Das Wordy hits with a bump, the gastarbeiter NAD rockin’ like Tom Tom Club on Stasi steroids.

La nouvelle musique of Histoire De Cul sweeps the catwalk, sweeping past Le Palace queue, hitting Cuevas’ dancefloor to “effet sensuel”.

Rocking out is NAD’s nature, Kropps Smack a body with a mind of its own, come down, come all night…boody language.

Release The Pigeon is a smooth ride home, the music nomad, the gypsy man, one of these days he’ll settle down.

Yer yer yer ahhh yer.

COMPUMA's new new album “horizons”now available on vinyl via his own label Something About!

The album “horizons” is a further development of COMPUMA's “horizons EP”, which was released in July 2023 as a digital-only EP on his Bandcamp. The songs are inspired by the scenery and environment of Lake Ezu, Kumamoto, where the artist's roots lie, and by his walks in various places around Japan.

Horizons 1”, in which the undulations of electronic sounds seem to represent a leisurely walk across a clear expanse of sky and lake scenery, and the vocoder voice somewhat reminds us of people's activities, and the piece changes to a more minimalistic play of rhythms and electronic sounds, as if focusing on introspection in the midst of walking. The album also includes “horizons 2,” which changes with exquisite salinity, “horizons 3,” which pays homage to early electronic music, and “horizons 4,” a more stoic minimal electro-dubwise piece that seems to be immersed in the act of walking, The last track on the album, “horizons 5,” is a non-beat ambient track with a hint of the waterfront, as if the artist is gazing at the vast sky, as if the steps of the first half of the album are expanding into a faint memory, and is accompanied by a field recording. The album includes “horizons 5”, a non-beating ambient taste that is covered by field recordings and depicts the atmosphere of a wandering waterfront, and five versions of “horizons” that remind us of the days of “walking”, sometimes immersed in the scenery and walking, sometimes lost in thought, with “horizons interlude” in between, which reminds us of the surface of a bobbing lake, and is a self-titled version of “View 2” from the previous album, “A View”. The album contains seven songs in total, including a self-remix of “View 2” and an electro version of “view 2 electro”, reminiscent of the shimmering surface of a lake.

Personally speaking, this work reminds me somewhat of Kraftwerk's “Autobahn,” which depicted the countryside of West Germany with minimal electronic sounds, and this work also seems to depict a scene of a “walk” with electronic sounds. However, what is different from “Autobahn” is that there is an element in the middle part of the album that seems to go into introspection in the midst of walking, and it is a work that shows various views (including feelings) throughout the album. From a macro perspective, this album is a new response to the recent environmental music revival and generalization of ambient music, which he has introduced as a DJ and record buyer for a long time.
The album was co-produced by hacchi, who also works with Deavid Soul, Urban Volcano Sound, and as a recording/mastering engineer, and mastered by Nakamura Soichiro of Peace Music, a studio that has produced many masterpieces, including Shintaro Sakamoto's solo work. The package artwork is by designer Seiichiro Suzuki. The package artwork is by designer Sei Suzuki. （The package artwork was designed by designer Sei Suzuki.)

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Compuma is a Tokyo-based log-serving DJ whose extensive knowledge of obscure and left-field music across so many genres and different regions of the world established himself as one of the most respected record buyers in Japan,
a country well known as record collectors’ paradise. While he built his career in record business over decades, he has also been sharing his expertise in music as a DJ just as long. Not only the breath and the depth of where his selection derives are hard to compete, the way he blends them all together is also a state of art. Often intricately layered and collaged, Compuma is capable of sculpting something entirely new with bits and pieces of existing tracks in various forms such as ambient soundscapes to dubbed out club sets. In 2017, his unique ability caught the attention of Berlin Atonal directors and he was invited to play at the festival in Berlin.

He extends his skills into remixing which can be heard on the released from EM Records - “Compuma meets Haku” (2015) and “Bangkok Nights” (2017.) In June 2022, he released his first solo album, A View.
He is also an active member of a DJ trio called Akuma No Numa (which translates to “devil’s swamp”) in which he explores darker and more psychedelic periphery of dance music.

Jahtari label compilation full of all-new Outsider Dubs, Dancehall bangers and lots of cosmic low end, marking twenty years of Reggae oddness from Leipzig.

Vol. 5 is the first addition to the Jahtarian Dubbers series in over ten years, starting off with ‘The Loop Jerk’ by DJ and activist Dave Watts aka KingLMan (who sadly passed away in 2024).

Kiki Hitomi turns up the heat with ‘Red Mustang’, a raw but sweet PG 18-rated Japanese lofi Reggae gem, followed by ‘Casio HipHop’, an addictive synth & drum machine session by UK bedrock producer Kris Kemist (Reality Shock Records).

Singjay miracle El Fata brings the positive energy with ‘Boom Sound’, a synthie dancehall scorcher hot off the tape reels at Naram’s studio in the New Zealand bush, while Jura Soundsystem’s hypnotizing ‘On My Way (Dub)’ easily shifts gears into Sly & Robbie-mode.

Side B starts off with Pupajim’s prophetic ‘Tidal Wave’, produced by digi-reggae specialist Raggattack and coming in an epic extended Disco Dub version.

Melodica wizard Taka Noda (Mystica Tribe) and synth shaman Danny Wolfers (Legowelt) enter into deep magnetic communion with their Sacred Tascam tape deck on ‘Cabal of Puppeteers’, followed by DJ veteran Speng Bond chanting ‘Wha Mek’ over a spaced out depth charge by Jahtari co-founder Rootah.

Gameboy-whisperer DJ Scotch Egg (WaqWaq Kingdom, Seefeel) joins forces with disrupt and Dub trumpet black belt Pablo Volt (STA) for a mindbending journey going all the way from synth heavy Roots to Acid Jazz, on Namahage‘s ‘Voidout Dub’.

The voyage ends with a hazy and mystical Ambient Dub version of ‘Muuri’ by Finish singer Tiiu Helinä, with Tapes on keys – not to be missed!

All lovingly mixed by disrupt, coming with iconic artwork by Disko 69 (Doppeldenk).

M-Scape is a solo project by Japanese DJ/producer/remixer Makoto Nakatani.

Urban Reconstruction is a release that blends House, Techno and Broken-Beat in a very skilful way.

The title track is, dare we say, a Los Hermanos sounding track that holds both the energy and harmonies Gerald Mitchell would produce.
'I Do' is house on a broken beat tip while 'Freedom' got more of the M-Scape sound fusing House, Jazz and Techno.

Ending the EP is 'Let The Drums Play' which is not far from what electronic-Jazz pioneer Mark de Clive-Lowe does and a great way to end an EP that makes a stellar debut on Local Talk.

From the experimental chaos of IDM to the deep, soulful chords of Detroit techno, Japanese DJ and producer Takuya Matsumoto takes us on a captivating journey through decades of musical evolution. Vertical Stories is Takuya’s debut album, and it seamlessly blends the past with the future. Get ready to dive into a sonic landscape that spans from unfiltered energy to complex, layered textures. If you’re a fan of the raw energy of Underground Resistance, the innovative sounds of Mike Paradinas, or the intricate layers of Floating Points and Pepe Bradock, to name just a few, this full-length album is for you!

Ziúr lines up with The Tapeworm for an exclusive cassette-only release featuring Kenichi Iwasa, exploring the electroacoustic realms.

Invited to perform solo at Tarek Atoui's performance series at Kunsthaus Bregenz in October 2024, Ziúr decided to write a new piece for the occasion. This composition, 'Turn Liquid Into Dust', was then performed within the framework of Tarek Atoui's 'Waters' Witness' exhibition as an 8-channel spacial audio piece, transmitting sounds through the installation's structure – metal bars, stones, compost piles… Composed in London in autumn 2024, its principal source of sonic material is recordings of Atoui's instruments which Ziúr had recorded in his studio in Paris during the summer of 2024. In addition, she invited the Japanese woodwind player and virtuoso Kenichi Iwasa to join on all pieces, his contribution providing a binding element, tying the pieces together.

Opener 'A Cold Drip' consists solely of Iwasa's spectral squalls. The tense noir drone of 'Long Call' features a string instrument built by Atoui. For the airy yet dense title track, Ziúr recorded an organ named The Reed Box, with Iwasa floating atop its smoggy soundbed. Closer 'Chips 'n' Crumbles' echos and reverberates with the rattles of household items Ziúr found around her home.

Driven by a relentless appetite for boundless experimentation, Ziúr has been subverting expectations since she was a teenager, corkscrewing through hardcore, metal and punk before veering towards electronic music's turbulent fringes. She produces just like she DJs, gathering a wide variety of ingredients and figuring out the most intriguing, unexpected ways to simmer them into a coherent narrative that helps listeners synchronize the conflicting messages that surround them. Genre isn't a fixed point for Ziúr, but a colour in a vast palette that stretches across history and borders, helping illustrate music that's powerfully subversive. Her The Tapeworm edition follows acclaimed recordings for Planet Mu, PAN, Objects Limited and Hakuna Kulala.

Kenichi Iwasa is a London-based improviser and multidisciplinary artist from Japan, also known for his legendary Krautrock Karaoke night as well as collaborations with visual artists and musicians such as Beatrice Dillon, Maxwell Sterling and Linder Sterling. He currently performs with Naima Karlsson under the name Exotic Sin.

For a project which made its debut in 2024 with next to no fanfare nor hype, rush2theUnknown managed to capture the attention and the imagination of a number of notable DJs across genres, tempos and timezones in their debut year. From legendary chillers Kruder & Dorfmeister picking up on the more Japanese VGM influenced side of their music, techno DJs like Courtesy, Anastassia Kristensen and Nastia drawn towards their more celestial-tinged breakbeat offerings and key support coming in from many trailblazers past and present of the genres that shaped the duo thirty years back. Support from artists and DJs around the world saw rush2theUnknown's music aired across Kool FM, Rinse FM, NTS, BBC Radio One, and thanks to impassioned support from punky-reggae icon Don Letts, multiple spins on the Rebel Dreads legendary BBC Radio 6 show.

With the foundation laid rush2theUnknown return to Diskotopia with the "Yugawara" EP.

Early support for the Yugawara EP has already seen responses from and tracks from the EP played by DJs like Machinedrum, DJ Flight, Addison Groove, dBridge, Gyrofield, Joakim, I:Cube, Courtesy, Cici, Sakura Tsuruta and more in clubs and on radio like NTS, Kool FM, Rinse FM and BBC Radio One, and BBC 6 Music.

Born from a journey out of Tokyo to the seaside town of Yugawara in the northeastern end of Izu Peninsula, the EP channels the energy, spirit and mathematically impossible coincidences that seem to come with each adventure the duo has in that part of Japan. Each morning the duo would leave their makeshift studio and wander across the hills of Yugawara. Be it a random encounter, a conversation or mental picture sparked by the visual scenery before them, new tracks came to life each day. As with their Diskotopia debut, each EP is a mix of the myriad influences the duo have accumulated since their teenage years living on outer ends of the Pacific Ocean.

From the technicolour aqua-jungle of "View From Fuua" which bursts with Logical Progression era Good Looking Records exo-planet optimism, through to the EPs closer, "Zuio-ji" a track that owes as much of a debt to the ancient Japanese court music of gagaku, as it does the 1960s soundtrack work of composer Toru Takemitsu and the jidaigeki infused breakbeat experiments of a mid 90s Rupert Parkes. Shades, tones and hues plucked from CD-ROM era "Visual Scenes" 80s CM Music and the techno-animism of synth-heavy anime soundtracks can be found on the EPs more VGM-leaning excursions "光のトンネル" and "夜明けの真鶴岬" whereas tracks like "Physical Reality" continue the question posed on their debut:What would a breakbeat tradition look and sound like, had it been forged a billion light years away?

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.

Toy Tonics Music Berlin presents "Para Mytho Disco". The 2nd "Kapote" album of label founder and creative director Mathias Modica.
Keyboarder, DJ, producer, music nerd, graphic designer, multi-instrumentalist, sub-culture impressario and artist (formerly known as Munk of Gomma records.)

Kapote & Toy Tonics
In the last years Kapote was in the spotlight mainly for building the Toy Tonics label with his friends. Developing a platform for new positive quality dance music with a human touch. Toy Tonics is the opposite of the dark, druggy Techno and Trance sounds of the last years.
The warm inclusive music of Toy Tonics represents a new vibe that a young generation of diverse, stylish and culturally intersted generation of dancers loves now. Kapote's Toy Tonics became the key label for that vibe. (In 2024 Toy Tonics made 150 Toy Tonics events in 18 countries. With more than 150.000 people dancing. 90 millions streams on their music.)
Toy Tonics is more than a music label: It's a audio - visual universe. A community, almost a movement.
Based on a new positive attitude and aesthetic diversity. Mixing musicianship with DJ culture, analogue music with electronic, ideas from the past with sounds from now. To create something new. Connecting dance music with graphic design, art and underground fashion.
Kapote and his gang release vinyl, posters, shirts, art fanzines and make exhibitions and partys.

Toy Tonics started in Berlin as a underground niche project. But now became the key label of the new house, wild style disco and organic dance music scene.
Probably one of Berlin's biggest electronic music phenomena along with Keinemusik and Live from Earth.

It went fast: 2020 Kapote's crew started to make small parties in Berlin's off spaces. The "Toy Tonics Jams". The parties became "talk of the town", and Berlin clubs like Griesmühle and Panorama Bar invited the crew. Then international clubs and festival called. Toy Tonics were invited to SONAR (playing the mainstage with Kaytranada and DJ Tennis), KALA festival, Montreux Jazz festival.
Now TT has a residency at Panorama Bar Berlin and sold out events in Europe leading clubs like Phonox in London, Rex Club in Paris, Tunnel in Milan.
Toy Tonics now is the reference brand of a new generation of music loving dancers. Similar to Gomma records, Kapote's former label (2003 - 2015) that was one of the key labels of the "indie dance" scene of the Y2K years (along with DFA and Output Records).

Kapote created a multi-cultural movement with graphic designers, photographers, illustrators from the Berlin scene.
They publish the Toy Tonics Pocket Poster magazine, posters and design shirts. They organize the Toy Tonics Pop Up Galleries mixing music and art. In underground venues in Berlin and in new gallery spaces and museums around Europe.
Toy Tonics has been invited by Palais de Tokio museum in Paris, Triennale Museum Berlin, Design week Milano to create events.
The new Kapote album
The 12 tracks have a very own style. Based on dance music, but going much further. "Para Mytho Disco' is a futuristic mix of sounds. It's far away from the dark monotone techno and trance music from Kapote's hometown Berlin. Instead, he creates warm friendly atmospheres full of sonic colours and little musical surprises.
Kapote's knowlege of music history and his backround as a jazz piano student and son of classic music composer is clearly inside this music. Before turning into a DJ and electronic music producer he has been playing in bands since he was 13 years old.
The album is full of emotional chord progressions played by Kapote on various keyboards. Sometimes reminding music from the past, without being retro at all. The basslines and melodies are inspired by jazz fusion from the 1970ies. And he programmed syncopated grooves that come from afro-american dance music. There are influences from Japanese electronic music (Yellow Magic Orchestra), from 1980s Synthwave and from 1990s electronica (like Squarepusher and Luke Vibert).

Kapote plays keys, bass, flutes and percussions, he plays synth solos and sings on a few tracks. The complexity of the arrangements makes this music never boring. Lot of melodies and solos that catch the listener. Colourful soundscapes that make you want to listen or dance to this album more, and discover details also after you heard it several times.

Kapote background

Before starting Toy Tonics, Kapote used to run a label called Gomma. He produced four albums under the name Munk and music for other artists.
He produced music with Peaches, Franz Ferdinand founder Nick McCarthy, with New York street art legend The Rammellzee, Italian actress Asia Argento, the first three albums of WhoMadeWho and worked with LCD Soundsystem (listen to "Kick out the chairs", the Munk song with James Murphy )
In those "Gomma days" Kapote aka Munk was also one of the main DJs for VICE magazine parties and made music for art projects and fashion brands (Margiela, Prada, Colette).
In 2015 he stopped Munk and Gomma and started Toy Tonics. He found young producers and helped to develop their sound (Coeo, Cody Currie, Gee Lane, Barbara Boeing, Sam Ruffillo). Later he founded the sublabel Kryptox to release music by Berlin based bands that make new forms of jazz or neo classical sounds.

Under the name Kapote Mathias didnt release much:
Only his Kapote debut album "What it is" (2019) and an EP called "Electric Slide" (2022) and a collabo EP with Italian producer Sam Ruffillo ("Robot Salsa").

An although his Munk and Kapote music was an underground phenomena his music has always been a favourite of many great people from the scene.
Supported by DJs like Harvey, Chromeo, Moodymann, Jennifer Cardini, Gerd Janson, MYD, Andrew Weatherall to Blessed Madonna, Justice and Laurent Garnier… to name just a few.

SUNAGA tatsuo (sunaga t'experience)
DJ and Music Producer. Basing his activities around his own club ‘Shibuya Organ Bar’, holds regular club nights throughout Japan. Apart from his own mix CDs such as the ‘Organ b. SUITE’ which many say is in a class of its own, has produced remixes for the ‘Soul Source 2: Jackson 5 Remix’ and Yasuharu Konishi’s ‘Punch the Monkey’. He began his own label ‘AFTERS OR’ in 1998,acting both as artist and producer. Releasing records under the alias of ‘Sunaga t experience’ on avex/cutting edge records, the ‘It’s you’ 12 inch made record sales of 7,000 records, an incredibly large number in the vinyl market. His name is known in Europe through such labels as IRMA and SCHEMA records, and has remained in the forefront of the industry since the beginning of the Tokyo club scene.

compiled by tsunaki kadowaki
artwork by yoshirotten
mastering by kuniyuki takahashi

Tsunaki Kadowaki, a staff member at Kyoto’s record store Meditations, the supervisor of "New Age Music Disc Guide", and the founder of Sad Disco, curates the fourth installment of "Midnight in Tokyo" themed around Ambient Kayō.

The Midnight in Tokyo series by Studio Mule focuses on Japanese music, serving as a soundtrack for Tokyo nights—whether for home listening, club play, or as a driving BGM, transcending location and space. After a six-year hiatus, the fourth volume takes "Ambient Kayō" as its new perspective, compiling genre-defying tracks released between 1977 and 1999 to explore the intersection of Japanese ambient and pop music.

For this long-awaited fourth installment, selections were made regardless of record label status (major or independent), era, format (vinyl or CD), original release price, or prior reissues. Instead, the focus was on music that deeply moves the listener, is open-minded and evocative, brims with inspiration and spiritual insight, and embodies the "utagokoro" (singing heart) of Japanese artists.

Opening the compilation is "Umi e Kinasai" by Yōsui Inoue, a legendary Japanese singer-songwriter whose works have recently gained renewed interest as hidden gems of Walearic and ambient pop

Composed and arranged by Katsu Hoshi—who is also known for his arrangements on Inoue’s masterpiece Ice World—the track features renowned players such as Masayoshi Takanaka, Hiroki Inui, and Shigeru Inoue. The song embodies a yearning for Balearic horizons, tinged with youthful vibrancy and sentimentality.

Next, "Oritatamu Umi", compiled from Keiko Nosaka, a 20-string koto player, and George Murasaki, a pioneer of Okinawan rock, is an instrumental track from their album "Niraikanai Requiem 1945". As the title suggests, it carries themes of requiem and remembrance, conveying poetic lyricism even without words. Blending Ryukyuan/Okinawan harmonies and indigenous elements, it unfolds as an intimate and nostalgic piece of progressive rock.

Also featured is "Natsu no Kowareru Koro" by Higurashi, a folk-rock band led by Seiichi Takeda, formerly a guitarist of The Remainders of The Clover, the predecessor of RC Succession. Like the opening track "Umi e Kinasai", this song was also produced by Katsu Hoshi. It stands as a folk/new music piece that takes a step into an "otherworldly" realm, recommended for fans of Twin Cosmos and Masumi Hara.

From the enigmatic Blue, the only work left by the mysterious composer S.R. Kinoshita, comes "Mangrove", a hidden treasure of Japan's ambient/new age scene from the CD era. With an oriental and enigmatic atmosphere, the track evokes a mystical world of deep, uncharted jungles, unfolding as an otherworldly New Age Kayō.

"Yaponesia Sakura", selected from Rehabilual’s sole album New Child, is a masterpiece of Japanese new age music. Produced by Swami Dhyan Akamo, a disciple of Indian meditation teacher Osho and a renowned balafon player, the track features Michio Ogawa (Chakra) and Atsuo Fujimoto (Colored Music). Their collective artistry creates an exquisite spiritual ambient pop sound.

"Asa no Hitoshizuku", the opening folk song from Sachiko Kanenobu’s album Sachiko, is also included. Known for her legendary folk album Misora, produced by Haruomi Hosono, Kanenobu’s fourth album after resuming her career was inspired by her experiences living in San Francisco and revolves around the theme of "love." This track carries the same intimate poetic world as Misora, imbued with a pure, crystalline innocence.

From the synth-pop band E.S. Island, known for the Haruomi Hosono-produced *Teku Teku Mami", comes "Yume Fūrin ", selected from their long-lost new age classic Nanpū from Hachijo. Created while the band’s core duo was living in Hachijō Island, the album aimed to sonically capture "the high and happy vibrations of everyday island life." This track offers a dynamic, tribal-infused New Age Kayō experience.

Dubbed "the world's first Min’yō House Mix" "Esashi Oiwake (Maeuta) " comes from Kanazawa Akiko HOUSE MIX Ⅰ, a collaboration between Japanese house music pioneer Soichi Terada and Akiko Kanazawa, a renowned min’yō singer. Through the prism of club music, Hokkaido's Esashi Oiwake, one of Japan’s most iconic folk songs, is transformed into a futuristic ambient pop piece with intricate sound design.

The compilation also includes "Sweet Ong Choh", a track from Voice From Asia, a group active between 1989 and 1992 featuring vocal artist Shizuru Ohtaka. Taken from their imaginative minimal work Voice From Asia, released under Aoyama Spiral’s music label Newsic, the song presents a tranquil, tribal-minimal soundscape enriched by ethnic instruments.

Hailed by Haruomi Hosono as having “a shaman residing in her voice,” singer-songwriter Nami Hōdatsu also appears in the selection. Known for her collaborations with Henry Kawahara, her debut album featured "Asa-Hikari-Ame-Yume", a track that now stands as a precursor to modern vocaloid/synthesized vocal music—a hidden gem of post-choir aesthetics that deserves rediscovery.

Likewise, "Tennessee Waltz", from Naomi Akimoto’s album One Night Stand, supported by members of Mariah, serves as another early prototype of vocaloid/synthesized vocal music. The track weaves fragmented vocal samples, pastoral yet sweetly minimal synth sounds, and mechanical beats into a strikingly unconventional piece in the history of Japanese music.

Closing the compilation is "Heaven Electric", a track from Nav Katze’s album Gentle & Elegance, which featured remixes by Autechre, Seefeel, and Sun Electric. Merging elements of IDM, ambient techno, and chillout, the song embodies an optimism reminiscent of space music while seamlessly blending a mystical Japanese aesthetic—an ambient pop masterpiece.

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The album presents 12 exquisite pop tracks infused with an ambient feeling, resonating deeply with the evolving landscape of the mid-2020s—a time of post-hyperpop and Y2K revival.

Tsunaki Kadowaki (Compiler)

Born in 1993 in Yonago, Tottori, Tsunaki Kadowaki is a staff member and buyer at Kyoto’s Meditations record store. He is the editor of New Age Music Disc Guide (DU BOOKS) and a contributor to Music Magazine, Record Collectors' Magazine, ele-king, and more. Kadowaki has written liner notes for multiple Japanese releases (Brian Eno, Masahiro Sugaya etc.) and runs the Sad Disco music label under Disk Union. He also curates Spotify’s official New Age Music playlist and performed as a DJ at YCAM’s Audio Base Camp #3 in 2024.

After forming a friendship with Japanese hip-hop talent DJ Motive, Hell Yeah is releasing his previously CD-only album Sunset Sunrise. After initially being released as a promo to support the 7 inch lead single 'Sunrise,' it now comes on 2 x 12 inch for the first time with fresh mastering by Justin Drake. DJ Motive hails from Gifu, a small and charming city 30 minutes from Nagoya. From there he has built up a cult following for his blend of Latin, jazz and hip-hop beats over a number of albums and EPs in the last 20 years. He is also the producer behind the DeadBundy outfit that was previously remixed by countryman Calm on this label's Calm Reworks EP back in 2020. Thanks to a link from Calm, Hell Yeah founder Marco first hooked up with Motive in the pre-Covid days, twice playing his Alffo event in Gifu and hanging out to chat music. One of the many things that came up was a CD of Sunset Sunrise which has remained on firm rotation on Marco's stereo ever since and is a worldly trip into sample-heavy sounds, indie rock, hip-hop and jazz. Opener 'Sunrise' ft. Deadbundy & Chemical Codex opens with drums that lap like gentle waves on a beach as thoughtful strings and filtered vocals add to the sense of bliss. From there, DJ Motive lays down lazy broken beats and twinkling melodies that take your head above the clouds amongst lush pads and nostalgic samples. 'Chill On A Lotus' sounds like a damaged old tape as vocals, chords and strings all get smudged and smeared into a heavenly ambient soundscape, and there are plenty of loose mixes of dusty drums and jazzy keys, 'Howling 2 You' is a fusion of jazz drums and Balearic energy that slowly sweeps you off your feet and 'Walker' has squelch synth bass and heat damaged keys.

This escapist trip carries on through more broken beats and yacht rock, inquisitive jazz interludes and sunset grooves that all come with a heavy sense of inward reflection. The fragments of vocal are like half-remembered dreams, and the hooks remind of a forgotten lover while the louche beats move things forward with subtle optimism. Sunset Sunrise takes you through a full day in the life of DJ Motive and it makes for a vibrant collage of sound that reveals something new with every listen.

A match made in dancefloor heaven, as two worlds collide with LDN partystarters Make A Dance committing their official remix of indie rock four-piece, Django Django’s percussive bumper ‘Don't Touch That Dial’ to vinyl for a limited pressing, complete with vinyl only dub mix on the flip.

Already squarely aimed at the club, the Make A Dance duo take the original to stratospheric heights, flipping it into a body-popping, electro bomb which sits Japanese singer Yuuko’s vocals centre stage intertwined with glitching synth lines and acid armoury to turn this into a full frontal, downright infectious firecracker.

On the B, the vinyl only exclusive dub mix let’s those juiced up, electro grooves fly as deft hints of Yuuko’s vocals bounce around your brain.

Cop now or forever hold your peace.

"Ital Breakfast" (1996) ist ein weiterer Dub Syndicate-Klassiker, bei dem Style Scott noch mehr jamaikanische Topmusiker zusammenbrachte, darunter Mitglieder von Roots Radics, Soul Syndicate, Joe Gibbs' Professionals und Bunny Lee's Aggrovators. Dieses unglaubliche Erbe wird durch Adrian Sherwoods Arbeit am Mischpult ergänzt, bei der er die Londoner Musiker Skip McDonald und Akabu overdubbte und seine Klangmagie auf das Rohmaterial wirken ließ – eine echte transatlantische Dub-Zusammenarbeit. Die LP enthält zudem einen Cameo-Auftritt des legendären DJs I Roy auf dem Titeltrack sowie ein Gastfeature von Lee "Scratch" Perry auf "The Captain's Trance Mission". Das seit langem vergriffene Vinylformat wurde von Frank Merritt im The Carvery neu geschnitten und enthält rare Fotos von Coneyl Jay und neue Linernotes von Rob Harris (Testpressung).

Goodtunes is back and this time with a highly regarded compilation of various artists.

Kicking off this label’s second release we have Mungo Sound Machine. Positioned as the A1, ‘See You Next Thursday’ functions as one of the heavier tracks on the release. With a downright dirty bass line, crisp percussion, and creative arrangement, this track tells a story that will never get old.

On the A2, comes ultra-talented friend of the label and NYC resident, Chuwee. Here he delivers with a magical evening steamer in ‘DX Tornado’. Shuffled drums and a deep rolling bass line accompanied with funky stabs and tripped out Japanese vocals are the perfect combination to start a party or keep it going.

J. Feierabend is no stranger to the punch. Sharp and ripe kicks, snares and a thick bass line drive this clubby groover to great heights. Bright vocoders and tech’d out bleeps take this one step further. When it comes to being simple but effective, the B1 ‘Listen’ knocks it out of the park.

Lastly, worlds collide from the Berlin to Paris link-up between Natebytheway and Local DJ. Crafted on a sunny day during the Olympics in Paris, this collaboration is a gentle taste of the deep and clubby combination the two producers love. Techy, gritty and soft in all the right places. Let ‘PB Saucers’ and the others aforementioned take you and your loved ones to brighter places.

Since the first release 5 years ago, Jazz Room Records has released an eclectic and interesting selection of releases.

From the Jazzy commercialism of the Take Vibe version of The Stranglers "Golden Brown" (5,000 vinyl single sales) to the 1960's Headshop Sounds of West Coast Fluteman Eric Ghost.

Other notable releases on Jazz Room include the critically lauded album by Vibraphonist Khan Jamal "Infinity", a compilation of Japanese tough funk fusionists indigo jam unit put together by DJ Colin Curtis, Nuyorican Latin House from Tata Vasquez, Jazz Dance Madchester Rave from Cruisic and some South African Holy Grail grooves from Abacothozi! The latest release is the Underground Latin J-Jazz of Copa Salvo, first introduced to London by DJ & Music Legend Jean-Claude.

Next up is an in demand Jazz Funk Obscurity from Educator and Trumpet Player John Lamkin whose self released album "Hot" saw the light of day in 1984 then disappeared into the Rare Jazz ether.

Currently changing hands for €300 and upwards it's again about to see the light of day in 2025!

This is an album that is aptly named with all the elements we love: Latin, Funk, Soul, Jazz and all round Double Hipness. What a Hot item it is too. From the Funky as it gets opening bars of "Ticket" through the Rio bound flight "722", taking in a visit to Wonderland with some Soul Jazz Vocal stylings on "Flower Power" and the Funkiest 17 minute Journey to Trumpet Enlightenment in the Title track "Hot" which is, true to its name, Scorching by the finish line is reached.

Already getting Big Ups on UK Jazz Funk Scene Founder Colin Curtis's Cult Radio Show "Jazz Dance Fusion" it's gonna be getting plenty of plays worldwide at the "Hottest" radio stations and funkiest jazz dance nights near you soon!

Ross Allen: It's brilliant!! Perry Louis: Massive! Dr Bob Jones:I Love Big Time!Colin Curtis: Killer!

Profile 1
KONISHI yasuharu
Band leader, songwriter, arranger and producer of the now disbanded Pizzicato Five (1985- 2001). Although having 2 successful world tours and 5 international albums under his belt, with fans ranging from London’s Karminsky Experience to Karl Lagerfeld, many of his fans know him as a DJ, spinning in Tokyo’s hotspots such as Shibuya’s ‘Organ Bar’. He tours regularly throughout Japan and abroad. In the Jackson 5 Remix Album, his remix ‘I want you back (readymade 524 mix)’ received an extraordinary amount of national radio play.
The remix album itself has scored healthy rankings in major record stores. In 1998, his own project ‘Punch the Monkey!’ (in which he remixes the theme tune of a popular Japanese cartoon series ‘Lupin the Third’) sold over 700,000 records, and this, some say, began Japan’s remix rush. His achievements truly invaded the mainstream when in 2000, he produced the No.1 single ‘Oha-Rock’ which became a social phenomenon in itself. Most
recently, he set up his own record label, ‘readymade international inc.’ from he which he plans to release new exciting solo works.
His talents also embrace film and photography and he is well known as a director in promotional videos, shows and advertisements. T-shirts and original goods which Konishi personally designed are sold in select shops such as BEAMS of Shibuya.
He is also a writer having regular columns in various magazines, and has also written several books. A collection of his essays have been published under the title ‘Kore wa koi de wa nai’ (’This is not love’
)
Profile 2
IKEDA masanori (Mansfield)
Began his DJ career in London, 1991, while working in Soho’s Soul Jazz Records. After becoming resident DJ at ‘Blow-Up’ in London’s Wag Club, he has toured the country and the rest of Europe. With his friends Karminsky Experience and Gentle People, he has also organised numerous club events, compiled CDs and produced radio programs. Returning to Japan in 1997, as the DJ with the rarest records in the East, he immediately made his name Djing at many popular events up and down the country. He is recognised for rocking dancefloors on a global scale having completed a very well-received European tour in 2000.
Apart from his DJ work, he has contributed remixes for Konishi Yasuharu’s ‘Punch the Monkey!’. His solo releases include his mix CD series ‘Spin Out’ , ‘Spin Out 2’ (V2 Records Japan). His albums ‘6 Complexions of Mansfield’ and ‘It’s a mans’s man’s field’ (readymade records) released under his alias Mansfield have established his name as a sound creator. He is expecting to release a new album from readymade international early 2002. This
is the DJ/composer that everyone’s talking about.

Band leader, songwriter, arranger and producer of the now disbanded Pizzicato Five (1985-2001). Although having 2 successful world tours and 5 international albums under his belt, with fans ranging from London’s Karminsky Experience to Karl Lagerfeld, many of his fans know him as a DJ, spinning in Tokyo’s hotspots such as Shibuya’s ‘Organ Bar’. He tours regularly throughout Japan and abroad. In the Jackson 5 Remix Album, his remix ‘I want you back (readymade 524 mix)’ received an extraordinary amount of national radio play.
The remix album itself has scored healthy rankings in major record stores. In 1998, his own project ‘Punch the Monkey!’ (in which he remixes the theme tune of a popular Japanese cartoon series ‘Lupin the Third’) sold over 700,000 records, and this, some say, began Japan’s remix rush. His achievements truly invaded the mainstream when in 2000, he produced the No.1 single ‘Oha-Rock’ which became a social phenomenon in itself. Most
recently, he set up his own record label, ‘readymade international inc.’ from he which he plans to release new exciting solo works.
His talents also embrace film and photography and he is well known as a director in promotional videos, shows and advertisements. T-shirts and original goods which Konishi personally designed are sold in select shops such as BEAMS of Shibuya.
He is also a writer having regular columns in various magazines, and has also written several books. A collection of his essays have been published under the title ‘Kore wa koi de wa nai’ (’This is not love’)

SUNAGA tatsuo (sunaga t'experience)
DJ and Music Producer. Basing his activities around his own club ‘Shibuya Organ Bar’, holds regular club nights throughout Japan. Apart from his own mix CDs such as the ‘Organ b. SUITE’ which many say is in a class of its own, has produced remixes for the ‘Soul Source 2: Jackson 5 Remix’ and Yasuharu Konishi’s ‘Punch the Monkey’. He began his own label ‘AFTERS OR’ in 1998,acting both as artist and producer. Releasing records under the alias of ‘Sunaga t experience’ on avex/cutting edge records, the ‘It’s you’ 12 inch made record sales of 7,000 records, an incredibly large number in the vinyl market. His name is known in Europe through such labels as IRMA and SCHEMA records, and has remained in the forefront of the industry since the beginning of the Tokyo club scene.

In late 2023, Tokyo-based musician, Daigo Sakuragi, temporarily relocated to London, where he revisited material recorded with fellow Japanese musicians in Tokyo, drawing inspiration from the city’s energy, music, and atmosphere. This new perspective culminated in Togenkyo, a 28-minute work blending early 2000s folktronica and contemporary ambient styles. Sakuragi crafts immersive sonic textures with synthesisers and spatial production, while the organic groove of drums and bass anchors the piece, subtly inviting physical movement. Floating above this foundation, the saxophone weaves through the soundscape, leading the music with an elegant yet exploratory presence.

The session took place at aLive recording studio in Tokyo, with the following personnel:

Daigo Sakuragi: synthesiser, guitar, post-production
Jinya Ichikawa: bass
Shoei Ikeda: saxophone
Kazuya Ooi: drums

The lineup reflects a network of notable Japanese artists: Ichikawa, Sakuragi’s longtime collaborator in D.A.N.; Ikeda, known for his work with Maya Ongaku; and Ooi, a drummer for yahyel.

Sakuragi is best known for his band project D.A.N., where he contributes vocals, guitar, and production alongside bassist Jinya Ichikawa and drummer Teru Kawakami. Since its formation in 2014, D.A.N. has gained recognition for their unique fusion of indie rock/pop, dub, and electronic music. Under his solo moniker Daigos, Sakuragi explores electronic dance music through DJing and production, experimenting with Eurorack modules and samples in a refined, microscopic aesthetic. Recently, his creative output has expanded into diverse fields, including advertisements, artist collaborations, and films.

The term Togenkyo resonates with the concept of utopia, yet it diverges—it does not symbolise a flawless paradise but rather an attainable state of peace within oneself. Sakuragi reflects on finding his own Togenkyo in London, far from his hometown of Tokyo. The EP brings a sense of comfort and calm, reminding listeners that such a space exists not far from reach.

Mirae Arts proudly presents The Way I Am and The Way You Yawn, the debut album from Katsunori Sawa under his KWARP alias. This six-track release explores the fleeting nature of youth and the weariness of aging, blending Sawa’s experimental roots with fresh, modular synthesizer-driven soundscapes.
From the forward-driving hi-hats and alien voices of "Frog FM" to the mechanical aggression of "Ultra," the album offers an imaginative auditory journey. Highlights include the playful chaos of "PlayStation" and the metallic rhythms of "Metal Gear."
About Katsunori Sawa: First emerging on the scene in 2008 as EOC with his debut on the UK-based Ai Records, Sawa has steadily built a reputation for innovation and collaboration within the underground music community. He co-founded the influential 10 Label and has paired his talents with an array of respected artists, including Yuji Kondo (as Steven Porter), Martsman (under the moniker Bokeh), and DJ Nobu (Nobusawa). These alliances have birthed releases on prestigious labels like Kynant Records, SNTS, and Token.
Creating his sound in a hidden studio set within a striking Tadao Ando-designed building, Sawa crafts a sonic landscape that fuses rhythmic noise with pulsating bottom-end rave abstractions. His work reached new heights with an album on Opal Tapes, making him the label’s first Japanese artist and firmly establishing his place in the global music conversation. His tracks have even been woven into the sets of electronic stalwarts such as Aphex Twin.
* Artwork by Jesse Osborne-Lanthier

First Word Records is extremely proud to welcome aboard Takuya Kuroda.

A highly-respected trumpeter born in Kobe, Japan, Takuya is a forward-thinking musician that has developed a unique hybrid sound, blending soulful jazz, funk, post-bop, fusion and hip hop music.

After following the footsteps of his trombonist brother playing in big bands, he relocated to New York to study jazz & contemporary music at The New School in Union Square; a course he graduated from in the mid-noughties. It was here that Takuya met vocalist José James, with whom he worked on the 'Blackmagic' and 'No Beginning No End' projects.

Following graduation, Takuya established himself further in the NYC jazz scene, performing with the likes of Akoya Afrobeat and in recent years with DJ Premier's BADDER band (also including acclaimed bass player, Brady Watt). Premier said "The BADDER Band project was put together by my manager, and an agent I've known since the beginning of my Gang Starr career. He said, 'What if you put a band together that revolved around a trumpet player from Japan named Takuya Kuroda? He's got a hip-hop perspective and respect in the jazz field…"

Takuya Kuroda is already incredibly prolific, releasing five albums in the past decade and fortifying a solid reputation in the global jazz scene. 2011 saw the release of Takuya's independently-produced debut album, 'Edge', followed by 'Bitter and High' the following year and 'Six Aces' on P-Vine in 2013. Takuya was signed to the legendary Blue Note Records in 2014 for his album 'Rising Son', as well as appearing on their 2019 cover versions project, 'Blue Note Voyage'. He released his 5th album 'Zigzagger' on Concord in 2016, which also featured Antibalas on a reimagining of the Donald Byrd classic 'Think Twice'.

Late Summer 2020, Takuya Kuroda returns with his sixth album 'Fly Moon Die Soon'.

In his words, "this album is about the irony between the greatness of nature and the beautiful obsceneness of humanity. Melodies and grooves fly back and forth from being spiritual to being vulgar."

It took two years to make this album. In 2018, I decided I just couldn't make albums the same way I had been in the past anymore. As a birthday treat to myself, I booked a studio in Brooklyn for two days, with only myself and an engineer, Todd Carder. I brought along some tracks I'd been building at home to see if we could complete them within that time. We began replacing sounds and adding texture, sampling noises from all over the studio; me sipping coffee, hitting a 26" kick drum, speeding up snares. At the end of the two days we were like "wow, I didn't know we could make tracks this good in this way". This is how the process of the full album started. Everything was based on my beats I made at home, inviting musicians in one by one, adding or replacing parts. I was very careful when developing these tracks; just note by note, part by part. I wanted to make the music effectively from a blend of two different recording methods; one very slickly produced part and one very organic part played by live musicians. I remember mixtapes from when I was kid, and wanted to make an album that wasn't just a bunch of flashy singles, trying to catch people's attention in the first 30 seconds, or full of guest features. Instead, I'm essentially just trying to let the grooves breath."

The album consists of nine tracks of excellence. The uptempo jazz-funk of 'ABC' and 'Moody' sit alongside soulful jazz cuts like 'Fade' and 'CHANGE', also featuring Corey King on vocals. The title track is a downtempo groove lead by a heavy Moog bassline, whilst 'Do No Why' contains an infectious piano riff throughout. Aside from Takuya's original compositions, he revisits two classics from Ohio Players ('Sweet Sticky Thing' featuring Alina Engibaryan on vocals) and Herbie Hancock ('Tell Me A Bedtime Story') whilst the album closes with the epic 'TKBK'.

Takuya adds "this special cover was inspired by the Golden Moon I saw during a photoshoot in Death Valley with my homie Hiroyuki Seo".

Takuya Kuroda is a truly unique talent, and this album is a realisation of the evolution of his sound.

'Fly Moon Die Soon' is released on Worldwide Award-winning UK label First Word Records on vinyl & digital in September 2020.

Kicking off the EP we have a Jungle Techno track from 2007 ‘Revolution’ made by Persian & DJ Staf, ‘Kool London’s finest DJ’...

‘D dub retwist’, see’s a minimal Break Heavy Dub amidst a Trippy background soundscape from a Japanese Movie.

‘Rumbling interlude’ There’s some interesting Organ at play over modern D&B being played here, al be it with the room vibrating (hence the title) this short segment is a nice escape!

‘Milton 21’ This track dates from 2001, this is a rare glimpse of what Jungle Techno may have become, a direction of futurist sound play amidst Bone Crunching Heavy Bass! Again, Genre pioneering stuff, from True Underground Artists.

‘Not nuff time’, feature’s Lauryn’s freshly sounding Tone, over one of Persian’s Breakbeat projects...

This has variations of electronic shades of what a deejay would love! These tracks were found & lovingly remastered for this ‘ Collector’s Breaks’ EP.
The cross over has been kept!

Straight from the bustling scene of Brussels comes Nous'klaer Audio's latest signing: an effervescent debut album by the young Belgian-Japanese producer, live-performer, pianist and DJ Gaiko. Gaiko (real name Kaito) bursts onto the scene with a nine-track full-length album that highlights the rich and diverse output of this emerging talent. His first offering spans left-field electronics, IDM and DnB, blending intricate drum-programming with lush synths and contemporary, contrasting piano pieces. The long player has been shaped into a push-and-pull dynamic of tempo and mood, a flow of quests that gradually grow into their entirety. From atmospheric textures to tight, propulsive beats, Gaiko builds layers that ripple into each subsequent track. This contrasting yet complementary energy flows from the tender "Millennium" into the unassuming highs of "Setagaya," while the floating electronica of IDM-leaning tracks "Subdued" and "Ever's Lullaby" build up to standout tracks "Martyr" and "Crush." Gaiko's self-titled debut balances euphoria with introspection through an unusually sophisticated playfulness, a rare quality that makes this vivid young artist all the more promising. The 180g vinyl comes in a heavyweight sleeve with artwork by Loe Duval (aka Barwouf) and includes a download card.

Moody cacophonies, sonic dispatches from Japan, crystalline breakbeats that are more environment than rhythm: Jake Muir’s enmixed, described by Muir as a “(re)mixtape,” is a mind-bending deep dive into the enmossed archive. Besides reflecting the history of the label, Muir’s mix is a production in its own right. A Los Angeles native based in Berlin, Muir is a DJ and field recordist who “sees mixes as a vehicle to explore narratives outside of the album format.”

In Bathhouse Blues (2023), where Muir sampled various sources to explore gay cruising culture and sensuality, his more expansive, conceptual approach to the form is illuminated. Mixes are not just a linear succession of tracks with transitions—they’re excavations that also result in the creation of new audio artifacts. Inspired by the psychedelic impulses of illbient, Muir uses DJ and sound engineering techniques to melt down genre distinctions and create alien atmospheres.

From the enmossed community, Muir pulls from artists like bad lsd trips, Angelo Harmsworth, Nick Klein, Tetsuya Nakayama, and Patrick Gallagher to coalesce a super-compendium of the global sonic underground, all viewed through his own unique lens. Muir takes major liberties with processing and effects automation to carve new worlds from the soil of these preexisting works. Some of the tracks and material on enmixed are heavily edited, emphasizing specific harmonics or bass frequencies, and some portions contain three or four layers, putting artists in direct conversation with each other.

This heady approach—using the tools of both mixtape and remix—results in a super textual and dense palimpsest of the enmossed catalog. “Because mixes are more open- source,” Muir says, “it’s easier to express some ideas since there is more material to pull from.”

- Rob Goyanes

Silver foil printed j-cards on heavyweight iridescent ('Lapis Lazuli') recycled paper Duplicated at a carbon-neutral facility