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Rebar continue their geography-infused musical journey with the second EP, Lost in New York City. While the first release unveiled the majestic anthropophony of the Japanese capital, this release is centered around the city of New York. As in the previous offering, the three tracks all pertain to different styles, exploring different facets of techno, while carrying the common soundprint of the American metropolis. The first cut unveils a mesmerizing techno construction, while the second makes for a groovy interlude, rounded up by rolling techno in the third track. A mysterious and compelling affair, released on vinyl and digital at exactly one year from the inaugural opener.

Blues Creation was founded in Tokyo in 1969. They released this, their impossibly rare debut of American blues covers, that same year. Featuring covers of Sonny Boy Williamson, Chester Burnett, Memphis Slim, Willie Dixon, and more, this is the greatest recorded example of the Japanese obsession with American blues music. The band would record several more albums and then come back as, simply, Creation, but nothing reached the sheer blues rock heights of their debut.

Continuing on the thematic thread of soundtracking an imaginary short movie, label founder DJ Tennis aka Manfredi Romano, asks some of the greatest contemporary club producers to take on the task of interpreting this idea in their own unique style. Romano explains that 'the score is a translation of our imagination, memories and emotions into music, with no protocols.' Opening the soundtrack, Vatican Shadow swaps his thunderous techno for a more cosmic and gentle approach, setting the tone for an equally serene soundscape from London based DJ and producer Midland. Japanese Future Terror head honcho, DJ Nobu, layers dense cerebral textures exuding the punk spirit of Life and Death. A similar rule defying energy can be heard by Ninos De Brazil who fuse carnival percussions with straight up old school techno. Both Scuba and Uchi bring the futuristic synths of a space age tomorrow we've all been waiting for. German producer Isolee interprets the task with his minimal productions and Italian producer Cosmo closes the compilation with Psychedelic Soundscapes turning into a distorted gabber missile. As the decade edges closer to it's decade anniversary, Romano proves yet again that Life and Death is a label which evolves through each reincarnation of itself, never failing to impress.

The Japanese artist debuts in SNTS' label Sacred Court after her previous releases in Horo with a four-track EP of hypnotic shamanic rhythms and gridding sounds.

2024 Repress

midnight in tokyo is a compilation series that aims to be the perfect companion to nights in tokyo, collecting tracks by japanese artists that sound best at night. while vol.2 focused more on '80s jazz fusion, the latest installment, vol.3, picks up where vol.1 left off, bringing together forgotten soul, disco, and new wave gems. the compilation opens with japanese rare groove classic 'more sexy,' a provocative song by 'the queen of sexy songs,' yoko hatanaka. 'kimi no yume,' from the album yume no yonbai by the wandering poet masumi hara, is one of the best balearic acid folk song to come out of japan. 'silhouette call' is an electric bossa nova track—in the vein of antena—taken from a rare album called octopussy by yuki nakayamate, a singer songwriter who also worked as a backing vocalist for motoharu sano. 'theme of high school student' is a dubby cut featured on the soundtrack to the japanese '80s film kougen ni ressha ga hashitta, written by atsuo fujimoto of colored music—one of the key artists in the recent wave of global interest in japanese music. 'get to paradise' is a stone cold funk jam by mari kaneko, who was known as the janis joplin of shimokitazawa in her heyday, and is now known as the mother of the drummer and the bassist of popular rock band rize. following that is one of japan's greatest new wave disco track, 'hannya,' taken from tomoko aran's popular third album fuyu-kukan—produced by masatoshi nishimura who was part of the friends of earth project with haruomi hosono. masako miyazaki—whose rendition of seawind's 'he loves you' is a fan favorite—puts her own spin on the earth, wind & fire classic, 'fantasy,' singing in her accent-heavy english which gives the song an undeniable character. 'watashi no koukoku' is a certified disco boogie classic by popular singer junko sakurada. the brazilian-esque jazz fusion, 'sunshine bright on me' is by a fusion group called kangaroo, who were often billed as 'the japanese shakatak.' 'stranger's night' is a synth-pop number by pop idol maiko okamoto, which bears a suspicious resemblance to rah band's 'the shadow of your love.' electro-pop disco 'singing lady'—off the sole album released by the one-off project the fad—sounds like something giorgio moroder could've cooked up. 'magic eyes' is a disco anthem recorded by songwriter tetsuji hayashi's disco project, the eastern gang. following that is japanese soul gem 'crazy baby,' found on a rare 7 inch entitled minato no soul by rinda yamamoto—also composed and arranged by tetsuji hayashi. and last but not least, closing out this collection of 14 japanese rare groove goodies is 'i'm in love', a bittersweet mellow dance number by tomoko aran.

'Chris Carter's Chemistry Lessons Volume One.1: Coursework' was created using a newly-formed piece called 'Bongo Glow' and reworkings of three tracks from the original album.

'Bongo Glow', a work in progress at the time, was finished using the same processes as 'CCCLV1' so that it could appear on the Japanese release of the album.

The additional three reworkings were created without direct instruction as an experiment to see how they changed with input from external sources.

Daniel Avery's remix of 'Usyring' is a slow building majestic tome that comes full circle.

The Radiophonic Workshop took 'Blissters' and created a more experimental reworking in their unique style.

Chris Liebing gave 'Tones Map' a brooding anthemic feel, adding his Slow Burn remix technique

Bremen finds two luminaries of the Swedish punk underground, Jonas Tiljander (Brainbombs) and Lanchy Orre (Totalitär, Brainbombs, Teenage Graves, etc), coming together to explore the dark side of kraut and progressive rock, early electronic and drone music, whilst also invoking the fathomlessly bleak interior landscapes conjured by Nico/Cale on The Marble Index and Desertshore.

'Following a trio of sprawling, planet-gargling double-LPs, 2013's self-titled LP on Skrammel, and Second Launch (2015) and Eclipsed (2017) on Blackest Ever Black, Bremen - J. Tiljander and Lanchy, previously best known for their contributions to Brainbombs' long rapsheet of genius-and- brutality, but latterly exponents of a rarefied cosmic melancholy - return with Enter Silence, their most concise, and powerful, album to date. Once again the Uppsala multi-instrumentalists combine elements of trogged-out psychedelic rock with a deadly serious Arctic minimalism and weeping modal improvisations that owe more to the outer limits of jazz and burnt-out free music from Japan. It's connoisseur's space music, grown-up and grievously honed; outwardly inclined towards the epic but studded with details that reward attention and introspection. There's always been a strong undercurrent of sadness animating Bremen's work, and that existential burden is present and correct on Enter Silence, culminating in the all-out cosmic anguish of 'Palladium'. Even 'The Middle Section', whose ragged chords are nothing if not the sound of optimism and defiance, sounds like it's navigating some kind of unsayable trauma. But this band has always allowed plenty of room for bonehead slash-and-burn as well: see here especially the Stoogeian/39 Clocks-ish rock'n'roll of 'Aimless Cruising' and the pulpy quasi-cinematic tension of 'Sinister', or the brilliant 'Too Cold For Your Eyes', a blast of voidal motorik that sounds like a cranked-up Clean. It's a cold, cold world out there'

Tokyo based DJ/Producer Tsuyoshi Ogawa presents "Seven Samurai" is vinyl-only label has been founded in 2018 and operating in Tokyo, Japan. It pays tribute to the Japanese legendary movie director 'Akira Kurosawa'. This 3rd EP inspired by his movie "Ran' that well known Japan/ French co-production movie. To follow the tradition, this EP featuring French producer Vida from Paris. His deep and spiritual three tracks bring us the Japanese traditional theatre forms called "Noh and Kyogen" and It feels like the main character of the movie who thrown into darkness and madness. This reconstructed Japan/French co-production EP is dedicated to Akira Kurosawa as a new spiritual soundtrack for Ran

Invoking imagery of condensed, interstellar warfare - Dayzero takes command of the controls for Sentry Records' eighth release. Based in Japan, the acclaimed producer follows up on his substantial outings for Wheel & Deal and Hatched Music among others - having continuously refined his highly effective compound of Dubstep with vocal support from the scene's vital tastemakers. Now joining the Sentry roster with two monumental armaments, the newest signee shows us how it's done. Enrichening the sound system music scene with a no-nonsense production style as well as his innovative, experimental approach - all killer, no filler.

Taking off to another dimension in 'Sunday on Spaceship', listeners are met with feigned lo-fi soundscapes, carved out of analogue noise and detuned echoes. A state of overt tension dissolves into Dayzero firing up the heavy weaponry with stripped down sub bass tremors and meticulously crafted off-kilter groove. Amongst granular, apocalyptic percussion reverberating voices of days past flicker. Diverse drum instrumentation and supple distortion keep it lively, a no-questions-asked onslaught and guaranteed way to light up any dance.

Flipping over to the B-Side, we're placed on the receiving end of another ton of musical napalm. Finding ourselves being churned through bare concrete, laced with psychedelics. 'Down By Law' oozes of sonic variance, as industrial plucks shine through the cracks - furthering the aberration alongside narcotic staccato arpeggios. Subtle use of eerie harmonies and surging feedback wails is firmly kept in check by brute-force kicks and snares - ceremonious pressure underneath. Venting high-pressure 808's amidst supremely crafted breaks, leaving us yearning for more. A pair of mean-spirited sound-bwoy murder tracks on a twelve-inch platter - enough said!

'BAPTISMA is 55 years old, lives in Nagoya and runs an art space and concert venue called Spacio Rita. He has never before released any music.

In the hot and humid Japanese summer of 2016 YPY and I played a show at Sapcio Rita, Shintaro was DJing and BAPTISMA played a short show, too. It was impulsive and driving while somewhat earthy and dark, buzzing with dense energy like a jungle yet spacious like the hall of the mountain king.

BAPTISMA's powerful sound creates strange places - as inviting as shady.
I was captivated. BAPTISMA liked the idea of a release and we embarked on that long journey that finally led to DISK16. Along the trip we proudly welcomed HODGE from Bristol as a stowaway. His unexpected remix well rounding this square project. Finally MARIA MENDES from Lisboa served as our beacon, providing a simple and beautiful jacket for this neat release!'

THIS IS NOT A REISSUE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS AMAZING MINIMAL SCORE HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VINYL

This is the first time the complete score to The Conversation has been released on vinyl. The film itself was originally released in 1974 and a 7' demo of the theme was sent out as promotional material by Paramount (PAA-0305), but a USA stock edition was never issued. In Japan the same music was also issued on a 7' at about the same time (JET-2273), with a picture sleeve, but until now nothing else has ever been pressed on vinyl.

Jonny Trunk's little obsession with this music began after I'd caught the film, late night, sometime in the mid 1990s. Musically it's an exceptional example of the 'new minimalism' in film music of the period, marking a departure (for some) from big scores to smaller, more economic ensemble sounds.

The film was written, produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola and is still a thrilling journey into sound, mind and murder. Heavily influenced by Antonioni's Blow-Up (and not, as some thought, by Watergate), Coppola wanted to fuse the concept of Blow-Up with 'the world of audio surveillance'. The story centres around Harry Caul (Gene Hackman), a mac-wearing professional wire-tapper and clandestine bugger who gets unusually consumed by a conversation he's been paid to record. Caul is a loner, an obsessive-compulsive character with numerous neuroses that play out brilliantly throughout the film. And as he slowly pieces together the conversation fragments and forms his own story around it, his world falls apart.

Sonically this movie - all about sound - is groundbreaking in many ways, with actual 'sound Design' Provided By The Legendary Walter Murch - The Man Who Actually Invented The Term In The First Place.

For The Music, Coppola Wisely Chose A Young David Shire, His Brother In Law. Shire's Deceptively Simple Piano Theme (composed Because Of No Budget For Big Orchestra) Is One Of Tragic Beauty, Brilliantly Capturing Caul's Loneliness, His Slightly Disturbed Nature And This Trip Into Darkness. The Melody Has Both Sweet And Sour Tones, Feeling A Little Like A Slow Ragtime, Which Both Develops And Retreats Throughout The Film; There Are Even Trips Into Avant-garde Territory With Electro-acoustic Flourishes And Concrète. The Solo, Agitated Figure Of Caul, Wearing His Distinctive Transparent Mac, Is Made All The More Raw And Poignant By The Score - The Sparse And Curiously Emotional Compositions Are Unlike Any Others I Can Think Of From The Period.

The Soundtrack For The Conversation Proved To Be A Major Break For Shire, His Career Really Taking Off From This Musical Point. His Next Score Was To Be The Underground Classic Taking Of Pelham 123, Followed Up Later Ironically By All The Presidents Men - A Thriller About The Watergate Scandal.

The Conversation Went On To Win Several Awards And Nominations, And Has Become A Classic Of The 'new Hollywood' Movement. Hopefully Now This Music May Become Part Of The Renewed Interest In Old Film Soundtracks.

Limited Edition: 500 x 2 LP Gatefold Pressing. Bentley Rhythm Ace formed in Birmingham in 1996 when ex Pop Will Eat Itself bassist Richard March and DJ Michael Stokes discovered a shared love of obscure, oddball and eccentric tunes. Utilising lo-fi cut and paste sampling techniques combined with analogue synths and some wild turntable action their debut EP was picked up by Fatboy Slim's Brighton based Skint Records and released to widespread acclaim. The BRA live show added Fuzz Townshend on drums and James Atkin (ex EMF vocalist) on keyboards and the latter years of the 90s saw BRA firmly established as festival favourites with appearances at Glastonbury, Reading, V, T in the Park, Montreux Jazz and Fuji Rock amongst many others. Their irreverent approach mixed with big beats, thundering bass, wild synths and esoteric samples proved to be a hit with fans and critics alike. 1998 saw Bentley Rhythm Ace crowned 'Best Dance Act' in that year's NME awards. Their eponymous debut album was given a worldwide release after the Bentleys signed to Parlophone records and the band toured extensively in the UK, Europe, Japan, Australia and USA. As well as releasing a highly regarded DJ mix album on Ministry of Sound, and releasing a second album for Parlophone (featuring vocals from Black Grape/Ruthless Rap Assassins frontman Kermit), BRA also produced well received remixes for the Beastie Boys and Supergrass as well as soundtracking several TV shows and adverts. This "21st Birthday - Bonus Tracks Edition" of the album has been compiled by Richard March of the band and includes the original 11 track album along with 2 bonus tracks remastered and repressed to vinyl for the first time in almost two decades! Presented in a deluxe gatefold sleeve, complete with original artwork and comprehensive sleeve notes for all thirteen tracks written for this release by Richard March. Bentley Rhythm Ace (21st Birthday - Bonus Tracks Edition)

SJ Tequilla continues to build on his small but well formed discography with a new EP on Bright Sounds. His three originals come backed with a remix from cult producer SW. SJ Tequilla has released on his own Shot Of T imprint and DJ Fett Burger s Freakout Cult since debuting in 2017. The Japanese born, Berlin based artist is also close to Sex Tags Mania and regularly holds it down at OHM Club as well as for busking on his live, vintage hardware jams around the streets of Kreuzberg.
The opener is a six minute house bumper with a classic lead acid line and plenty of Detroit pads. The pinging analogue drums are lively and elastic while more thoughtful keys are draped over the top. SUED man SW. steps up to remix and brings a mixture of pad laced serenity old school rave basslines to his hard hitting drums. The B1 is another rugged mix of live sounding drums, acid snuggles and rueful keys while ambient synths stretch off to infinity. Last but not least, B2 sinks into a blissed out dub house vibe, rolling deep and smooth and showing off Tequilla s ability to cook up far sighted synths that have real emotion. This is an EP well school in traditionalism but that also brings some fresh skills and ideas to the grooves.

Tokyo-based Dj And Producer Tsuyoshi Ogawa Launches His New Record Label tokyo Hell' With tokyo Yakuza Society Ep'. tokyo Hell' Is Tsuyoshi's Mission Of Bringing Back The Japanese Positive Life Values After The Tragic American Bombing During The Second World War In Tokyo. A1 tokyo Yakuza Society' Reflects Human Deeply Connection Giri-ninjo And Taking Care Of Each Other, With Compassion And Empathy. B1 dance Yakuza' Is Tsuyoshi's Personal Version Of The Influence Of Chicago Label dance Mania' In The Tokyo Club Scene Over The 90s. B2 ghost Story In Yotsuya' Pays Tribute To A Strong Japanese Tradition: one Hundred Ghost Stories - The Lantern Ghost, Oiwa' By Hokusai, Extremely Respected Artist In Tokyo.

Bristol-based producer Drone finally makes his bow for Coyote Records with the release of new four-track EP, 'Light Speed'. Written over the first six months of 2018, 'Light Speed' forms Drone's most accomplished and absorbing release to date, bringing new textures, layers and depth to his music and to the club - a space where his beats have been a mainstay in the sets of producers like Kahn & Neek since debuting on Hear Other Sounds in early 2017. A regular at Coyote's Bristol parties over the course of 2016 and 2017 and inspired by the clinical, freeze-dried grime of label contemporaries like Last Japan, as well as Sector 7 bosses Boofy and Lemzly Dale, Drone has probed, honed and developed his sound to marry the raw impact of his early beats with detailed, widescreen scope. There are nods to the soundsystem culture of his new home city of Bristol on the coarse textures and booming, dubby low-end of 'Narroways' for example, while title-track 'Light Speed' captures the icy, shimmering Coyote sound aesthetic in full view. B-side tracks 'Probiscus' and 'Fangz' continue this theme apace, bleeding into one another like patchwork to showcase a grime sound moulded by the club, but finessed away from it. Born in Hastings, Drone has spent the last three years studying Music Production in Bristol, during which time he's guested on Rinse FM, released on London's Hear Other Sounds and Boofy and Lemzly Dale's influential Sector 7 imprint, as well as self-releasing a limited edition USB - comprised of a slew of unreleased beats - in February 2018.

Late November will see Tact Recordings vinyl only sub-label Tactics return with 'Vol.4', a various artists package featuring Jor-El aka Joel Alter, Imugem Orihasam and Benjamin Brunn.

Tactics was launched in late 2017 by co-founders of the imprint Yard One with their 'Vol.2' EP, following on from the 'Vol.1' various artists EP released on the main imprint Tact Recordings back in 2012. Since its inception last year and it's two releases so far from founders Yard One and Fletcher, the label has garnered the attention of DJ's like Varhat, Roger Gerressen, Raresh, Malin Genie and Andrey Pushkarev to name a few. Here though we see the imprint welcome some of it's favourite artists from over the year onto the roster, namely Echocord artist Jor-El aka Joel Alter, Ilian Tape's Imumgem Orihasam and Smallville regular Benjamin Brunn. Leading on the package is Sweden's Jor-El with 'Remember Tomorrow', a gritty dance floor workout fuelled by dusty drums, fluttering stab sequences and sweeping synth strings before Japanese producer Imugem Orihasam edges into dub territory with a cinematic two minute soundscape opening the composition before weighty drums, swirling pads and dubbed out metallic chimes dynamically unfold throughout.

Hamburg's Benjamin Brunn then closes the package with 'ResoPlanet', as always delivering smooth, understated electronic music via wandering ethereal pads, resonant bleeps and bumpy, off-kilter 808 drums.

This is the second release from the Parisian label Aperçu, which has uncovered European producers for this compilation featuring 4 titles.The story of this compilation came about gradually, with one thing leading to another as the artists involved met up all over Europe and their musical affinities became apparent. Two years after their EP Stara Zagora,Metshka and Roman Delore are issuing the second release of their label, Aperçu, promoting three producers well deserving of attention. Ben Kaczor, the resident DJ at the legendary, intimate Elysia Club in Basel, Switzerland has his own label, KCZ, and is an adept of dark, sharp-edged sounds such as in 'Navel,' which plays out like a hypnotic, melancholy adieu but with well-defined kicks.Temiri, a native of southern France having spent time in Berlin, now lives in Switzerland as well. With the Swiss mountains and Geneva's rave parties shaping his sensibility, he created 'Love Intentions' - a soft gift to the world. HiromaKeo, a Lisbon-based French producer, champions a wide-ranging, contemporary approach to electronic music. After three years spent comanaging the collective and label ESITU (between Lille and Brussels), he has started a new project in Portugal: Vilamar. In 'SonheiContigo' we find his signature precision and the Japanese influences he likes.
Last but not least, Metshkaand Roman Delorecontinue to appear at parties and events in Paris and to work on hybrid events through their Pauza collective. At the crossroads of techno, ambient and experimental music, here they give us 'Ocre,' a work of slow violence.

"In 2016, 21 years after Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. were founded in Osaka, Japan, there was a major shift in the line-up and "Next Generation" was added to the bands name. We now view the first 20 years of the bands career as chapter one in our story, and we are now turning the page to start chapter two. In 2018, it's time to re-record our classics with this new line-up, we just opened the door to the next stage!' (Kawabata Makoto 2018)
 
Twenty four years into their existence, Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. have circled the globe at least a few dozen times, released over 100 albums in their various guises and played thousands of shows.
 
In recent years, they've experienced seismic line up changes which has given them yet another new lease of life ... or a rebirth if you will. Original members Kawabata Makoto (guitar, speed guru) and Higashi Hiroshi (synthesizer, noodle god) are now joined by Jyonson Tsu (vocal, midnight whistler), Satoshima Nani (drums, another dimension) and Wolf (bass, space & time) and as anyone that has seen the new line up live will testify, things have gone even more cosmic ...
 
'Reverse Of Rebirth In Universe' sees the band return to their old label Riot Season for the first time since 2012's 'IAO Chant From The Melting Paraiso Underground Freak Out' (CD still available). Both label and band have gone on some wonderful journeys during that time apart but both felt the stars were finally correctly realigned to renew their partnership in all things weird.
 
Long time AMT fans will immediately recognise some of the song titles listed on the album sleeve here. But the songs themselves have been reworked and transformed far away from their original versions. New boy Jyonson Tsu's quiet, almost whispered vocals bring a whole new aura to proceedings, despite the familiar riffs hidden in the depths below them. It's so laid back in places it's practically horizontal, with only occasional trademark piercing guitar squeals threatening to destroy the peace and calm. The whole of side two is taken up with the twenty minute epic 'Black Summer Song' .. and if this is an indicator to where the AMT mothership is heading going forwards we're all in for another fucked up and magical ride.
 
If you stepped off the AMT ride over the years, possibly overwhelmed by the amount of releases they were once firing out ... it could be time to step back on it and check out where they're currently at. In a world that's more messed up than ever, we could all use a little break away from the norm, and nobody takes you as far away from the norm as possible as Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O.
 

"In 1978, Nova performed for Obama. Well, kind of: Nova was the band for the Punahou School prom in Honolulu, Hawaii, and a young student named Barack (known then as 'Barry') was in attendance.

Backtrack to 1976, and Nova was the opening band for Donald Byrd at the nearby Blaisdell Arena. The day was Sunday, June 27. The following day, Isaac Hayes would perform on island for the admission price of $1.

Nova, led by singer Checo Tohomaso, was one of several go-to party bands during the golden era of Hawaii funk and soul music in the mid-1970s through early 1980s.

The band's infectious gospel-funk-disco can be heard on their sole release, a self-titled 1980 LP that feels like one big party recorded live in the studio. (Check out the Marvin Gaye-inspired 'I Feel Like Getting Down' on the 2016 'Aloha Got Soul' compilation on Strut Records).

The story is all too familiar, however: funk band releases LP, the music goes dormant in years to follow, and today original copies sell for hundreds online.

Not long after the album's 1980 release, Checo met Marvin Gaye, who was living on Maui (where George Benson also resided). Shortly after, Marvin invited Checo and his counterparts to join his multi-city tour across Europe. Videos of Checo rocking keyboards, percussion and singing background vocals for Marvin Gaye's last European tour can be found online.

Checo, born in Florida yet raised in lush Manoa Valley as well as Okinawa, Japan, now resides in Vancouver, Canada, where he leads the VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir and continues to deliver his signature sound: high energy, positive, 'sweet soul' music.

AGS-7010 features two non-stop groovers with a 7' edit by Roger Bong on the A-side. LP reissue in the works!"

Japanese edits, Limited copies!