Search:tok

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.)

＊＊＊＊＊＊

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.

Musique Pour La Danse is proud to present the definitive edition of the highly acclaimed and globally beloved Donkey Kong Country soundtracks, meticulously recreated by composer and producer Jammin' Sam Miller. Released in 1994 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Donkey Kong Country was celebrated not only for its groundbreaking quasi-3D graphics but also for its exceptional soundtrack.
The soundtrack featured a variety of compositions, and has been highly praised for its diverse and high-quality music, with tracks like "Aquatic Ambiance" and "Fear Factory" standing out as fan favorites. The influence of the Donkey Kong Country soundtrack extends beyond the gaming world, having inspired modern artists and changed the way video game music was perceived.

This limited edition boxset, limited to 500 copies, comes as a triple DLP set, containing Volumes 1, 2, and 3. Pressed on red, green, and blue marbled vinyl, it is housed in a hardboard slipcase featuring new and original artwork by Andrew Beltran.

Don't sleep on this ultimate release-the previous boxset edition has been sold out for a long time, and if you can find it, it's being sold for crazy money.

Using hex SPC data converted to MIDI, Jammin' Sam Miller painstakingly recreated the DKC soundtrack note by note, sourcing the original equipment used to create it. He then translated the MIDI into a modern studio context, incorporating keyboard samples, remixing the sounds with added effects, and mastering the tracks. To learn more about his process, watch the explanatory video here: cutt.ly/ulUHE6J.

2025 marks the triumphant return of Sitaro, the iconic track that once lit up dancefloors worldwide. Originally released in 2007 and championed by the likes of Carl Cox—earning its place on Carl Cox Ultimate (Universal Music)—Sitaro is back with a fresh 2K25 Edition on Move Recordings.

The Belgian techno duo End-Jy & Dimitri Andreas, known for their heavyweight releases on Lupp, Intec, Terminal M, Music Man, and Systematic, deliver an updated version of this melodic anthem. The remastered original brims with Sitaro's signature sound: hypnotic sitar riffs, emotive atmospheres, and a groove that’s as irresistible as ever—a true dancefloor odyssey packed with intensity and raw emotion.

And for the remix? Who better than Dimitri Andreas himself. With an illustrious career spanning decades and releases on Systematic, Music Man, Kling Klong, and Token, Andreas takes Sitaro to new heights. His remix is a masterclass in contemporary melodic techno, drawing comparisons to the work of Guy J, Sébastien Léger, and Roy Rosenfeld. Expect driving Latin-inspired percussion, lush synths, and dreamy soundscapes that seamlessly blend piano-laden breakdowns with deep, pulsating grooves.
The result is a stunning reinterpretation—eclectic yet cohesive, powerful yet delicate. Dimitri Andreas once again proves why he remains a pivotal figure in the global techno landscape.
Press play, and let the journey begin.

Early support from Lost Desert (All Day I Dream), Timo Maas (Systematic), Adriatique (Afterlife), Nick Varon (Sudbeat), Raw Main (Lost Miracle), Dclviii Ofc (Cod3qr), Alex Neri (Wildflower)…

Français

End-Jy - Sitaro (2K25 Edition) featuring Dimitri Andreas Remix

2025 marque le retour triomphal de Sitaro, le morceau emblématique qui a illuminé les pistes de danse du monde entier. Initialement sorti en 2007 et soutenu par des DJ comme Carl Cox—qui l’a même inclus dans Carl Cox Ultimate (Universal Music)—Sitaro fait son grand retour avec une toute nouvelle édition 2K25 sur Move Recordings.

Le duo techno belge End-Jy & Dimitri Andreas, connu pour leurs sorties majeures sur Lupp, Intec, Terminal M, Music Man et Systematic, propose une version actualisée de cet hymne mélodique. L’original remasterisé regorge de la sonorité signature de Sitaro : des riffs hypnotiques de sitar, des atmosphères émotionnelles, et un groove aussi irrésistible que jamais—une véritable odyssée sur la piste de danse, remplie d’intensité et d’émotion brute.

Et pour le remix ? Qui de mieux que Dimitri Andreas lui-même ? Avec une carrière illustre qui s’étend sur plusieurs décennies et des productions sur Systematic, Music Man, Kling Klong et Token, Andreas emmène Sitaro vers de nouveaux sommets. Son remix est une véritable masterclass de techno mélodique contemporaine, qui rappelle le travail de Guy J, Sébastien Léger et Roy Rosenfeld. Attendez-vous à des percussions latines entraînantes, des synthés luxuriants et des paysages sonores oniriques qui fusionnent parfaitement des breakdowns pianistiques avec des grooves profonds et pulsants.

Le résultat est une réinterprétation impressionnante—éclectique mais cohérente, puissante mais délicate. Dimitri Andreas prouve une fois de plus pourquoi il reste une figure incontournable du paysage techno mondial.
Appuyez sur play et laissez le voyage commencer.

Support de Lost Desert (All Day I Dream), Timo Maas (Systematic), Adriatique (Afterlife), Nick Varon (Sudbeat), Raw Main (Lost Miracle), Dclviii Ofc (Cod3qr), Alex Neri (Wildflower)…

"Irrepressible, off-the-wall and utterly unique - the late 70s/early 80s Latin jazz-funk and leftfield electronic boogie of Japanese composer and pianist Izumi ‘Mimi’ Kobayashi collected for the first time.

A star in Japan, she moved to Europe to record global hits with Depeche Mode and Swing Out Sister, toured the world with the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra and made beats with Attica Blues’ Tony Nwachukwu. Now based in London, Mimi currently fronts Tokyo Riddim Band - the intergenerational live Japanese Reggae outfit born from Time Capsule’s acclaimed 2023 compilation of the same name - playing live shows and releasing a trio of recordings.

Choice Cuts 1978-1983 collects eight recordings from four of Mimi’s first five albums – Sea Flight (1978) recorded with her group Flying Mimi Band, and Coconuts High (1981), Nuts Nuts Nuts (1982) and Tropicana (1983) under her own name.

The compilation opens with a syncopated electro-funk cover of Sergio Mendes’ ‘Mas Que Nada’ (Tropicana) and the crisp and stripped back techno-pop of ‘Coffee Rumba’ (Nuts Nuts Nuts) with a keyboard bass line that would have made Stevie Wonder weep.

Alongside the off-beat synth jam ‘Quiet Explosion’ (Nuts Nuts Nuts) and piano samba of ‘Espresso’ (Tropicana), there’s two low slung soul-jazz numbers, ‘Naze’ and ‘Angel Sky’, from Sea Flight (1978) that recall the collaborations between Herbie Hancock and Kimiko Kasai. But it is around the two tracks from Mimi’s 1981 album Coconuts High that this compilation revolves (and from whose cover shoot it borrows).

Released on legendary guitarist Takanaka’s Kitty Records label, Coconuts High was recorded in LA with a jazz fusion backing band, including Alex Acuña, Abraham Laborial, Harvey Mason and the Tower of Power horns. A riot of playful Latin-tinged jazz, funk and fusion with the off-beat spirit of Kid Creole & and the Coconuts, the album became a cult hit. Here it’s the sultry, Minnie Riperton-esque ‘Crazy Love’, with its addictive groove and bittersweet melodies that makes the cut, alongside the steel drum-infused carnivalesque bounce of ‘Palm St’.

Choice Cuts 1978-1983 will introduce the idiosyncratic energy and playful verve of this under-the-radar pioneer to a wider audience for the first time. Welcome to the world of Izumi ‘Mimi’ Kobayashi."

2025 Repress.
Originally released in limited formats in 2017 and having since been repressed several times, 2025 sees
a new pressing to acknowledge the enduring legacy of this recording. In 2024, the song Trees & Flowers
became an unexpected hit on Tik Tok and introduced a new generation to these timeless songs.

“1982 4-Piece Demo” is the first official, fully-licensed and unreleased material to be released under the name
Strawberry Switchblade in 30 years. Since disbanding amid major record label acrimony and personal differences
in 1986, the already-cult band have since grown in stature and legend. Trailblazers in many ways, the band’s
mythology justifiably centers around the charismatic duo of Jill Bryson and Rose McDowall, but that isn’t a
complete picture.

Bryson and McDowall’s growing friendship, having met some years earlier on the punk scene, became a creative
partnership: Bryson’s art school background and McDowall’s history in avant-punk group The Poets meant
Strawberry Switchblade was a band pitted against many established norms. The band’s very first incarnation,
an all-female 4 piece, recorded one demo at Glasgow’s Hellfire Club and played a handful of gigs. Friends
Janice Goodlett and Carole McGowan completed the line up on bass and drums respectively. Strawberry
Switchblade would eventually pair down to a duo and go on to chart success but it’s in these raw, passionate
recordings that the songwriting and vocal elements were being hammered out and explored in real time.
“Spanish Song” is a previously unreleased song. With Rose McDowall’s instantly recognizable lead vocal
dovetailing with Bryson’s harmonies and lead guitar, it’s the first glimpse at an alternative history of Strawberry
Switchblade. This incarnation could easily have been featured on a Nuggets compilation or a precursor to the indiepop revolution that would take over British bedrooms a couple of years later. Trees & Flowers is instantly
recognizable, a bona fide classic that would earn the band its first record deal. Here it’s given a more forceful rhythm
section: Goodlett and McGowan’s playing is in fact accomplished and doesn’t hint at the bands’ youth. Go Away
would also surface later on the band’s debut LP but here it is a moody-garage stomper with a psychedelic, haunting
refrain.

These 3 songs point to a tantalizing future of the band that was never realized.
Remastered and restored by Sean Pennycook from the original cassette, with artwork based on a single
photographic contact sheet (the only visual evidence of the band in this form) and with a booklet of photographs and
new text from contemporary Stephen Pastel.



Spanish Song' is a previously unreleased song. With Rose McDowall's instantly recognizable lead vocal dovetailing with Bryson's harmonies and lead guitar, it's the first glimpse at an alternative history of Strawberry Switchblade. This incarnation could easily have been featured on a Nuggets compilation or a precursor to the indie-pop revolution that would take over British bedrooms a couple of years later. "Trees & Flowers" is instantly recognizable, a bona fide classic that would earn the band its first record deal. Here it's given a more forceful rhythm section: Goodlett and McGowan's playing is in fact accomplished and doesn't hint at the bands' youth. "Go Away" would also surface later on the band's debut LP but here it is a moody-garage stomper with a psychedelic, haunting refrain. These 3 songs point to a tantalizing future of the band that was never realized.


Remastered and restored by Sean Pennycook from the original cassette, with artwork based on a single photographic contact sheet (the only visual evidence of the band in this form) and with a booklet of photographs and new text. Pa

The second instalment of the remixes from J:Kenzo's 'Taygeta Code' sees two absolute heavyweight producers from the world of Drum & Bass collide on this 2 track EP.

Kid Drama brings through dub techno funk and soul in his remix of 'Guilty' encompassing the beautiful drifting groove matched with dirty filtered mids.

On the flip the legend DJ Trace drops a harder sinister edge to the tribal stepper 'Token Image' keeping the dubbed out licks and hypnotic percussion whilst adding nasty gritty synth lines harking back to his signature sound.

TV Smith's first solo album reissued from the master tapes for the very first time. The Artwork has been professionally restored and packaged in deluxe gatefold gatefold sleeve with in depth liner notes by long-time fan and author Dave Thompson. Comes as a red vinyl pressing! January 1983 saw TV SMITH reunited with ex Advert Tim Cross and David Bowie's ex-guitarist Tim Renwick to record "Channel 5" in Wickham studios in Croydon. 3 weeks later the album was completed and scheduled for a June release. "War Fever" was earmarked as the first single but at the time the country was fighting a General Election with the card of the Falklands war victory played by the ruling Conservative Party, and as a result the single vanished without trace.

The 3rd PIMP; with this time a Remix EP of Tik Tok Taylor's & Dilks track "Unlawful". This label is a member of the Flatlife Records Labelgroup. Tik Tok Taylor is still very much missed - we will never forget him. Note: The names from tracks A1 & A2 were accidentally reversed on artwork.

Cat-O-Log Records setzt in Zusammenarbeit mit Universal Music Enterprises die Feier des 50-jährigen Jubiläum des klassischen Live-Albums von Cat Stevens, ”Saturnight” (Cat Stevens Live In Tokyo), fort.

Ursprünglich wurde das Album von A&M Records nur in Japan veröffentlicht. Jetzt ist das Live-Album in brandneuen Fromaten erhältlich. Die schwarze LP sowie die The Circle Store exklusive ”Lava Splatter” LP erscheinen in einer Klapphülle, die Texte und neue Notizen von Hallam Kite, Tourmanager Carl Miller und Bassist Bruce Lynch enthält. ”Saturnight” ist auch zum ersten Mal auf CD erhältlich, inklusive einem 16- seitigen Booklet, mit den Anmerkungen von Hallam Kite, Tourmanager Carl Miller und Bassist Bruce Lynch.

”Saturnight” wurde am 22. Juni 1974 im Nakano Sun Plaza in Tokio aufgenommen, auf der japanischen Etappe der Bamboozle Tour und war Cat Stevens’ erstes Live-Album.

ArteFAKT proudly presents the first-ever official release of B-Semi Live 24/5/1984, a rare and explosive document capturing a crucial moment in Japan’s underground noise and industrial scene. Recorded at the legendary B-Semi venue in Tokyo, this performance brings together three pioneers—Merzbow, Null (K.K. Null), and Nord—delivering a raw, unfiltered onslaught of early Japanese noise in its most visceral form.
This historic recording showcases the primitive power and experimental spirit that defined the scene, sitting alongside the abrasive intensity of Whitehouse, the industrial ritualism of SPK, and the mechanical destruction of Throbbing Gristle. A sonic time capsule of Japan’s most groundbreaking sound revolutionaries, B-Semi Live 24/5/1984 is an essential piece of noise history.
Now available for the first time ever as an official release on limited edition vinyl and digital formats.

Our fourth album finally gets the vinyl pressing it so richly deserves.

Originally released in 2007, Rude Mechanicals found us firing on all cylinders. The nine years since our debut had been spent touring our cutting-edge audio-visual show round the world, playing everywhere from Tokyo to Tauranga, Portland to Paris, Leeds to Las Vegas, finding fans and absorbing new sounds along the way.

We successfully combined and refined the stand-out elements of our previous releases to create an album that is alternately danceable and meditative: a genre busting excursion in sound, heaving with warm basslines and complex rhythms, topped up by haunting melodies and immersive soundscapes.

From the evocative opening South of the Line to the stepping 1000 Mile Drift, the dub is strong, as one would expect, and so is the influence of drum’n’bass on the bottom-heavy Bird Soul and the atmospheric Please Leave Quietly; trance on the pulsating Sonic Colonic (Live at Minikami) and slinky Transient Transmission (fig.2); ambient on the burbling Harmonia and softly snarling Fragile Ladders. The title track, meanwhile, finds us addressing climate change and greed, with lyrics by Auckland MC KP.

To create the double-vinyl release, Angus McNaughton re-mastered the original audio files, while Hamish Macaulay polished the source artwork by Tom Quarelle and created a brand new collage for the centrefold using pictures taken at the time.

Rude Mechanicals will be released on 11th April 2025, except in Aotearoa New Zealand, where it will be released on 12th April 2025 as part of Record Store Day.

Nick Cave, neu in Berlin, dockt 1982 bei Die Haut an. Es entsteht ein furioses Album, das den Weg zu einer Musik ebnet, die Cave ab 1984 mit den Bad Seeds spielen wird. Lange war BURNIN" THE ICE nicht mehr zu haben. Jetzt erscheint die Platte neu auf Vinyl - und schließt nach vielen Jahren eine Lücke, die Cave-Komplettisten zur Verzweiflung trieb.

Nach fünfunddreißig Jahren an der Spitze der sich ständig weiterentwickelnden Musiklandschaft von New Orleans beschloss der Grammy-Preisträger Jon Cleary, diesen Sound wieder nach Hause zu bringen, sowohl im übertragenen als auch im wörtlichen Sinne. Er versammelte seine Absolute Monster Gentlemen (seine gefeierte All-Star-Bigband) in seinem Heimstudio im Bywater-Viertel von New Orleans, stellte eine Setlist mit einigen seiner beliebtesten Songs - und einigen neuen Favoriten - zusammen und nahm sie auf. Das Ergebnis ist "The Bywater Sessions", eine musikalische Tour-de-Force, die den Funk und die Freude zeigt, die Konzertsäle von New Orleans bis Tokio und darüber hinaus gefüllt hat. Das Album wurde von Jon Cleary und John Porter (Roxy Music, The Smiths, Taj Mahal) koproduziert und ist eine beeindruckende Sammlung von Darbietungen, die Clearys Platz in der musikalischen Avantgarde von New Orleans unterstreicht.

"Los Pepes is a dynamic band known for their energetic blend of punk rock and power pop. They have been active since the early 2010s, delivering high-octane performances and catchy tunes. Their music is characterized by infectious melodies, driving rhythms, and a raw, unpolished sound that appeals to fans of classic punk and garage rock. In January 2022, Los Pepes released ""The Happiness Program,"" their fifth studio album. This album received positive reviews for its mix of high-energy punk rock bangers and quintessential punk/pop tracks. The album features tracks like ""Small Time,"" ""I Want You Back,"" and the title track ""The Happiness Program."" Los Pepes are known for their energetic live performances. They have toured extensively, there upcoming a tour in Japan in March 2025, with dates in cities such as Kobe, Tokyo, and Kyoto."

Luke Titus is a Chicago-born drummer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist known for his remarkable versatility and genre-spanning artistry. With deep roots in jazz and a knack for blending it seamlessly with experimental music, drum & bass, and beyond, Titus has earned a reputation as a world-class drummer and a dynamic force across the national musical landscape. Growing up in Chicago's vibrant music scene, Titus flourished alongside fellow young artists in the early 2010s. His work quickly positioned him as a key figure in the city's jazz, hip-hop, and R&B communities, leading to collaborations that propelled him to national recognition. Continue to follow the thread of Luke Titus' many contributions to jazz and alternative scenes across America, and what emerges is a singular weave between his roots in Chicago, LA and New York communities. From What Was Will Grow A Flower is the second LP from the prolific young songwriter and producer, codifying his many musical leanings into an emergent, nearly clairvoyant statement of musical intent. Blooming and innovative songwriting, effervescent vocal hooks, virtuosic instrumental passages, and meticulously studied production techniques abound. About the album, Titus says "This album is about spirituality and connectivity, both with the universe and the self, as told through my personal journey. It questions reality as a way to deepen one's connection to it. I dedicate this album not only to anyone who has been through hard times, but to anyone who relates to the cyclical nature of the human experience. And more than that, I dedicate this album to my mom." As a producer and songwriter, Titus' fingerprints can be found on numerous acclaimed projects, including Noname's Room 25, Luke Titus & Cisco Swank's Some Things Take Time, Orion Sun's Orion, and Ravyn Lenae's Hypnos. His co-production credits span across a roster of innovative talents like Steve Lacy, Monte Booker, Brian Sanborn, Teo Halm, Phoelix, Cisco Swank, Saba, Kiefer, Elijah Fox, and Itai Shapira. Titus has taken his talents to the global stage, performing at high-profile festivals and venues such as Lollapalooza, Coachella, Pitchfork, Blue Note NYC, North Sea Jazz Fest, Smoking Grooves, Fuji Rock Festival, Blue Note Tokyo, and NYC Winter Jazz Fest, amongst many others.

Luke Titus is a Chicago-born drummer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist known for his remarkable versatility and genre-spanning artistry. With deep roots in jazz and a knack for blending it seamlessly with experimental music, drum & bass, and beyond, Titus has earned a reputation as a world-class drummer and a dynamic force across the national musical landscape. Growing up in Chicago's vibrant music scene, Titus flourished alongside fellow young artists in the early 2010s. His work quickly positioned him as a key figure in the city's jazz, hip-hop, and R&B communities, leading to collaborations that propelled him to national recognition. Continue to follow the thread of Luke Titus' many contributions to jazz and alternative scenes across America, and what emerges is a singular weave between his roots in Chicago, LA and New York communities. From What Was Will Grow A Flower is the second LP from the prolific young songwriter and producer, codifying his many musical leanings into an emergent, nearly clairvoyant statement of musical intent. Blooming and innovative songwriting, effervescent vocal hooks, virtuosic instrumental passages, and meticulously studied production techniques abound. About the album, Titus says "This album is about spirituality and connectivity, both with the universe and the self, as told through my personal journey. It questions reality as a way to deepen one's connection to it. I dedicate this album not only to anyone who has been through hard times, but to anyone who relates to the cyclical nature of the human experience. And more than that, I dedicate this album to my mom." As a producer and songwriter, Titus' fingerprints can be found on numerous acclaimed projects, including Noname's Room 25, Luke Titus & Cisco Swank's Some Things Take Time, Orion Sun's Orion, and Ravyn Lenae's Hypnos. His co-production credits span across a roster of innovative talents like Steve Lacy, Monte Booker, Brian Sanborn, Teo Halm, Phoelix, Cisco Swank, Saba, Kiefer, Elijah Fox, and Itai Shapira. Titus has taken his talents to the global stage, performing at high-profile festivals and venues such as Lollapalooza, Coachella, Pitchfork, Blue Note NYC, North Sea Jazz Fest, Smoking Grooves, Fuji Rock Festival, Blue Note Tokyo, and NYC Winter Jazz Fest, amongst many others.

Luke Titus is a Chicago-born drummer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist known for his remarkable versatility and genre-spanning artistry. With deep roots in jazz and a knack for blending it seamlessly with experimental music, drum & bass, and beyond, Titus has earned a reputation as a world-class drummer and a dynamic force across the national musical landscape. Growing up in Chicago's vibrant music scene, Titus flourished alongside fellow young artists in the early 2010s. His work quickly positioned him as a key figure in the city's jazz, hip-hop, and R&B communities, leading to collaborations that propelled him to national recognition. Continue to follow the thread of Luke Titus' many contributions to jazz and alternative scenes across America, and what emerges is a singular weave between his roots in Chicago, LA and New York communities. From What Was Will Grow A Flower is the second LP from the prolific young songwriter and producer, codifying his many musical leanings into an emergent, nearly clairvoyant statement of musical intent. Blooming and innovative songwriting, effervescent vocal hooks, virtuosic instrumental passages, and meticulously studied production techniques abound. About the album, Titus says "This album is about spirituality and connectivity, both with the universe and the self, as told through my personal journey. It questions reality as a way to deepen one's connection to it. I dedicate this album not only to anyone who has been through hard times, but to anyone who relates to the cyclical nature of the human experience. And more than that, I dedicate this album to my mom." As a producer and songwriter, Titus' fingerprints can be found on numerous acclaimed projects, including Noname's Room 25, Luke Titus & Cisco Swank's Some Things Take Time, Orion Sun's Orion, and Ravyn Lenae's Hypnos. His co-production credits span across a roster of innovative talents like Steve Lacy, Monte Booker, Brian Sanborn, Teo Halm, Phoelix, Cisco Swank, Saba, Kiefer, Elijah Fox, and Itai Shapira. Titus has taken his talents to the global stage, performing at high-profile festivals and venues such as Lollapalooza, Coachella, Pitchfork, Blue Note NYC, North Sea Jazz Fest, Smoking Grooves, Fuji Rock Festival, Blue Note Tokyo, and NYC Winter Jazz Fest, amongst many others.

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?

The egyptian producer Saharty debuts with his first release on Impakto Records. Robotic vocoder vocals, 80's drums patterns, Italo/Valencia mix synths and basslines to create a complete EP that takes the best of the new and old school sound

Rindert Lammers' debut album is a heartfelt exploration of gratitude, blending personal narratives with cinematic imagery in a serene and soulful ambient jazz style. Inspired by Japanese cinema and the raw authenticity of YouTube confessions, the album captures a mood of introspection and appreciation. Central to the album is the track "Thank You, Kirin Kiki," which draws from a powerful scene in the film Shopliers. Lammers explains "It's one of my favorites. The Japanese actress Kirin Kiki plays the grandmother of a ‘chosen family’, all of whom have fled or lost their own families in some way. In this scene, one of her last scenes before her (real) death, Kirin Kiki (the grandmother) looks at her family and says, 'Thank You!' twice towards the children and the sea. Kirin Kiki improvised these words on the spot, and it's such a poignant moment in the film, but also indicative of her impending death. I found the gratitude so moving it fit perfectly with the gratitude I found in the voice clip from "Thank You Hiroshi Yoshimura. "The fourth song, "Thank You Hiroshi Yoshimura," opens with a voice clip that acts almost as the protagonist of a film, reflecting on a turbulent time of sleeping in parks and on the streets. This voiceover was inspired by a comment on a Hiroshi Yoshimura video on YouTube that began, “This album reminds me of...” Lammers noticed the deeply personal responses le on these videos, so he recorded various similar YouTube comments from people around the world, initially intending to set them to music. Though much of this idea evolved, this particular voice clip remained a central influence, ultimately inspiring a cinematic journey within the album. "Summer in Shibuya" sets the scene as a trailer, "Opening Credits" introduces the narrative, and "Closing Credits" gently brings it to a close. While there’s a Japanese and Tokyo theme running through the tracks, Lammers doesn’t view the album as a tribute to Japan or Tokyo specifically—he’s never visited and admits to knowing only fragments of the culture. Yet he's drawn to Japanese environmental music and is an avid Murakami reader, seeing Japan as a powerful, visual inspiration in his mind’s eye. In a way, the album is also his “thank you” to the beautiful art that Japan has shared with the world.

Carrying on their longstanding dedication to the seminal output of Merzbow, Urashima returns with what is unquestionably their most ambitious release to date: “Collection 001-010”, a deluxe, 10 LP vinyl box set limited to 299 copies, gathering together the entirety of the project’s first ten releases, originally released in 1981. Encountering the band in its early incarnation of the duo of Masami Akita and Kiyoshi Mizutani, raw, exposed and bristling with energy, foreshadowing numerous trajectories they would follow over the coming years, these astounding full lengths - the majority of which have never been released on vinyl - come housed in a beautifully produced, deluxe wooden box, with each LP in its own individual sleeve reproducing the original artwork, and a LP-sized 32-page book containing reproductions of artworls and collages by Masami Akita, an interview conducted by Jim O'Rourke, and liner notes penned by Lasse Marhaug, Thurston Moore, and Akita himself, amounting to what is unquestionably one of the most historically significant releases we’re likely to encounter in 2025.

Deluxe Edition of 299 copies, remastered from the original analog tapes by Masami Akita, each LP comes in its individual sleeve reproducing the original artwork, also includes a LP-sized 32-page book. ** Since its founding during the late 2000s, the Italian imprint, Urashima, has become a definitive voice in the landscape of noise. Bringing forth beautiful limited edition releases, they’ve sculpted a singular vision of one of the most vibrant and revolutionary bodies of experimental sound to have graced the globe. Among the many projects that they have supported over the decades, there has been an undeniable dedication to the output of the seminal Japanese noise outfit, Merzbow, making a significant amount of the project’s out of print back catalog available across a range of formats. Now they return with what is arguably their most stunning and ambitious release dedicated to the project to date: “Collection 001-010”, gathering the entirety of Merzbow’s first ten releases, largely privately released by the band on cassette across 1981, in a deluxe, 10 LP vinyl box set. Representing what is effectively ground zero in Japanese noise and collectively amounting to some of the most sought after releases ever produced within that movement, Urashima’s truly beautiful collection comes fully remastered by Masami Akita himself from the original tapes, presenting all but a small number in their first ever vinyl pressings, with each LP housed in its own individual sleeve reproducing the original artwork, alongside a LP-sized 32-page book containing reproductions of artworks and collages by Masami Akita, an interview conducted by Jim O'Rourke, and liner notes penned by Lasse Marhaug, Thurston Moore and Akita himself. Towering with energy and groundbreaking creative vision, within the realms of noise and experimental music, releases don’t get more monumental or historically important than this!

Merzbow came roaring onto the Tokyo scene in 1979, and remains, to this day, one of the most prolific and aggressively forward-thinking projects in experimental music. Eventually becoming the solo vehicle for the efforts of Masami Akita, in its earliest incarnation the project was the duo of Akita and Kiyoshi Mizutani, taking their name from German artist Kurt Schwitters' pre-war architectural assemblage, The Cathedral of Erotic Misery or Merzbau, and quickly set out to challenge entrenched notions of what music could be. Embracing technology and the machine, even in its earliest iterations, Merzbow pushed toward new territories of the extreme, arriving at a space of pure, unadulterated sonic onslaught that has continued, for over 40 years, to set the pace for the entire genre of noise, and has remained one of the movement’s most important, definitive voices, continuously laying the groundwork for countless artists who have followed in its wake.

When dealing with historical gestures, there’s an invertible aura surrounding original line-ups and early statements, and rightfully so. It is often within a band’s debut that we catch the purest glimpse of the raw energy and creative ferment that made them what they are. This is certainly the case when regarding the coveted early releases of Merzbow, capturing the emergence of the project in its form as the duo of Masami Akita and Kiyoshi Mizutani as they helped set the blue print from the then emerging movement of Japanese noise. Over the course of its nearly five decades of activity, Merzbow has always been noted for how prolific and ambitious the project is. This was no less the case in the very beginning. While they were active for roughly two years prior, in 1981 alone they issued ten self-released cassettes numerically titled “Collection 001-010”, albums which have both individually and collectively become holy grails in the realms of noise, with only two - “Collection 007” and “Collection 009” - ever receiving vinyl reissues prior to now.

As Lasse Marhaug deftly articulates in the newly commissioned liner notes for “Collection 001-010”, despite having been recorded in different location across a span of time, the sum total of Merzbow’s first ten releases might be best regarded as a single release to be listened to in the same, durational sitting, with the material standing well apart from what most came to expect from Merzbow, while foreshadowing numerous trajectories the project would take over the coming years. Not only do these recordings feature a vast array of instrumentation - tapes, acoustic and electric guitar, violin, drums, voice, recorder, organ, found sounds, clarinet, homemade and prepared instruments, a vast arsenal of effects and electronics, and piano, to only begin to scratch the surface - the majority of which would disappear from the project’s active sources of sound generation over the subsequent years, but there is a slow pacing and raw sense of openness and exposure that reveals strong connections to the avant-garde improvisations of groups like AMM, Musica Elettronica Viva, and Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza, the psychedelia of groups like Taj Mahal Travellers and Flower Traveling band (both of whom Akita mentions having seen in youth within his interview with Jim O’Rourke), and rock in general - albeit in fully abstracted forms - unspooling as brittle, pointillistic, textural, raw and abrasive forms, that occasionally flirts with unexpected tonal sensibilities. As Marhaug describes it in his excellent liner notes: «Sonically, “Collection” sounds more sparse and stripped. It’s dry sounding, up-front, no reverb, and there’s less heavy low-end grime and thin on the signature frequency sweeps. Viewed in a 1981 context, musically, it’s more akin to what the LAFMS (Los Angeles Free Music Society) pool of artists were doing at that time than what was happening in industrial music... There’s a strong playfulness throughout, like the sound objects are being explored for the first time, without neither restraint nor hurry. Events are allowed to be fully examined before the music moves on, or simply cuts off. To a large degree, the music on “Collection” feels acoustic in nature, although a Electro-Harmonix ring-modulator features prominently throughout.»

Easily described as a rarely encountered revelation into the original and earlier documented studio sound of Merzbow, “Collection 001-010” collectively amounts to an engrossing sonic journey in its own right, while also allowing for important, often overlooked connections drawn from numerous other creative wellsprings, notably free jazz, underground rock, the output of European and Japanese avant-garde music, as well as Dada, Fluxus, and Mail Art, much of which, beyond the illumination made possible by the sounds, Jim O’Rourke’s fantastic interview with Akita, published in the booklet, further explores, offering great insights into the origins of Merzbow and the thinking behind the project, as well as aspects of the earliest days of Japanese noise.

Japanese pianist Yumiko Morioka initially released Resonance, her first and only solo recording, on Akira Ito's ‘Green & Water’ imprint in 1987. Whilst by no means a commercial failure, the album was mostly found in the background of Japanese TV documentaries, maternity clinics and healing shops before drifting into relative obscurity.

By 1994, Morioka had relocated to America and her solo music career had given way to the joys of starting a family and her new life in California. It was, and still is, a shock for her to learn that Resonance had gained the attention of a new audience outside of Japan through blog posts and YouTube album uploads.

After hearing Resonance for the first time ourselves back in early 2017, we tried for months to track Morioka down about a reissue. This news reached her at a particularly trying time in her life following the devastating loss of her home in the 2017 California wildfires.

Her home had recently been razed, destroying all of her possessions, musical equipment, scores and recordings. Morioka was lucky to escape with her life; her quick thinking neighbour raised the alarm in the middle of the night giving her just enough time to escape safely before then tragically watching her home burn to the ground.

In the aftermath, Morioka returned to Japan in an attempt to rebuild her life. She found work writing music for commercial projects and pop acts before recently opening her own chocolate shop in the Jiyugaoka neighbourhood of Tokyo - back where it all began.

‘’Space and time moved at a different speed than now’’ – Yumiko Morioka

A lifelong student of the piano, Morioka was born in Tokyo in 1956. A child prodigy, she took up the instrument under her mother’s tutelage at just three years old and by her teens she had won multiple piano scholarships. Her talent was so obvious that she was invited to train in America, eventually graduating from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with a piano major during John Adams’ reign as head of composition.

After graduation, Morioka returned to Japan but struggled to find her place musically, working mostly on commercial songwriting assignments. Frustrated, and at times embarrassed by her musical output, she turned to the works of Brian Eno and the surroundings of her coastal home in the Izu Peninsula south of Tokyo for inspiration. It was here that she began to work on the compositions that would eventually become Resonance.

Recorded on a Bösendorfer grand piano, much of Resonance was made in an attempt to soothe her creative soul. Constructed from unwritten improvisations with additional instrumentation added later, Resonance explores the space between notes. As such, it's a record that feels open and inviting, permeated throughout with a sense of confident serenity.

The sparse, delicately played notes are allowed to reverberate and echo through the spaces between themselves, giving each track a feeling of both grandeur and intimacy. Like the great pioneers of classical and ambient music, there's a timelessness to Resonance - a comforting, familiar feeling, as if these melodies have always existed.

Resonance drew influence from the popular environmental music culture prevalent in Japan during the late 80s, but it was also heavily inspired by Western musicians such as the avant-garde Parisian composer Erik Satie. Listening today, it still feels fresh and pertinent; a warm, contemplative reflection of a travelled woman.

Resonance has been lovingly remastered by Séance Centre's Brandon Hocura and given new artwork by Métron Records’ label head Jack Hardwicke.

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.

"On Kit-Cat, Casper Skulls become a fully involved effort shared between band members and longtime friends Melanie St. Pierre-Bednis, Neil Bednis, and Fraser McClean. Neil and Melanie, the husband-and-wife duo at the forefront of the indie rock project, split the songwriting, guitar-playing, and vocals on Kit-Cat while also sharing instruments with Fraser, who carries more than his own weight on drums, bass, and guitar throughout.

The combined effort that fueled Kit-Cat paints a poignant picture of what Casper Skulls has evolved into since their last record, Knows No Kindness, was released in 2021. The result is an 11-track mosaic of the band’s life in recent years, grieving loved ones and lost relationships, full of self-love and love shared between longtime bandmates who not only explore new lyrical inspirations but shuffle their lineup from track-to-track to showcase their ultimate strength: collaboration.

Following a lineup change (down to 3), a change of scenery (north to Sudbury), and several major life changes (Neil and Melanie welcomed their first child in 2023, while Fraser was hitting the road as a guitar tech for Tokyo Police Club and Pup), the one thing that remains steadfast in Casper Skulls’ identity as a band is its synchronicity. Listen close as they embrace each other’s skills and celebrate all that each member brings to the table.

Casper Skulls have successfully grown into their own on Kit-Cat, ultimately delivering the best album of their career."

WOLFDRIFTA makes it a hat trick of releases of his own Wolves That Drift imprint via the ‘Cybertron Utopia’ EP.

The EP’s influences are transatlantic in nature, fusing core elements of Drexicyan Detroit electro with Sheffield bleep, breakbeat and early techno. The release features three original cuts and a wigged out, brain tickling remix from Fabric resident Anna Wall.

The EP kicks off with the title track ‘Cybertron Utopia’, a track characterised by it’s subtle deepness, driven by breaks and emotive pads. Closing out the A-side Anna Wall provides her take on the track adding the aforementioned wigged out-ness.

The flip opens with ‘Leave Luck To Heaven’ which harkens back to the early (and some one say golden) years of UK club music, dilated pupils at the ready for this subtle banger… ‘Stray Dog In Tokyo’ wraps up an impressive third release for the burgeoning imprint.

With Umwelt, room, An’archives releases the first vinyl LP by Japanese singer, songwriter and guitarist, Kotonashiso. An elegant collection of seven slow-moving, free-ranging song forms, Umwelt, room is reflective, pensive, and yet has a great, expansive sense of movement, each song’s parameters feeling almost infinitely flexible.

Born in Tokyo in 1984, Kotonashiso began playing music in 2000. After taking a long break from making music between the years 2005 to 2016, he returned with renewed focus, and over the past eight years, he’s toured Japan and Europe, performing in venues, street performances and open mic events. Currently, Kotonashiso plays either solo, on in three separate duos, with Sou Mori, 泥, and Hideya Kyooka, respectively. He’s not released much music, as yet – a single, “in the cavern”, with Sou Mori, in 2021, and a soundtrack to Hiroki Nakajima’s solo exhibition, Ray, the following year.

All of this gives Umwelt, Room the feeling of a major statement, a debut shot across the void. The seven songs collected here were recorded in 2024, with a guiding principle, for Kotonashiso, being his desire to “imagine the time when people started recording blues and folk songs on analog records,” creating a ghost-like presence in the listener’s room. When talking about the songs on Umwelt, Room, Kotonashiso focuses on a number of concepts, such as prayer, tragedy, ‘the cycle of life’, and the disappearance of the gulf between fantasy and reality.

They’re songs with deep, rich resonance, performed without guile. You might be able to hear, at times, the fragility of fellow Japanese singer-songwriter Hisato Higuchi, or the bluesy touch of Loren Connors in the guitar. However, Kotonashiso’s aesthetic remit is wide, identifying with artists like Bill Callahan, Scout Niblett, Inukaze, and Tomoko Shimazaki, and sharing sympathies with “the psychedelic rock, avant-garde and ambient communities.” Ultimately, though, the pellucid, dream-like songs of Kotonashiso, somewhere between folk, pop and blues, sit, disarmed and lovely, within their own universe.

Satoshi Tomiie & Dopeus drop ‘Gaien 2am' – late-night frequencies for deep heads. Vibes roll heavy from 2am to Sunrise, pure Tokyo-Paris connect. Strictly limited wax. Don't sleep.

Japanese artists Yumiko Morioka and Takashi Kokubo unite for Gaiaphilia, a journey through ambient soundscapes that seamlessly blends Morioka’s graceful piano compositions with Kokubo’s immersive field recordings and atmospheric synthesisers.

This collaboration brings together two of Japan’s most influential pioneers in ambient and new age music, each with decades of groundbreaking work. Morioka, celebrated for her 1987 album Resonance—reissued to critical acclaim by Métron Records—infuses her introspective playing with Kokubo’s vivid environmental textures, creating a dialogue between nature and melody.

After releasing Resonance, Morioka stepped away from music, moving to America to raise her family. For years, her work was quietly cherished by fans, only gaining wider recognition with its reissue in 2020. A devastating wildfire destroyed her California home seven years ago, prompting her return to Tokyo where she became a chocolatier before rediscovering her passion for the piano in recent years, playing live shows and making new recordings.

Takashi Kokubo’s legendary discography spans over 30 years, and has found wider acclaim in recent years via YouTube algorithms and bootleg uploads, wracking up tens of millions of plays. Yet he is probably best known for his sound design work, specifically the Japanese earthquake alert sound as well as credit card payment jingles - his creations are pervasive in Japanese society.

“From our love and concern for our planet, we both offer a unique sensibility and spirit of inquiry which we express through our music.”

Rooted in shared philosophical interests, Gaiaphilia reflects a profound reverence for nature’s resilience and harmony. Themes of Gaia, Mother Earth’s renewal, and the interconnectedness of life are central, with inspirations drawn from cosmology, sacred geometry, and Japan’s mystical Katakamuna tradition. The album invites listeners into a meditative space where sound mirrors the delicate balance of the natural world.

A master of sound design, Kokubo enhances this vision with his distinctive field recordings, captured using a self-made binaural microphone shaped like a crash test dummy’s head. From the jungles of Borneo to the gentle rhythm of ocean waves, Kokubo’s globe-spanning recordings transform into immersive soundscapes that perfectly complement Morioka’s introspective piano compositions.

“The title, Gaiaphilia, is a newly created word to encompass our love and respect for nature and life, this feeling is the theme we hoped to express.”

Released on Métron Records on 12/03/25 and with artwork from Ventral Is Golden, Gaiaphilia marks a remarkable new chapter for Morioka and Kokubo. Recorded at Kokubo’s log house studio named Studio Ion in Yamanashi, their collaboration offers listeners a deeply emotional and transcendent experience, rooted in the timeless beauty of Japan’s natural landscapes.

Unter dem Banner Sleep Token verbirgt sich die einzigartige, breit gefächerte Vision eines Einzelnen - anonym, schweigend, maskiert und bewaffnet mit einem atemberaubenden Stimmumfang, einem geschickten Händchen an den Keyboards und einem Live-Ansatz, der nie weniger als voll engagiert ist. Die britischen Metal-Shootingstars Sleep Token. Sleep Token begannen, alle zwei Wochen Songs zu veröffentlichen. Jeder Track hatte sein eigenes Emblem und führte das Sleep Token-Universum auf dem Debütalbum 'Sundowning' ein. Das zweite Album 'This Place Will Become Your Tomb' ist jetzt auf schwarzem Doppel-Vinyl erhältlich.

Alle 12 Songs des Sleep Token Debütalbums 'Sundowning' sind sorgfältig aufeinander abgestimmt, verfolgen damit einen emotionalen Faden, setzen gleichzeitig dabei individuelle Meilensteine. 'Sundowning', oder Sundown Syndrom, ist ein neurologisches Phänomen, das mit erhöhter Verwirrung und Unruhe bei Patienten mit Delirium oder einer Form von Demenz verbunden ist. Jetzt auf schwarzem Doppelvinyl.

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.

Containing a ltd 12" 300gsm artwork print! Inspired by the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains north-west of Madrid, his home since August 2022, Milo Fitzpatrick presents "Sierra Tracks" the new album from his expansive, cinematic, chamber-jazz project Vega Trails. Having cut 2022"s beautifully resonant debut album "Tremors in the Static" as a duo, alongside saxophonist Jordan Smart (Mammal Hands and Sunda Arc), Milo now substantially expands upon that blueprint with his follow-up, "Sierra Tracks", which, as the title suggests, was conceived at his new home in central Spain and adds piano, vibraphone and strings to the mix. The beautiful Spanish countryside offered inspiration too.

Mit ihrem achten Studio Album präsentiert das von Journalisten oft als "Deutschlands unterbewertetste Punk-Rock Band" bezeichnete Berliner Trio ein Cover-Album das es in sich hat. Im klassischen "K-Tel" Gewand werden hier 12 Kracher der 50er, 60er, 70er und 80er Jahre abgeliefert. Allerdings nicht im üblichen, "wir spielen einfach mal alles doppelt so schnell-Hauruck Sound", nein, hier wurde mal richtig tief in die musikalische Trickkiste gegriffen. So kommen die ,Rubettes" im Gewand der ,Ramones" daher, ,Slade" im Sound der ,Stranglers" und ,Jimi Hendrix" sogar als waschechte Southern Rock Nummer a la ,Lynyrd Skynyrd". Von Uli Confidence dem Mastermind der Band und Betreiber des Berliner Kult-Clubs ,Wild At Heart" im hauseigenen Studio produziert, wird auf dieser Scheibe völlig ungeniert von klassischem Rock`n`Roll, über 70s Rock, Glam und sogar New Wave alles zelebriert, was der Kirche des Vertrauens lieb und heilig ist. Spaß-, Party-, und Unterhaltungsfaktor bis zum Anschlag auf Maximum gedreht, zündet hier ein Kracher nach dem anderen... 500 Stück weltweit, klassisch schwarzes Vinyl, durchnummeriert.

The Jazz scene pays tribute to one of the greatest artist of all time. This time the IN JAZZ Collection focusses on Paul Mac Cartney with smooth jazz covers of some of the best titles composed by the great Macca !

first pressing sold out on pre-order - here's a repress for late March 2025 on green vinyl - new barcode, new SKU.

After a first This album cover is quite mysterious, isn't it? Let's uncover what's behind it. The first notes of the opening track immediately set the tone: the journey begins. Take the album title literally and allow yourself to be comforted by the tenderness the British band is about to offer.

Dream pop is a genre of its own, characterized by a warm sound, enveloping bass lines, dreamy synths, and beautiful vocals. With "No Rush," Tokyo Tea Room guides the listener through an exploration of their emotions and an escape from everyday life.

Each of the 13 tracks on this project exudes the same tender energy, yet stands out with creative and meticulously crafted compositions. This project is poised to become a staple of the genre.

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.

Wewantsounds is delighted to announce the reissue of Sho-Nuff's highly sought-after album "Body Pressure" from 1983. Recorded for Japanese label King Records, the album was only ever released in Japan and disappeared without trace making it one of the most coveted Modern Soul/Boogie albums on the international collectors scene. Mixing funk and Boogie with a few juicy ballads for good measure, Body Pressure is a superb album that lives up to its reputation, hence the hefty price tag of up to 1000€ for an original. The audio was remastered in Tokyo by King from the master tapes and the album is reissued here with its original artwork and OBI for the first time since 1983 with new liner notes by Charles Waring.

A popcorn horror portmanteau mini album from Tokyo indie-pop quartet Hazy
Sour Cherry

For his next Token EP, Kr!z delivers squelchy synth sequences over robust kicks, reinforcing his no-nonsense approach to club music. Classic in its conception yet psychotic in effect, Ipso Facto is a record built for powerful sound systems during thenight's most delirious moments.



First impressions are important; the Belgian producer has never been one to waste time, and this record is no exception. What you hear is what you get-an anxiously slithering synth line makes his intentions clear in Defeat the Purpose, driving people to the dancefloor. Dry drum machine work thunders throughout, locking in the Token style with precision. Moving into the next track, 'Chrome Dust' focuses more on the tonal side of things and its irresistible groovemakes it an instant ear catcher. Playful rides and snares shape the progression, with Kr!z swapping percussion elements to keep the movement lively.
The title track is a true hip swinger on the B1 as he reaches in the low end of the synth sequence to establish a very compelling rhythm. Everything in its right place, and not a hair more, the percussion transitions are reminiscent of his 4 channel DJ sets, the energy always being on the move. Equilibrium closes the EP with high energy, opening up filters over a reliably bouncy rhythm. Years of experience behind the decks can be very instructive for a perceptive producer, and Kr!z proves us just that in this track and in the whole EP.

Hailing from Tokyo, Satoshi Tomiie emerged in the New York scene after Frankie Knuckles discovered him and his debut record, 'Tears' in 1989, was co-produced with Knuckles and featured Robert Owens. It is a dance music classic and as part of Def Mix Productions with David Morales, Satoshi crafted iconic 1990s remixes for artists like Madonna, Mariah Carey, and Inner City. Here collaborating with Ibiza's Tuccillo, Satoshi created 'Delta Dubs', a live, one-take dub house project recorded on a Soundcraft Delta desk. This tribute to dub's pioneers reimagines the essence of dub with a futuristic twist that lands courtesy of 20/20 Vision.

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.

---

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.

Demonstrating the poignant power of experience + human connection + innate musicality + operating in the present moment, Jeff Mills' Spiral Deluxe collective unveil their second album - The Love Pretender. Driven by the free expression and creativity of improvised performance, Spiral Deluxe is an electronic jazz fusion project comprised electronic music visionary Jeff, along with legendary keyboardist Gerald Mitchell (Underground Resistance/ Los Hermanos), Japanese rocker Yumiko Ohno (Buffalo Daughter/Cornelius) on Moog synthesizer and the Japanese bassist, adopted New Yorker, Kenji "Jino" Hino - son of Terumasa Hino, the world famous jazz trumpeter. Together, the four key players formed a band centred around completely improvised journeys through sound.

During their unrestrained performances, what Jeff describes as sonic "conversations" arose between the musicians, as they each contributed to full-length live shows, and studio sessions. Within the boundless parameters of freeform spontaneity, they developed an unspoken understanding of one another, finding balance and poise within the unplanned performances. The resulting recordings have been used for three releases so far: Two EPs, Kobe Session (2016) and Tathata (2017), and their debut album Voodoo Magic in 2018. With The Love Pretender, we're presented with another stunning collection of "tracks" extracted from one long improv session.

With each musician proficient in their specialism and, of course, an all-out music lover, the communication between the group members became almost telepathic. Very little preparation was needed, and their performances flowed naturally and organically. This can be heard, and felt, throughout The Love Pretender. Tracks like 'The Soloist' evolve effortlessly, each new shift subtly influenced by one of the musicians nudging the conversation into a different phase, and the rest responding accordingly, or vice versa. It's music that embodies the true nature of mindfulness and letting go of fear. In their unstructured, liberated cocoon the artists thrive and create musical moments that have, fortunately, been captured for us all to immerse ourselves in. Jazzy notes fill the air, combined with electronic bass, synthesised beats, sparkling keys and an all-round warm and welcoming atmosphere, with the slight edge you can only get from improvised performance.

Sylvain Luc's posthumous appearance on the album is of significance too. The French guitarist died in March 2024 at the age of 59. His natural flair adds another dimension to the album, bringing a touch of that laid back 1980s American California Coast feeling to tracks such as 'Society's Man'. These contributions to the LP, recorded separately, add character - a final sprinkling of humanity to complement the aliveness and presence of this body of work. Three other musicians also added their creative energy to the project. They were; TOKU, a Japanese jazz musician who specialises in wind instruments, especially the cornet, trumpet and flugel horn. And there's Masa Shimizu, who also has wide-ranging with the guitar, as well as being a producer.

Themes on the album include the optimism one can have by simply trusting the process and trusting that everything will work out in the end. By playing together in the way they do, Spiral Deluxe place their trust in the mystery of what will happen next. Getting comfortable with not knowing is key to a sense of peace with regard to the future and this energy is vital to their collective musical output. By embracing the notion of the unknown, you become an eternal optimist, living in the moment, rather than projecting into the future. This cultivates excitement, an antidote to anxiety.

Meanwhile, the title alludes to the shifts and changes that have occurred in today's society, whereby it's possible to achieve success through pretending. The superficiality, and falsehood, that can often be presented via social media, can lead to questions about what's real and what's not. From AI to the fake personas that populate the dominant platforms, The Love Pretender speaks to a process that is symbolic of the time we're living in. Behaviour that has become acceptable in today's world, which may not have been as welcomed a few decades ago. But this is part of the cycle of life...

Jeff's intention with this music is to present it in high-fidelity, to be listened to over and over and over again. In post-recording he worked for hours to ensure the audio quality was as high as it could be. The goal is to create music that people can live with their entire lives, from his solo work to these masterful improvisations. Music that comes to life, music that has a voice we can replicate with our own vocals. Expressive, unstructured, and alive...

With The Love Pretender Jeff Mills continues his mission to experiment with music outside the bounds of what is typically expected. It's freeing, enlivening, vibrant and uniquely human. As ever, Jeff's visionary outlook and bold approach to musical performance and recording has produced a body of work that epitomises his often revolutionary capabilities. There's no pretending here, just pure unadulterated sonic transmissions from a wonderfully daring, inspiring and optimistic ensemble...

At the start of the 60s, a new wave of gospel-influenced jazz started to emerge, with hits such as Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers' "Moanin'" and Cannonball Adderley's "Work Song" epitomizing this evolution in the genre. The terms "soul jazz" and "funky jazz" were coined as a way to describe this new sound that was making an impact in the US and also on the other sides of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

In 1964, Ray Charles made his first visit to Japan. Then, in 1968, Martha & The Vandellas and Stevie Wonder set foot in the country, followed by Sam & Dave in 1969, Ike & Tina Turner in 1970, and B.B. King in 1971. The TV show "Soul Train" also began airing in Japan in the early 1970s. A watershed moment happened in 1973 when Sammy Davis Jr. was cast in a TV commercial for Suntory whisky — and the influence of the US Black entertainment world had really landed, with soul, jazz, and funk artists becoming household names.

Nippon Columbia played a pivotal role during this turning point. The company had contracts with Buddah Records and Blue Thumb Records, releasing notable works by artists such as Gladys Knight & The Pips, Curtis Mayfield, The Crusaders, and The Pointer Sisters. At the same time, the label was also releasing several Japanese soul, jazz, and funk projects under the lead of music director Jiro Inagaki. Inagaki, a saxophonist who began his professional career in the early 1950s, honed his skills at U.S. military camps, where he shared his love of music with the Black servicemen. In the 1960s, he played with drummer Hideo Shiraki's band, which was widely considered to be Japan's representative group of the funky jazz movement. Later, Inagaki went on to pursue more cutting-edge sounds with his Soul Media project, including being a pioneering figure in the "jazz rock" genre. By working closely with Inagaki and his various musical projects, Nippon Columbia really placed the company at the center of an exciting and important period in Japanese music.

In 1965, Nippon Columbia opened a recording studio in Tokyo's Akasaka neighborhood. Akasaka was also home to the first ever discotheque in Japan, the legendary MUGEN, which ran from 1968 to 1987 and where many acts performed, including Con Funk Shun, the Bar-Kays, Ike & Tina Turner, B.B. King, Sam & Dave, Three Degrees, and Edwin Starr, as well as many local Japanese singers and musicians. This melting pot of creativity in the area led to the recording of many singles and albums by Japanese artists that were infused with the sounds of soul and funk. Most of these recordings were not available outside of Japan and remain rare and unknown musical gems. The selection you are holding in your hands is an explosive collection of 10 essential tracks released by the legendary Nippon Columbia label between 1969 and 1977, capturing the raw, unapparelled energy that was flowing through the air of the Akasaka streets at this electrifying time. Enjoy!

---

180GWALP07 - Manufactured and distributed by 180g.

Die Grammy-nominierte Künstlerin, Produzentin und Labelchefin TOKiMONSTA bringt ihr neues Studioalbum "Eternal Reverie" an den Start. Neben der unwiderstehlich eingängigen, Samba-inspirierten Dancefloor-Hymne "Corazón / DEATH BY DISCO PT 2" ist der R&B-Tune "On Sum" mit Tokis langjährigem Kollaborateur Anderson .Paak und der aufstrebenden Neo-Soul-Sängerin und Rapperin Rae Khalil eines der Highlights. Die Stimmen der beiden Vokalisten verweben sich nahtlos in TOKiMONSTAs typische Beat-Rhythmen und üppige Synth-Akkorde und ergänzen sich gegenseitig in ihren gefühlvollen Kadenzen – eine Meisterklasse des klassischen Duetts.

Die Grammy-nominierte Künstlerin, Produzentin und Labelchefin TOKiMONSTA bringt ihr neues Studioalbum "Eternal Reverie" an den Start. Neben der unwiderstehlich eingängigen, Samba-inspirierten Dancefloor-Hymne "Corazón / DEATH BY DISCO PT 2" ist der R&B-Tune "On Sum" mit Tokis langjährigem Kollaborateur Anderson .Paak und der aufstrebenden Neo-Soul-Sängerin und Rapperin Rae Khalil eines der Highlights. Die Stimmen der beiden Vokalisten verweben sich nahtlos in TOKiMONSTAs typische Beat-Rhythmen und üppige Synth-Akkorde und ergänzen sich gegenseitig in ihren gefühlvollen Kadenzen – eine Meisterklasse des klassischen Duetts.

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.

Die Grammy-nominierte Künstlerin, Produzentin und Labelchefin TOKiMONSTA bringt ihr neues Studioalbum "Eternal Reverie" an den Start. Neben der unwiderstehlich eingängigen, Samba-inspirierten Dancefloor-Hymne "Corazón / DEATH BY DISCO PT 2" ist der R&B-Tune "On Sum" mit Tokis langjährigem Kollaborateur Anderson .Paak und der aufstrebenden Neo-Soul-Sängerin und Rapperin Rae Khalil eines der Highlights. Die Stimmen der beiden Vokalisten verweben sich nahtlos in TOKiMONSTAs typische Beat-Rhythmen und üppige Synth-Akkorde und ergänzen sich gegenseitig in ihren gefühlvollen Kadenzen – eine Meisterklasse des klassischen Duetts.

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.

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.

Neu remasterte Reissue des zweiten Studioalbums der australischen Indierock-Band Birds Of Tokyo als Picture Disc. "Universes" (2008) mit den Singles "Broken Bones" und "Silhouettic" verhalf der Band erstmals zu ihrer heutigen Stadiongrösse. Von der Original-LP existierte bislang nur eine limitierte 300er Vinylauflage. Die Picture Disc kommt im Stanzcover samt doppelseitiger

Einlage, die fast haargenau dem Originalcover nachempfunden ist

1969 was the year of release of this one and only album by Japanese jazz pianist Hideo Ichikawa, vibraphonist Hiroshi Matsumoto, bassist Kunimitsu Inaba and drummer Motohiko Hino, all in collaboration. A one-off coming-together, it centred on the valerian vibes of Matsumoto, whose star instrument, the vibraphone, was bound to take centre stage for its comparative novelty, not to mention the fact that Matsumoto himself had been practicing before the others. An honorary work, this urbane masterpiece hears tasteful vibraphonic panning in full stereo, as blue passing notes collide with expert steel brushings and untied chord playing, resulting in a unique but salubrious listen.

“BLADE N” is the long-awaited new album from Japanese rapper Karavi Roushi, who appeared on the Japanese hip-hop scene with his debut solo album “Kiyosumi Kurokawa”. This, his second solo album, is a collaborative release with Aquadab, the Japanese track maker/sound designer who co-produced “Kiyosumi Kurokawa”. The album showcases the preternatural mind-meld between rapper and track maker.

Karavi Roushi came before the public as a member of Nagoya hip-hop collective Hydro Brain Gang on Nero Imai's album “Return Of Acid King” (2017). He then launched the label Super Lights with Aquadab and released his first solo album “Kiyosumi Kurokawa” in 2019 with graphic design by Takara Ohashi. Although an unknown newcomer, the album reached #15 on the iTunes Hip Hop Japan album chart and received plaudits not only for its music but also for the artwork by Ohashi. After the album, Karavi Roushi dropped his first collaboration tune with Aquadab on “S.D.S =Zero=” (2020), a compilation of Generation Z Japanese underground artists produced during the Covid pandemic. That tune, “Tokyoite”, became a favorite of the participating artists.

"BLADE N” was created by the three-person team of Karavi Roushi, Aquadab & Ohashi. Consciously developing their musical methodology, they intentionally use instrumental tracks to interrupt the rappers' voices and flows, something which has traditionally been avoided, and explore the possibility of creating a style that puts the rapper and track maker on equal footing in complex, woven tracks. On the album, Karavi Roushi's paranormal voice, which sometimes sounds like a mutant synthesizer, adds incisiveness, and in the artwork Ohashi visually extracts the story world hidden in “BLADE N”, giving the cover art the same impact as that of “Kiyosumi Kurokawa”

Bubblegum XX features features members of Queens of the Stone Age, PJ Harvey, Greg Dulli, Izzy and Duff from Guns & Roses/Velvet Revolver, among other assorted rock luminaries. When Bubblegum was released, Mark chose to let it speak for itself and didn"t have much to say aside from within the small handful of interviews he did at the time. In 2017, he released a book of lyrics and writings called I Am The Wolf and wrote about the album then. Shared here are some of his words about the record. Song favorites include "When Your Number Isn"t Up," and "Strange Religion," a love song I wrote in a Tokyo hotel room. While many of the songs came from a place of dejection and ennui at the end of a tempestuous relationship, "Bombed" in particular came about when, after I had written and recorded it in just a few minutes, I put a microphone in front of Wendy Rae Fowler, my soon-to-be-ex-wife, and had her sing along while simultaneously hearing it for the first time. I loved the result as it reminded me of Royal Trux, a band I liked. When I insisted on using the first and only take of the song, it made her slightly unhappy, but to be fair, that was just one of many things I did that had that effect.

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

Wer Lacuna Coil kennt, weiss, dass jedes Album ihrer beeindruckenden Karriere mehr als nur einen typischen Bandsound liefer-te: Jedes Album ist ein reichhaltig strukturierter Soundtrack zur jeweiligen Epoche und zu einem bestimmten Ort. Bei "Sleepless Empire" ist dieser Ort düster, cineastisch und verströmt unverkennbar die Stimmung, die Lacuna Coil zu einem so gefeierten Eintrag in die Chronik der harten Musik gemacht haben. Ohne ihre spezielle Art von Gesang, Gitarrensound oder Schlagzeugarbeit wäre "Sleepless Empire" - der orchestrale Teil - ein cineastischer Soundtrack. Von den kolossalen Refrains des Album-Openers "The Siege" über das verrucht eingängige "I Wish You Were Dead" bis hin zum unbändig klassischen Feeling des Titeltracks von "Sleepless Empire" - die Souveränität von Lacu-na Coils neuestem Werk ist unüberhörbar, und doch hat es auch einige Überraschungen zu bieten. Sie erscheinen in Form zweier ganz besonderer Gastauftritte von niemand Geringerem als der New Years Day-Banshee Ash Costello auf ihrem Epos "In The Mean Time" und einem ohrenbetäubend überdrehten Beitrag von Lamb of God-Sänger Randy Blythe auf "Hosting the Sha-dow". Und wenn "Sleepless Empire" etwas Besonderes ist, dann ist es mehr als nur diese gesangliche Kreuzbefruchtung. Wie Sänger Andrea Ferro erklärt, liegt der Schlüssel zu Lacuna Coils ewig jugendlicher Ausstrahlung in ihrer Neugier und ihrer Fähigkeit, kreativ auf neue Inspirationen zu reagieren, ohne dabei die langjährigen Qualitäten aus den Augen zu verlieren, welche die Band zu dem machen, was sie ist - und er zählt Sleep Token, Spiritbox, Bad Omens und Bring Me The Horizon als Beispiele für andere Bands auf, die dasselbe tun, um die Szene und ihren eigenen Sound lebendig zu halten. Dieser unabhängige Geist ist der Schlüssel, um Lacuna Coils künstlerisches Vorrecht gegen das Gewicht der Erwartungen abzuwägen, und Ferro beschreibt mit Nachdruck, wie diese seltsamen Zeiten eine Fülle an Material hervorgebracht haben, die die gewichtigen Texte und die Stimmung von "Sleepless Empire" beeinflusst haben. Der Sound von Lacuna Coil ist düster, er spiegelt die Gesellschaft wider, in der wir leben - er ist ein Porträt unserer Zeit. Er zeugt von der Veränderung unserer Gesellschaft, dem "Sleepless Empire", in dem jeder immer am Handy ist, immer scrollt, immer et-was tut - von morgens bis abends, es hört einfach nie auf. Eine Philosophie, die sich in jedem Aspekt von "Sleepless Empire" widerspiegelt.

Wer Lacuna Coil kennt, weiss, dass jedes Album ihrer beeindruckenden Karriere mehr als nur einen typischen Bandsound liefer-te: Jedes Album ist ein reichhaltig strukturierter Soundtrack zur jeweiligen Epoche und zu einem bestimmten Ort. Bei "Sleepless Empire" ist dieser Ort düster, cineastisch und verströmt unverkennbar die Stimmung, die Lacuna Coil zu einem so gefeierten Eintrag in die Chronik der harten Musik gemacht haben. Ohne ihre spezielle Art von Gesang, Gitarrensound oder Schlagzeugarbeit wäre "Sleepless Empire" - der orchestrale Teil - ein cineastischer Soundtrack. Von den kolossalen Refrains des Album-Openers "The Siege" über das verrucht eingängige "I Wish You Were Dead" bis hin zum unbändig klassischen Feeling des Titeltracks von "Sleepless Empire" - die Souveränität von Lacu-na Coils neuestem Werk ist unüberhörbar, und doch hat es auch einige Überraschungen zu bieten. Sie erscheinen in Form zweier ganz besonderer Gastauftritte von niemand Geringerem als der New Years Day-Banshee Ash Costello auf ihrem Epos "In The Mean Time" und einem ohrenbetäubend überdrehten Beitrag von Lamb of God-Sänger Randy Blythe auf "Hosting the Sha-dow". Und wenn "Sleepless Empire" etwas Besonderes ist, dann ist es mehr als nur diese gesangliche Kreuzbefruchtung. Wie Sänger Andrea Ferro erklärt, liegt der Schlüssel zu Lacuna Coils ewig jugendlicher Ausstrahlung in ihrer Neugier und ihrer Fähigkeit, kreativ auf neue Inspirationen zu reagieren, ohne dabei die langjährigen Qualitäten aus den Augen zu verlieren, welche die Band zu dem machen, was sie ist - und er zählt Sleep Token, Spiritbox, Bad Omens und Bring Me The Horizon als Beispiele für andere Bands auf, die dasselbe tun, um die Szene und ihren eigenen Sound lebendig zu halten. Dieser unabhängige Geist ist der Schlüssel, um Lacuna Coils künstlerisches Vorrecht gegen das Gewicht der Erwartungen abzuwägen, und Ferro beschreibt mit Nachdruck, wie diese seltsamen Zeiten eine Fülle an Material hervorgebracht haben, die die gewichtigen Texte und die Stimmung von "Sleepless Empire" beeinflusst haben. Der Sound von Lacuna Coil ist düster, er spiegelt die Gesellschaft wider, in der wir leben - er ist ein Porträt unserer Zeit. Er zeugt von der Veränderung unserer Gesellschaft, dem "Sleepless Empire", in dem jeder immer am Handy ist, immer scrollt, immer et-was tut - von morgens bis abends, es hört einfach nie auf. Eine Philosophie, die sich in jedem Aspekt von "Sleepless Empire" widerspiegelt. Sleepless Empire ist erhältlich als Ltd. Deluxe CD Box mit Symbolwürfel-Orakel, als Ltd. CD Digipak, als schwarze LP + LP-Booklet, als limitierte farbige LP + LP-Booklet sowie als digitales Album.

2023 was a whirlwind year for Oracle Sisters. The trio—Julia Johansen, Chris Willatt, and Lewis Lazar—followed the release of their debut album Hydranism with a globe-spanning tour that captivated fans and critics alike. From the highways between Knoxville and Nashville to sold-out clubs in rain-soaked Seattle, and festival stages across the UK, they logged countless hours on the road. Their journey was a tapestry of exhaustion and exhilaration, falling apart, brawls and disputes, love and acceptance. By the year’s end, just two days before Christmas, they found themselves in Tokyo, reflecting on the fleeting nature of time and the fragments of inspiration gathered along the way. It was there the seeds for their next album, Divinations, began to sprout. Composing as a true trio for the first time, Oracle Sisters pieced together sketches formed during stolen moments on tour. These fragments coalesced into Divinations, an album shaped by the band’s nomadic existence. The recording sessions spanned cozy Parisian studios, a barn in northern France, and the storied Valentine Studios in Los Angeles. Their creative process embraced experimentation—swapping primary instruments, playing with toy drum machines, and crafting melodies on quirky tools like the OP-1 and a baby Casio keyboard. This spirit of discovery lent the album a sense of spontaneity and wonder. At its core, Divinations channels mysticism and timeless storytelling. The band’s songwriting draws on diverse influences, from the surrealist poetry of Baudelaire and Rimbaud to the introspective philosophies of Carl Jung. Musically, echoes of Talking Heads, Air, and Leonard Cohen resonate throughout the album and tracks like “Riverside” delve into existential questions— “How far are you going? Is it more than money can buy?” Elsewhere on the album “Marseille,” born in the city that gave the song its name, kicks off as a trance with lyrics that play between the sincere and desperate self-help affirmations, we give ourselves while trying to find a bridge between our individual lives and a universal feeling. Lead-single “Alouette” is Oracle Sisters at their most direct; propelled by a driving bassline and exuberant strings, the track summons the sound of 80’s, 90’s, and early 2000’s rock n roll as they sing about “getting out of dodge, finding a pirate ship and sailing home.” Inspired by the book Caliban and the Witch, “Blue Left Hand” is a lyrical tapestry weaving together history, philosophy, and cultural critique. The lyrics, “It’s in the harbor of every page / It’s in the corner of the playwright’s stage / And every player and every fake / And every witch that we burned at the stake,” reflect on the forces that shaped the capitalist society we know today. Across Divinations’ 11 tracks it’s not only geographic boundaries that were crossed but also the boundaries of time and circumstance. While their work may not consciously reflect specific worldly events, they seek to embrace the universal and offer a space for healing. “Good music would make sense to a farmer in 17th century France as it would to a pastry chef in Slovenia in the 21st century,” shares Lazar. “It’s not written for any temporal powers that be. It’s about expressing our common humanity and taking it from there.” This intuitive approach fuels Oracle Sisters creative process - whether composing in a frozen French farmhouse or performing live with an ever-expanding lineup of collaborators, the band remains committed to exploring the unknown. Through Divinations, they hope to leave listeners feeling transcendent, levitating on waves of intuition and discovery.

Honeymoon is the excellent debut album from Beach Bunny, the four-piece band out of Chicago. Recorded at the iconic Chicago studio Electrical Audio with producer Joe Reinhart (Hop Along, Algernon Caldwaller), the nine songs on the LP burst with energy that capture their vital and life-affirming live shows. Songs like the swooning and anthemic singles "Dream Boy" and "Ms. California" encapsulate the highs and lows the exiting the honeymoon stage of a relationship. The long-awaited debut LP “Honeymoon” from Beach Bunny follows their breakout hit on Tik-Tok, "Prom Queen” (65 million global streams, 518K+ TikTok videos).

Ein prächtiges Doppelalbum (2x LP) im Gatefold welches die besten Beispiele eines bis vor kurzem sehr unterschätzten Genres enthält.
Jetzt ist es natürlich der angesagteste Sound überhaupt.
Aus dem umfangreichen Nippon Columbia-Katalog hat Cunimondo Takiguchi die heißesten Stücke der innovativsten Schöpfer des City Pop-Genres zusammengestellt.
Wenn man dann noch die berühmte hohe Produktionsqualität und Qualitätskontrolle von Gearbox hinzunimmt, hat man einen frühen Anwärter auf die Compilation des Jahres!

Grammy-nominated artist, producer and label-head TOKiMONSTA and prolific composer, producer and songwriter, Suzi Analogue have officially released their collaborative mini-album, Analogue Monsta: BOOM via Young Art Records. Originally released in limited quantities exclusively on vinyl in 2012, the 11-track project has now been remastered. Analogue Monsta: BOOM serves as a time capsule to the eclectic sound of the early 2010’s beat scene, which both TOKi and Suzi’s futuristic production styles helped champion out to a broader audience outside of the world of “bedroom producers.” Suzi Analogue's smooth R&B vocals pair perfectly with TOKiMONSTA's glitchy beats and pulsating bass, demonstrating their versatility and flair for pushing sonic boundaries. The album lays one of the early foundations to the fusion of future bass, alternative R&B and electronica, highlighting the pioneering spirit of two acclaimed female artists.

Analogue Monsta: BOOM marks an important milestone for the two as they reflect on the prescient nature of their early collaboration. “This special project with Suzi Analogue is one of my favorites. It never had a formal release so it feels right to share it with the world a decade later with fresh ears,” states TOKiMONSTA. Both Suzi and TOKi’s journeys converged early in their careers as the two paved the way for a groundbreaking era of femme-identifying producers and songwriters within the music industry. Speaking on the project’s significance Suzi Analogue adds, “​​The Analogue Monsta project was truly ahead of its time. We felt a strong calling to propel it into the future, recognizing the trailblazing potential it held. It provided a vital space for femme-identifying producers and songwriters to fearlessly explore beats, lyrics and tempos with us. This experimental journey not only influenced the current musical landscape but is poised to leave a lasting mark on the soundscape of the future."

The result is a record that very much is its own world. Where chaos is carefully organized, where being able to ever actually chill out is totally illusory, a trick mirror.

Miki Yui is a musician, artist, and composer, originally from Tokyo, who has been based in Düsseldorf since 1994. Her whose work has long explored multiple forms of media, while documenting liminal zones of perception. On her latest album, As If, Yui creates a subtly connected suite of electronic music, drawn from improvisations and randomised processes that she has engaged with modular synthesis. Deeply poetic in its expression, even at its most minimal, the six pieces on As If have a curious tenor – they are, each of them, intensely sensuous, almost haptic listening experiences, as though the laser focus that Yui displays towards her compositions allows her to engage them as almost physical presences in the world.

One of the keys that unlocks the intimate complexity-in-simplicity of As If was Yui’s encounters with the Amazonian rainforest in Manaus, Brazil in 2018. Finding that the sounds in the rainforest both shadowed and echoed the music she had been making for two decades, she embraced the possibilities of modular synthesis, the sounds of which she discovered “have astonishing similarities to the sounds I experienced in the rainforest.” There is, indeed, something natural about the way these sounds bloom in real time; in their dedicated focus to the subtle development and mutation of several discrete parameters of sound, they grow slowly, gradually, their rhizomic structures suggesting that we are always situated within the middle of sound.

Sometimes, the material here has a kind of febrile energy, as on the ticking, clacking electronics of “Generativ”, a track that seems to rotate in the air in front of the listener, the light reflecting off its multiple surfaces as we catch the intricacies of its micro-patterns. Elsewhere, we slide into a cooled but welcoming environment, like the late-night fire-fly horizon of “Song 4”; there’s also the humid, dripping tropical sunset that’s documented on “Summernight”. It’s a music that’s hard to locate external coordinates for, though there are, perhaps, some parallels with the work of Laurie Spiegel, Eliane Radigue’s Vice Versa, and Pauline Oliveros’s “Roots of the Moment”. But As If is an extraordinary collection of naturally developing, rich studies for slowly mutating, enveloping, elemental electronics.

In February 2023, multi-instrumentalist, producer, songwriter, and “genre-defying melody man” (Billboard) Amtrac released his highly-anticipated third album ‘Extra Time’ via Openers.

Inspired by a period of deep reflection during the 2020 lockdowns, ‘Extra Time’ consists of a handcrafted fuse of delicate textures and gritty styles into an unfiltered sonic trip, with each song depicting the process of emotions during a time of uncertainty for the future. It’s a 13-track exploration of forced introspection, a cohesive story that finishes with a surreal feeling of hope.

Amtrac stated: “I made this record to encompass what I was feeling during the times of uncertainty in the world, it helped me cope and was my outlet for everything I was going through. When the listener is done with this album I’m hoping to create the feeling of when you left the movie theater as a child and just saw something that made you think differently.”

Designed to mimic the tension and release of a classic film score, the unique sound of ‘Extra Time’ was heavily influenced by Amtrac’s immersion in the worlds of Jazz and 90s video game music, particularly the classic 90s computer game Grim Fandango and the sonic landscapes of Miles Davis and Stanley Turrentine in addition to the groundbreaking work of fellow electronic pioneers such as Bonobo and Dan Snaith.

Album highlights include kickoff track “Heard Me Right” which was described by Billboard as a “moving mix of rhythmic bass lines and atmospheric melodies”, “Contrast” featuring vocalist Reva Devito, and “Domino” featuring Future Islands frontman Samuel T. Herring that Fangoria described as “like John Carpenter and Basement Jaxx had a baby”. The album also features vocals from his friend Naeem, who worked closely with Amtrac on the jazzy and suspended-in-time groove of “Hesitation.” “Nobody Else” flips a vocal from the Four Tops classic “I Can’t Help Myself” over energetic drums and sultry guitar, and “Dancing With You” unfolds with traditional house elements toward an explosive climax of layered synths. Having made his name with intense DJ sets and creative remixes and collaborations, ‘Extra Time’ is the perfect showcase for Amtrac’s trademark stylistic dexterity and melodic sensitivity - and redefines what it means to create electronic music in 2023.

This follows his collab with Diplo and Leon Bridges on “High Rise” and the recent release of “I’ll Be Around”, his collaboration with English vocalist/producer Elderbrook.

Discover the deeply personal work of Japanese saxophonist Hidefumi Toki through his 1975 masterpiece, "Toki". Accompanied by a quartet featuring Kazumi Watanabe on guitar, Nobuyoshi Ino on bass, and Steve Jackson on drums, Toki's expressive alto and soprano saxophone fill the space with gentle, raspy tones. The album's laidback and mellow atmosphere, highlighted by original compositions like "Darkness" and "Lullaby For The Girl," as well as soulful renditions of classics such as "When Sunny Gets Blue" and Ornette Coleman's "Blues," creates a captivating listening experience.

Recorded May 17, 1975 at AOI Studio, Tokyo.

Waxwork Records is thrilled to present GODZILLA 70th Anniversary Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by composer Akira Ifukube. Released in 1954 by director Ishirô Honda, Godzilla holds the record for being the longest- running franchise in film history. Waxwork Records worked closely with Toho to create this deluxe 70th Anniversary release, featuring a re-mastered score and all-new art.

When ships begin to go missing near Odo Island off the coast of Japan, the locals look to the government for help. Paleontologist Kyohei Yamane (Takashi Shimura) is sent to investigate the situation. There, he discovers the horrors of Godzilla, who soon begins attacking the Japanese mainland. As the military’s efforts to destroy the monster continuously fail, scientist Daisuke Serizawa (Akihiko Hirata) is called upon to use his “Oxygen Destroyer” to kill the beast. Finding Godzilla in Tokyo Bay, Serzawa’s machine is used and finally, the beast is felled.

Since its release, Godzilla has continued to terrorize audiences around the world. The film has influenced countless filmmakers, with both Akira Kurosawa and Steven Speilberg citing it as one of their favorite films. The genius use of practical special effects and miniatures changed how the Japanese film industry made movies for decades. Godzilla has spawned over thirty sequel films and countless video games, comic books, toys, TV shows, and more becoming a pop culture phenomenon in the process.

The film’s score by Akira Ifukube has become an instantly recognizable piece of film music. Given only the script and a week in which to compose, Ifukube crafted a score that feels as enormous as the kaiju himself. Godzilla’s theme has become a staple of nearly all subsequent Godzilla films and was considered by Ifukube to be the greatest piece of music he had written. Using low-pitched brass and string instruments, Ifukube gives the score a massiveness and weight that complement the terror and destruction brought about by the rampaging monster. Ifukube also used a deeply resonant stringed instrument to create Godzilla’s iconic roar, a trick used to create the roar throughout the franchise.

Waxwork Records is beyond excited to present this vinyl release of Godzilla for its 70th Anniversary. Re-mastered, pressed to colored vinyl, housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket with matte satin coating, an art print, and featuring all-new artwork throughout by Robert Sammelin.

WRWTFWW Records is in a state of total bliss as it announces the release of the Pitstop Box compiling all 24 tracks from Japanese house music pioneer Shinichiro Yokota’s two acclaimed albums Do It Again and Again (2016) and I Know You Like It (2019). The collection, available on vinyl for the first time ever, is presented as six 45rpm-cut 12inches housed (!) in a superb slipcase box set created by Lopetz, designer, illustrator, typographer, and co-founder of Swiss graphic design studio Büro Destruct. Included as bonuses are two sticker sheets.

Previously only available on CD in Japan via cult electronic label Far East Recording, Shinichiro Yokota’s album discography finally gets a long overdue vinyl release in the form of a limited-edition box set housing (!) six 12inches and a total of 24 songs showcasing the house legend’s celebrated sound. With a production style drawing from a rich blend of funk, hip hop, electronic, and Japanese influences, Yokota’s music is loved for its simplicity, its hypnotic quality, and, most importantly, its SOUL – homegrown 90s soulful melodic club music…pure love!

The Pitstop Box, full of dancefloor treasures and sprinkled with downtempo gems, not only defines Yokota’s personal journey but also resonates as an essential contribution to the house genre and Japanese music in general. It includes his house hits (“Right Here Right Now”, “Night Drive” and the list goes on), a cover of “Simoon” by Haruomi Hosono’s Logic System, and a collaboration with his longtime partner and electronic music hero Soichi Terada.

Shinichiro Yokota began his musical history in Tokyo, inspired by electronic music giants such as Yellow Magic Orchestra and Kraftwerk. He co-founded Far East Recording with the great Soichi Terada (who also worked with WRWTFWW for the Omodaka compilation) in 1990. After releasing the now highly sought after Far East Recording album with Terada in 1992 (from which his viral hit “Do It Again” is from), he took a hiatus from music and, most notably, brought his passion for sports cars to the next level by launching Night Pager, a company he started with his wife, specializing in tuning sports cars and modifying limiters for competition racers. It’s this side of Yokota’s life which has inspired the design of the Pitstop Box. He triumphantly came back to music with the album Do It Again and Again in 2016, consisting of unreleased 90s recordings as well as new material, and followed it up with I Know You Like It in 2019. His work has influenced generations of producers, and has expanded Japanese house music's reach on the global stage. Experience it on vinyl now.

Full unadulterated pleasure forever - from night drives to dancefloors.

Purple-Black-Smoke Vinyl, limitiert auf 200 Exemplare. Texas Toast Chainsaw Massacre ist eine explosive Band des Crossover-Thrash-Metals aus der pulsierenden Musikszene von Chicago, Illinois. Seit ihrer Gründung im Jahr 2011 haben sie sich schnell einen Namen gemacht, dank ihrer mitreißenden Auftritte und humorvollen Texte, die das Publikum begeistern. Die Band besteht aus den erfahrenen Mitgliedern Josh "Macho Frost" Kandich am Gesang und Jordan Miller an der Leadgitarre, ergänzt durch den talentierten Bassisten Viaj D Crum und den dynamischen Schlagzeuger Tony Strissel. Ihr unabhängiger Status ermöglicht es ihnen, kreativ zu bleiben und Musik zu kreieren, die unverfälscht und originell ist.

Purple-Black-Smoke Vinyl, limitiert auf 200 Exemplare. Texas Toast Chainsaw Massacre ist eine explosive Band des Crossover-Thrash-Metals aus der pulsierenden Musikszene von Chicago, Illinois. Seit ihrer Gründung im Jahr 2011 haben sie sich schnell einen Namen gemacht, dank ihrer mitreißenden Auftritte und humorvollen Texte, die das Publikum begeistern. Die Band besteht aus den erfahrenen Mitgliedern Josh "Macho Frost" Kandich am Gesang und Jordan Miller an der Leadgitarre, ergänzt durch den talentierten Bassisten Viaj D Crum und den dynamischen Schlagzeuger Tony Strissel. Ihr unabhängiger Status ermöglicht es ihnen, kreativ zu bleiben und Musik zu kreieren, die unverfälscht und originell ist.

Wewantsounds is glad to continue its Akiko Yano reissue series with the release of the singer's third studio album 'To Ki Me Ki', recorded in New York and released in 1978 in Japan. It follows her cult "Iroha Ni Konpeitou" LP and keeps the similar blend of Japanese pop and New York funk found in the latter. "To Ki Me Ki" features such musicians as Rick Marotta, Will Lee and David Spinozza and also programmer Hideki Matsutake who would soon join the YMO with Akiko for their international 1979/1980 tour before she recorded her next studio album "Tadaima" that year, featuring the YMO musicians. "To Ki Me Ki" is reissued outside of Japan for the first time, remastered in Tokyo by revered engineer Mitsuo Koike and featuring original artwork by Tsutomu Murakami with 4 page colour insert and new liner notes by Paul Bowler....

Securing his place in the scene as a mainstay after consecutively acclaimed releases on his own record label and beyond as well as lengthy touring around the globe's best venues, Altinbas returns to Token the only way he knows how. The Fuse resident's ethereal mark on driven techno comes this time with an aquatic touch, diving further into his bubbly architecture and melodic intrigue.

'Voyage' can mean many things; the past few years have been an incessant trip across the world's greatest sound systems and most dedicated audiences for the Belgian producer, or then perhaps it's a reference to the climactic and emotional nature of his productions. In any case, it's also the title track for his third EP on Token Records. Balancing warmth and anticipation, Altinbas is able pack in all the elements of a timeless record while still providing the space to breathe. Smooth and introspective, 'Voyage' kicks off the EP on a cloud of a club roller. 'Stygious Night' shares the first side with a more minimal but nonetheless effective approach. The tonal synth work on this record begs for a powerfully round system worthy of only the best dancefloors, and the space that washes around in the background gives it true dimension. Maintaining minimalism with structure through drum arrangement, 'Stygious Night' is reminiscent of a not so distant past in Berlin crafted with a clearly modern approach. As the record flips, 'Venus Ballroom' takes us by surprise with an uncommonly resonant sound at the forefront. This stylistic switch blends perfectly with historic tracks on the label that have come to define its sound since 2007. Hypnotic, psychotic, quirky, and mental - 'Venus Ballroom' proves a deep understanding of the music and appreciation of versatility. 'Psychosphere' closes down the EP with a classic sound of dissonant stabs to resonate through a foggy room. Altinbas highlights his sound with frantic clap sequences and short rides to keep his percussion rolling but dry while his synths create the acoustic he's been known to craft for the past few years. To have everyone agree on level of taste and technical capability is tough, which is why this certainly won't be the last time Altinbas will team up with Token to roll out his cutting-edge work.

GC'mon Tigre announces their new instrumental project, Instrumental Ensemble - Soundtrack for Imaginary Movie Vol 1. This album offers an alternate view of cinematic music: a soundtrack composed for a fictional film using a challenging and inventive method. This project investigates an alternative approach in which music shapes and guides visual storytelling. It's the first in a series of albums dedicated to as-yet-unmade films, enabling listeners to explore music as a key component in cinematic narrative. The original story that inspired this music was created in partnership with a large language model, which was taught and instructed in substance and style to best fit the project's artistic concept. C'mon Tigre works with AI to achieve collaborative harmony while contemplating on the unavoidable future ahead. Each track on the album depicts a scene, delivering stories about humans juggling personal issues and contacts with advanced technology. The end result is a story told by sound and text, designed to immerse listeners in a multisensory universe.