Saturday, October 18, 2014

Koji Tamaki: All I Do, あこがれ & カリント工場の煙突の上に [REPOST]

Sorry for the delay on this repost! Enjoy these fantastic albums!




Susumu Hirasawa: Virtual Rabbit & AURORA

A well over due continuation of this great artists catalog. Enjoy!



Virtual Rabbit (1991)

1. 嵐の海

2. バンディリア旅行団
3. 我が心の鷲よ 月を奪うな[プラネット・イーグル]
4. ヴァーチュアル・ラビット
5. UNDOをどうぞ
6. 山頂晴れて
7. 静かの海
8. 死のない男
9. 太陽の木
10. ロシアン・トビスコープ








AURORA (1994)

1. 石の庭

2. LOVE SONG
3. オーロラ
4. 力の唄
5. 舵をとれ
6. スノーブラインド
7. 風の分身
8. 広場で
9.トビラ島(パラネシアン・サークル)
10. 呼んでるベル




Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Taeko Ohnuki - Sunshower, MIGNONNE, ROMANTIQUE

Three early albums from the fantastic Taeko Ohnuki courtesy if JPDDL. These albums cover the best of the popular genres of the latter 70's and early 80's. Sunshow and Mignonne hold a Jazzy/disco feel with Romantique dabbling in new wave/synth soundscapes while maintaining her jazzy roots. There's upbeat atmosphere in the albums you just don't get anymore and it makes me highly nostalgic for a time I was regrettably not alive in haha! ROMANTIQUE is my favorite of the three but there is something for everyone in these.  

If anyone has her debut any others that have yet to be posted, please share the wealth! I truly hope all my visitors are well and healthy and I hope to get to requests and such in the near future. Enjoy!


Sunshower (1977)

1. SUMMER CONNECTION
2.くすりをたくさん
3. 何もいらない
4. 都会
5. からっぽの椅子
6. LAW OF NATURE
7. 誰のために
8. SILENT SCREAMER
9. SARGASSO SEA
10. 振子の山羊
11. サマー.コネクション
12. 部屋
13. 荒涼







MIGNONNE (1978)


1. じゃじゃ馬娘
2. 横顔
3. 黄昏れ
4. 空をとべたら
5. 風のオルガン
6. 言いだせなくて
7. 4:00 A.M.
8. 突然の贈りもの
9. 海と少年
10. あこがれ





ROMANTIQUE (1980)

1. CARNAVAL *
2. ディケイド.ナイト *
3. 雨の夜明け
4. 若き日の望楼 *
5. BOHEMIAN
6. 果てなき旅情
7. ふたり
8. 軽蔑
9. 新しいシャツ
10. 蜃気楼の街
11. 愛にすくわれたい

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Frank Chickens - We Are Frank Chickens

No words to describe, just sit back, listen and enjoy!



We Are Frank Chickens (1984)

1. Cheeba Cheeba Chimpira
2. Mothra
3. Green Banana
4. Madam Fatal
5. We Are Ninja
6. Yellow Detective
7. Shellfish Bamboo
8. Pikadon
9. We Are Frank Chickens
10. Sake Ballad







Monday, August 4, 2014

Akira Mitake - Out Of Reach

Solo debut from ex Ippu-do keyboard/violinist, Akira Mitake. The album is very much a continuation of the group's sound with a mix of a Yukihiro Takahashi album. Ippu-do fans keep an ear out for the first track "Violation" which was also performed on the "Live & Zen" LP and also for a great Culture Club cover! It's definitely a vinyl rip and courtesy of the defunct "Music Blog of Saltyka and His Friends". 

If anyone is interested I also have the soundtrack he did for the Android Kikaider anime series. Enjoy! 




Out Of Reach (1983)

1. VIOLATION
2. CAN'T TOUCH, EVEN WATCH
3. ロンリー・マン
4. モダン・システム
5. CIRCUS
6. TOKYO GREAT TOWN
7. GLASS TALK
8. ホールド・オン・ミー
9. MR. JUNK
10. 君は完璧さ
11. DAYBREAK PAVEMENT



Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Logic System - Venus

Hideaki Matsutake, also known under the moniker Logic System, is a synth musician/programer who is responsible for this superb synth masterpiece. Beginning his career working as an assistant under Isao Tomita (Asia's pioneering voice in electronic music IMHO) and then moving onto technical work as an unoffical 4th member throughout YMO's early career, Matsutake not only has talent but the credentials to assure any skeptic of his accomplishments in the genre. Logic System is a somewhat of a solo project for Matsutake, however much of his work is collaborated upon with other musicians, programmers and producers.

Venus, Logic's System's second LP, was released only a few short months after his debut album and is miles ahead in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, while I love the self titled debut, his distinct style mixed with an r&b/ital disco flair trumps the prog/spacey/kraftwerk-esque he began with. If you're interested in hearing not only his debut but 3rd release as well, head over to JJ's DOWN TO DA BONE!

I found this one on a now defunct blog about 3 years ago and I am really appreciative that I stumbled upon it! I'm pretty sure it's a vinyl rip but it definitely sounds great. I'm a big fan of early electro/dance music and if you're a fan of YMO, I think you'll dig this one too! Enjoy!





Venus (1981)

1. Venus
2. Morpheus
3. I Love You
4. Plan
5. Take A Chance
6. Automatic Collect, Automatic Correct
7. Be Yourself
8. Prophet
9. Metamorphism
10. Equivalent






Thursday, July 3, 2014

The Beatniks - Existentialism

Finally found employment about a month ago and have been busy trying to settle into things. I have a long list of requests and posts to get to and I hope all my visitors have been well!  I have a good amount of files already uploaded, now its just putting the posts together. Life has been strange the last three years since I started this blog and hopefully more stability will be in my future... 

Many thanks to Fen, Corwyn, JJ and others for continuing the spirt of the blog world and reminding me to stop being lazy and post more haha! 

The album featured today is a fantastic debut collaboration from two true synth geniuses. Keiichi Suzuki of Moon Riders fame and the "voice and rhythm" of YMO, Yukihiro Takahashi, formed this side project as a tribute to the 50's/60's counter cultural movement known as the beatniks. This underground movement was a powerful force during the time and was seeped in French New Wave motifs. These aspect are featured throughout the album, with the included use of French lyrics. However, the album is unmistakably a product of the minds of the early Japanese new wave movement, with the then modern sounds and the "beatnik" concept pieced together beautifully.

Keeping up even further with the French theme, the album's name "Existentialism" is also derived from the 19th/20th century philosophical movement of the same namesake. In high school I was extremely intrigued by the works of Sartre and Camus, but if any of you have actually sat down and tried to absorb anything from "Being and Nothingness", you know how fruitless that can be haha!

The Beatniks still sporadically release albums, with their last effort seen in 2011. Fortunately I was able to come upon this 3 or 4 years ago on a now defunct blog. Many thanks to the original poster and I truly hope you all enjoy it!




Existentialism (1981)

1. Le Sang Du Poete
2. No Way Out
3. Ark Diamant
4. Now And Then … 
5. Loopy
6. Une Femme N'est Pas Un Homme
7. Mirroris
8. Le Robinet
9. L'Etoile de Mer
10. Inevitable



Sunday, May 18, 2014

Akiko Yano: WELCOME BACK & Akiko Yano x Hiromi Uehara: Get Together

Two of Ms. Yano's more Jazzier projects. Fans of Hiromi Uehara's finger work will definitely be please with her riffings on their live collaboration album. Both are fantastic listens, I hope you enjoy!




WELCOME BACK (1989)

1. “It's For You”
2. しんぱいなうんどうかい(Field Day)
3. みのりのあきですよ(Autumn Song)
4. 悩む人(A Worried Girl)
5. ほんとだね。(It Will Take A Long Time)
6. How Beautiful
7. かぜのひきかた(How To Catch Cold)
8. "Hard Times, Come Again No More"
9. Watching You
10. "Little Girl, Giant Heart"







Akiko Yano x Hiromi Uehara Get Together - LIVE IN TOKYO (2011)

1. CHILDREN IN THE SUMMER
2. あんたがたアフロ
3. CAPE COD CHIPS -LIVE IN TOKYO-
4. LEAN ON ME
5. 学べよ
6. 月と太陽
7. りんご祭り: DON'T SIT UNDER THE APPLE TREE~リンゴの唄
8. ラーメンたべたい


Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Susumu Hirasawa: 時空の水 &サイエンスの幽霊

Susumu Hirasawa is a genius. Now that doesn't mean he is accessible to the masses, but none the less, he is truly a unique voice in the world of music. 

Originally a member of the influential electro rock group, P-MODEL, Hirasawa continued into a solo career with the focus of breaking musical molds and constantly redefining how music is presented. Wether through his political activism, his solar powered music studio, interactive concerts or philosophical themes, Hirasawa's music demonstrates the potential dichotomies of man & machine while simultaneously utilizing both to present his art.

Some of you may be familiar with Hirasawa due to his contributions to the anime world, composing soundtracks to several films and series, particularly those of the legendary Satoshi Kon. It was Kon's series "Paranormal Agent" that initially made me familiar with Hirasawa and I've been grateful ever since. 

The two albums featured in this post are Hirasawa's first two solo efforts and while not as strong as the bulk of his catalog, they do highlight the initial framework that Hirasawa has built since. If these albums don't meet you fancy, I still urge you to check out the rest of his albums as I post them. Hirasawa is one of my favorite Japanese singers and there is no one else with a sound comparable to his. Enjoy! 



時空の水 (1989)

1. ハルディン・ホテル

2. 魂のふる里
3. コヨーテ
4. ソーラ・レイ
5. 仕事場はタブー
6. デューン
7. フローズン・ビーチ
8. 時空の水
9. スケルトン・コースト公園
10. 金星







サイエンスの幽霊 (1990)

1. 世界タービン

2. ロケット
3. フィッシュ・ソング
4. カウボーイとインディアン
5. QUIT
6. アモール・バッファー
7. 夢みる機械
8. テクノの娘
9. FGG



Sunday, March 30, 2014

Ha Soo Bin Studio Album Discography


Here's another blast from the past that I hope some of you will enjoy! 

Ha Soo Bin started her short career in her late teens during the early 90's, producing some great tunes. With her child-like voice and innocent demeanor, she quickly gained many admirers but after releasing her second album she left the music business to pursue other interests. She dabbled in acting, released books of poetry and explored other assorted avenues of art before breaking a 16 year hiatus to release her most recent album in 2010.

While I prefer the music her counterpart of sorts, Kang Suji, Ha Soo Bin certainly has a unique aura to her music that I really enjoy. Her coy composure comes through in her voice and you truly feel her "innocence" so to speak. She sort of reminds me of a "shy" Eri Nitta (if that makes any sense lol). 

Her music is typical fair for the time, but the two mesh together very well and each of her albums has a great assortment of pop arrangements. "노노노노노" was the first song I heard of hers a few years ago and I think it perfectly demonstrates who she is as an artist during her early career.

I really hope you check these out if you're looking for a nostalgic trip to a time when music artist were "more subdued" haha. They're great listens and I hope everyone enjoys!  Thanks to the now defunct Kpopspy for these albums! 






Lisa in Love (1992)

1. 더이상 내게 아픔을 남기지 마
2. 노노노노노
3. 너는 나의 사랑의 이름
4. 햇살과 같은 그대의 미소
5. I'm Falling in Love
6. 잊혀져 가는 건
7. 아름다운 너
8. 사랑의 왈츠















The Heart of... (1993)


1. 그대 나를 떠나가나요
2. 그대 눈에 젖은 나
3. 날 잊어야해
4. 마지막 소녀기 (별. 소녀)
5. 나
6. 처음 사랑이야기
7. 날 대신하기에 충분한 그대
8. 그대 나를 떠나가나요(Remix)












The Persistence Of Memory (2010)

1. Island (내 그리운 나라)
2. Memories
3. A Lovely Day
4. 아이리스 정원
5. 노르웨이 숲
6. 파리엔 비가 와요
7. La Stella
8. 카사블랑카
9. Lake Louise
10. 고백
11. 사랑한 후에
12. 여름 방학
13. The Winner
14. Sky Walker (Dedicated To My Fans)
15. Happy Birthday
16. Oia




Monday, March 24, 2014

Hiroko Yakushimaru: PRIMAVERA

I'm pretty positive this isn't anywhere else online and I was super excited to come across it on ebay! Most of her catalog is really expensive and when I found this for $3 I had to get it! 

PRIMAVERA is Hiroko Yakushimaru's second to last full length and it would be about 7 years until she released her final studio album 恋文. The album has a great early 90's feel mixed with upbeat pop tracks and Hiroko's signature powerful ballads. While there isn't particularly a stand out track in my opinion compared to her earlier works, it's a fantastic listen and Hiroko's voice still remains one of the most unique in the history of J-pop. 

Two of my favorite tracks ふたりの宇宙 and DESTINY were composed by the one and only Ryuichi Sakamoto. 星の王子さま was composed by Akiko Yano and any fan can assuredly hear her signature sound. I highly recommend everyone check this out! Enjoy!



PRIMAVERA (1991)

1. PRIMAVERA
2. 心の片隅で
3. 留守番電話のHAPPY BIRTHDAY
4. 冬の青空
5. もう泣かないで
6. ふたりの宇宙
7. 星の王子さま (MATTINA MIX)
8. 私の町は今、朝
9. DESTINY
10. 風に乗って (PRIMAVERA MIX)






Thursday, March 6, 2014

OFF COURSE - i(ai)

I hate that I don't have time to write an in depth bio for the band but I wanted to post this because it's great and a fantastic introduction to the band's catalog. 

Off Course is a fantastic soft rock/folk rock band from Japan who grew to be very popular during the 70's/80's. While they were knocked a bit for being too sentimental and singer Kazumasa Oda's higher vocal register, their talent for songwriting is undeniable. The singles I posted below are a little more up tempo then most of their songs, but if you enjoy the sounds of 60's baroque pop and 70's soft rock, you'll have a great time listening to this band. I was very excited to come across this and I hope you enjoy it too!


Special thanks to the anonymous JPDDL uploader!





















i(ai) (2006)

Disc 1

1. 愛を止めないで
2. Yes-No
3. 言葉にできない
4. 秋の気配
5. さよなら
6. めぐる季節
7. 水曜日の午後
8. 僕の贈りもの
9. 別れの情景(2)-もう歌は作れない
10. 愛の唄
11. 眠れぬ夜
12. 夏の終り
13. 風に吹かれて
14. 思いのままに
15. 私の願い
16. 心はなれて



Disc 2

1. 僕等の時代
2. YES-YES-YES
3. 時に愛は
4. 愛の中へ
5. 哀しいくらい
6. せつなくて
7. 一億の夜を越えて
8. いくつもの星の下で
9. Christmas Day
10. I LOVE YOU
11. 君が、嘘を、ついた
12. 夏の日
13. 緑の日々
14. 君の倖せを祈れない
15. 君住む街へ
16. 生まれ来る子供たちのために



Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Akiko Yano: 峠のわが家 & ホントのきもち

These two gems come from a new friend to the site, Lynx. He has graciously provided me the links to these albums and allowed me to upload them to my site! I've been looking for these two for a while and now I'm two albums closer to completing Ms. Yano's discography.

A BIG THANK YOU TO YOU LYNX!!!

He also dabbles in music sharing as well through his youtube account which can be found here~

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnrMo6uhfBNlMqIIXhcan9A

It features some fantastic albums from various J-artists, most of which is brand new to me!

Check it out, I promise you won't regret it!

I've been able to interact with so many people around the world thanks to this blog and I am very happy that this community is filled with kind; generous individuals who can come together through the love of music! Enjoy!





峠のわが家 (1986)


1. The Girl of Integrity
2. David
3. ちいさい秋みつけた
4. 一分間
5. おてちょ。(Drop me a Line)
6. 海と少年 ***
7. 夏の終り
8. そこのアイロンに告ぐ ***
9. Home Sweet Home








ホントのきもち (2004)

1. 行かないで
2. N.Y.C.
3. まっ赤なビー玉
4. House of Desire (Burnin' Down)
5. おいてくよ
6. Night Train Home (acoustic version)
7. Too Good To be True
8. Our Lives
9. Nobuko
10. Night Train Home





Monday, February 3, 2014

Akiko Yano: オーエス オーエス & あそこのアッコちゃん

Here's two more from the sublime Akiko Yano. Thanks to an anonymous uploader, I was able to add these to my collection and now you can too! The album and tracks have been retagged in Japanese. 

オーエス オーエス is Yano's 7th album and it's fantastic. The album was recorded shortly after the first break-up of Yellow Magic Orchestra and with Yano having collaborated with the group numerous time and marrying member Ryuichi Sakamoto two years prior, you can definitely hear the members continued influence in this album. However, オーエス オーエス is more of an amalgamation of all the sounds and genres Yano had experimented with previously but put into a tighter and more cohesive package. This is a sound she would carry throughout the rest of the 80's and into the early 90's. 


あそこのアッコちゃん is a nice compilation filled with material from Yano's first three albums, live selections and a few b-sides. It's definitely worth a listen for those new to Yano or for you completionists out there. I'm still looking for 1986's 峠のわが家, 2000's Home Girl Journey and 2004's ホントのきもち, so if anyone has access to these it'd be greatly appreciated!




オーエス オーエス (1984)

1. おもちゃのチャチャチャ

2. HI,HI,HI
3. きょうのわたくし
4. HIGHLAND
5. SIMON SMITH AND THE AMAZING DANCING BEAR
6. ラーメンたべたい
7. 素顔
8. 終わりの季節
9. GREENFIELDS
10. ASSEMBLY









あそこのアッコちゃん (1989)

1. 丘を越えて
2. ふなまち唄パート1
3. アメフリ
4. 相合傘
5. 昨日はもう
6. やませ(東風) 
7. こどもたち
8. ヨ・ロ・コ・ビ
9. Waterways Flow Backwards Again
10. 気球にのって
11.  行け柳田
12. ハロー・ゼア





Sunday, January 19, 2014

Sing Like Talking Studio Albums 1988-1998

Hope this makes up for my neglect takuma. I plan to do a discography for Susmu Hirasawa next. To save space, I put youtube links in the song titles for a highlight track from each album. Enjoy!



TRY AND TRY AGAIN (1988)

1. TRY AND TRY AGAIN

2. DANCIN' WITH YOUR LIES
3. 君がいなければ
4. PLATED PLANNER
5. DANCIN' WITH YOUR LIES (I'M HOT VERSION) 
6. FAIR ~JUST TWO OF US~
7. EVENING IN BYZANTIUM
8. 11月の記憶 ~RAINING BLUES~
9. WHAT TIME IS IT NOW?
10. 眠りに就くまで







1. City On My Mind
2. Lovers
3. Go Along
4. On The Crazy Street
5. 長い道距(みちのり)の果てに
6. Don't Let Go
7. If You Are Kind To Us
8. 陽だまりの下で
9. Friend
10. Hope II







III (1990)


1. Interlude: Beats
2. Livin' For The Beat
4. 未来のために
5. Hey, Dreamer
6. Time Of Love
7. Interlude: Working
8. Show Time
9. Is It You
10. さよならが云える時
11. Dreamin' About You
12. Interlude: Talking 0:39
13. So Fine ~A Guy's Life Style~
14. Interlude: Street
15. 雨が上がれば
16. 泡沫



1. Steps of love
2. Do what U want 2 do 4 luv
3. La La La
4. Interlude: I long for you
5. 迷いの要塞 ~Heart to Heart~
6. 嵐の最中 ~Reintroduction~ ***
7. Interlude: P.P
8. Gigolette
10. 此の手は離せない
11. Interlude: You are love
12. Your Smile
13. 願いを込めて
14. Missin' you



1. 飛べない翼
3. 遥かな航海へ
4. Pray
5. With You
6. Rise
7. Sunday Afternoon
8. Slow Love Down
9. 感じるまま ~Humanity~
10. 追憶 ~窓辺の風景~
11. I'm In Love
12. It's City Life
13. きっと何時の日か






togetherness (1994)

2. Joy
3. 風に抱かれて
4. My Eye's On You
5. Between Us
6. 幻に恋する日々
7. Night Rhythm
8. Will
9. Your Love
10. Standing
11. 点し火のように


1. 素晴らしい夢の中で
2. Keeps Me Runnin'
4. そんな時は
5. Burnin' Love
6. 心の扉
7. Today
8. 夏の彼方
9. 瞬く星に
10. Perfect Love

1. Seasons Of Change
2. Real Life
3. Starting Over ~ありあまる想いで~
4. Skylark
5. Forever
6. 君の風
8. Spirit Of Love (Sanctified Version)
9. Frame (Remix)
10. Speed
11. The Light Is You
BONUS
Firecracker [1998 SINGLE] ***