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

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

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

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

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

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

Mishio Ogawa: 小川美潮, 4to3, ウレシイノモト & 檸檬の月

I've been having a troubling time with uploading to Mediafire so I decided to try Mega, but then I was having issue with that. Very frustrating.

I apologize for the delay but these are definitely worth the wait! If you enjoyed her work with Chakra, then you will definitely enjoy her solo efforts. 

The first track I ever heard from her was "走れ自転車" which was featured in the brilliant anime film "老人Z" which former Chakra member, Bun Itakura, composed the soundtrack for. Ogawa and Itakura have frequently collaborated with one another over the years and 走れ自転車 is a great example of this.

Each of the albums highlights Ogawa's distinct style while simultaneously bringing something new to each individual effort. Her self titled debut is mostly minimal and abstract however with the following three albums, Ogawa really builds upon a strong foundation with incrementally improving production values, powerful; emotive vocals  and a noticeable effort for a wider pop appeal.   

All these albums are courtesy of an anonymous post from Jpddl. Give them a listen and best wishes during this holiday season! Enjoy!





小川美潮 (1984)

1. おーい
2. 行っといで
3. 時計屋
4. ポテトロイド
5. おかしな午後
6. 光の糸 金の糸
7. 花の子供











4to3 (1991)

1. デンキ
2. Four to Three
3. 夜店の男
4. 野ばら
5. On the Road
6. 記憶
7. ほほえみ
8. 天国と地獄
9. 窓
10. おかしな午後






ウレシイノモト (1992)

1. ウレシイの素
2. きもちのたまご
3. Link
4. 恋
5. Marble
6. 走れ自転車 (album version)
7. Charming
8. Picnic
9. ひとりごと
10. 人と星の镚
11. 逪い夏
BONUS from 老人Z OST
走れ自転車









檸檬の月 (1993)

1. はじめて
2. 檸檬の月
3. ふたつのドア
4. Shambhaline I
5. Shambhaline II
6. Tall Noser
7. Dear Mr. Optimist
8. Monday
9. Chat Show
10. Blue

Chakra: チャクラ, さてこそ & 南洋でヨイショ

While this post may focus on this short lived but fantastic group, it's really in recognition of it's vocalist Mishio Ogawa. 

Active since the late 70's, Ogawa began her career with Chakra releasing these three fantastic albums. Eclectic, poppy, and Minyo/Ryukuyuan influenced, Chakra fits right in with truly enviable alternative/new wave scene emerging in Japan during this time. 

Quickly after Chakra's demise, Ogawa released 4 fantastic solo albums which continued very much in the style of the band and has also been with several "super groups" so to speak (Wha-ha-ha, Toshiyuki Honda Radio Club, Haniwa). 

These three albums come highly recommend and are courtesy of JPDDL.com. If you're a fan of early Haruomi Hosono, Miharu Koshi or Taeko Ohnuki, you'll definitely dig them! "さてこそ" in my opinion really embodies their perfect sound. 

You can click on any of the albums names to find the link. You can also expect to see her solo albums and two more from Hideaki Tokunaga  Enjoy!

チャクラ (1980)

1. 福の種
2. マネキン
3. あこがれ
4. 島の娘
5. 東京スウィート
6. いっしょに
7. アイ・アム・ソーロー
8. 空の友達











さてこそ (1981)

1. めだか
2. ミュン ミュン
3. おちょーし者の行進曲
4. You Need Me
5. これから死んでゆくすべての生命体に捧げる詩
6. いとほに
7. Free
8. III
9. 微笑む
10.ちょっと痛いけどステキ









南洋でヨイショ (1983)

1. スウィング(タコにささげるよ)
2. 南洋でヨイショ
3. 本当のこと言えば
4. 私と百貨店
5. ペリカン
6. まだ
7. テーマ(Instrumental)

Ippu-Do: Discography

Now here is one of my favorite groups. From humble New Wave/Surf rock beginnings to Avantgarde synthpop, Ippu-Do had a short but amazing run from 1979-1984. Under the guidance of Yellow Magic Orchestra and Japan, Ippu-do never achieved fully received the recognition of their peers but left their own imprint in the budding New Wave scene in Asia and Europe. If you enjoyed my earlier posts from the band's vocalist Masami Tsuchiya solo career, then I strongly urge you to check these out. I found these on a now defunct blog a few years ago and I am forever grateful for it! I also have a two albums from the bands keyboard player, Akira Mitake if anyone is interested! Enjoy! 


Normal (1980)

1. Adventure
2. ブレイクアウト・ジェネレーション (狂育世代)
3. ブラウン管の告白
4. TV SCENE
5. 電気人形
6. PANIC IN THE CITY
7. I LOVE YOU
8. 思春期 PARTⅡ
9. チャイニーズ・レゲエ
10. ESCAPE
11. 心配しないで
12. MORNING FANTASY
13. もっとリアルに
14. DIS-COMMUNICATION
15. ADVENTURE<新宿LOFT 1980年2月9日>
16. ブレイクアウト・ジェネレーション(狂育世代)<新宿LOFT 1980年2月9日>
17. PANIC IN THE CITY<新宿LOFT 1980年2月9日>





REAL (1980)

1. ジャーマン・ロード
2. BROKEN DUMMIES
3. ロンリー・パイロット
4. IN Side/OUT Side
5. ミステリアス・ナイト～OUT Side/IN Side
6. HEIDELBURG SYMPHONY
7. FUNK #9 (A present for disco people)
8. NEU! (Changing the history)
9. HELPLESS SOLDIER
10. LUNATIC GUITAR






Radio Fantasy (1981)

1. RADIO COSMOS
2. ふたりのシーズン
3. ラジオ・ファンタジー
4. YOMOTOLO-WAIYA
5. チャイナ・ステップ
6. RADIO JAPAN
7. イミテーション・チャチャ
8. モーニング・メニュ
9. MAGIC VOX
10. スパイ大作戦
11. DUBLING RADIO
12. LISTEN TO ME
13. I NEED YOU
14. LISTEN TO ME (English Version)
15. CHINESE REGGAE (English Version)
BONUS (すみれ September Love [SINGLE] 1982)
1. すみれ September Love
2. ルナティック・シャドウズ

Featuring "モーニング・メニュ", "ふたりのシーズン", MAGIC VOX, RADIO JAPAN



Night Mirage (1983)

1. プランツ・ミュージック
2. アフリカン・ナイツ
3. 僕の心に夏の雨
4. Water Flower
5. ロンリー・シーライオン
6. Sorrow
7. ドリーム・オブ・ザ・ジプシーズ
8. “Sail On”
9. 月の蜃気楼
10. 水晶の葉
11. Alone
12. Things to Worry About
13. Fear for the Future
14. In Time - Out of Time
15. Nightgulls
16. Never Mind
17. ムーンライト・マジック

Live and Zen (1984)

1. 開幕/LISTEN TO ME
2. ふたりのシーズン
3. MAGIC VOX 1
4. MAGIC VOX 2
5. SECRET PARTY
6. VIOLATION 1
7. VIOLATION 2
8. アフリカン・ナイツ
9. RICE MUSIC
10. すみれ September Love
11. ナイト・イン・ザ・パーク

BARBEE BOYS: √5

√5 (1989)

1.ト・キ・メ・キ
2. 目を閉じておいでよ
3. Y～ゆがむ～
4. chibi
5. Late Again
6. さぁどうしよう
7. 噂ばなしは M4
8. せまって day by day
9. 君を見てるとしょんぼり
10. もうだいじょうぶ ヒステリー

Akiko Yano: SUPER FOLK SONG & LOVE IS HERE

Big storm may be coming into South Korea tomorrow night....here's to hoping it doesn't do any significant damage! Enjoy!

SUPER FOLK SONG (1992)

1. SUPER FOLK SONG

2. 大寒町

3. SOMEDAY

4. 横顔

5. 夏が終わる

6. HOW I CAN I BE SURE

7. MORE AND MORE AMOR

8. スプリンクラー

9. おおパリ

10. それだけでうれしい

11. 塀の上で

12. 中央線

13. PRAYER

LOVE IS HERE (1993)

1. CHILDREN IN THE SUMMER

2. SHENADOAH

3. TIME IS

4. YOU'RE NOT HERE (IN NY)

5. LIVING WITH YOU

6. I AM A DOG

7. あなたには言えない (CAN'T TELL YOU)

8. CALLING YOU

9. "湖のふもとでまだ猫と暮らしている (DOWN BY THE LAKE, STILLLIVING WITH MY CAT)"

10. LOVE IS

Akiko Yano: LOVE LIFE

This is will begin the posts of six new albums from Ms. Akiko Yano. Funny enough they are all her LPs from the 90's. More to come in addition and I am almost nearly finished with requests! Enjoy!

LOVE LIFE (1991)

1. BAKABON

2. 釣りに行こう（WHY DON'T WE GO FISHING）

3. THE LETTER

4. ANGLER'S SUMMER

5. スナオになりたい。（I WANT TO BE SUNAO）

6. "湖のふもとでねこと暮らしている（DOWN BY THE LAKE,LIVING WITH MY CAT）"

7. SAYONARA～CHEROKEE

8. いいこ　いいこ（GOOD GIRL）

9. 愛はたくさん（LOTS OF LOVE）

10. LOVE LIFE

Masami Tsuchiya: Time Passenger, Mod'Fish & 森の人～Forest People

Woke up this morning with tonsillitis, so no work today but I'm missing the school field trip. At least I have a day to rest up a bit. So here are the remainder of Masami Tsuchiya's works. Time Passenger, his last solo effort of the 80's, has a distinct middle eastern theme with the album including quite a bit more experimental instrumentation then his previous efforts. However it still holds a familiar "Masami" sound and compliments his career up till that point. Shortly afterwards, he moved to London and it would be nearly a decade before he would release the Mod'Fish EP. With the exception of two tracks, Mod'Fish travels into bold new territories for Masami with a "electronic avant-pop" sound. This is not surprising, as many of his peers had already explored this territory earlier in the decade. I feel though, Mod'Fish utilizes the distinct 90's drum&bass samples heard in much of the "trip-hop/experimental electronica" giving it kind of like a "Masami meets Massive Attack" feel. Masami then moved further down the road of electronic experimentation with the "environmental/fantasy themed" 森の人～Forest People. In some ways I think its the most experimental album in his entire catalog and what started on Mod'Fish really finds its home on this album. He even get some help from friends, Mick Karn and Atsushi Sakurai! Sadly, he has not released any more solo material since this point. However as of 2008, he has been a member of the group "VITAMIN-Q featuring ANZA" but I hope that someday soon we will get at least one more Masami album. Enjoy!

Time Passenger (1989)

1. MIND FRICTION

2. LADY ROXY

3. 太陽とラムセス

4. 水鏡

5. ラヴ・ラヴ・ラヴ

6. UNDER THE BAD SIGN

7. 詩人達の血

8. TIME PASSENGER

9. VELVET FLOWER

Mod'Fish (1997)

1. Sea Monstar

2. Frank

3. Mod' Fish

4. Welcome

5. Alexis

Mick Karn on bass

森の人～Forest People (1998)

1. 森のプレリュード

2. 真夏の夜の森

3. 森の天使

4. 雨の森の人

5. ガラスの森

6. 南の森の出来事

7. ボジョレー氏の森

8. 黒い森

9. 森になる日

10. 小さな森の人

11. ローズマリーの森

12. 森の妖精のメッセージ

Atsushi Sakurai on vocals

Masami Tsuchiya: Horizon

Posting will probably continue to be a little erratic over the next few weeks. I haven't even begun my english camp materials, oh lord lol. This is yet another fantastic album. I think its the perfect culmination of all of his efforts up to this point in his career. Enjoy!

Horizon (1988)

1. 仮面の夜

2. Forbidden Flowers

3. Horizon

4. 風と砂と水と

5. ハチドリの夢

6. Silhouette

7. 冬のバラ

8. Bird's Eye

9. Too Many Tears

10. Diamond

Number Girl: School Girl Distortional Addict

Back in 2005/2006 I discovered Number Girl on Myspace and songs off of School Girl Distortional Addict happened to be the first tunes I heard. Perhaps its nostalgia, but this is their best album in my opinion and a significant improvement over their first. Great music, great album cover, great everything. Enjoy!

Also, its very clear to me how much that Green Day's American Idiot opening riff sounds slightly reminiscent of the opening riff to "日常に生きる少女" but, that riff pretty much sounds like every Pixies song....so cest la vie.

School Girl Distortional Addict (1999)

1. タッチ
2. PIXIE DU[¨]
3. 裸足の季節
4. YOUNG GIRL SEVENTEEN SEXUALLY KNOWING
5. 桜のダンス
6. 日常に生きる少女
7. 狂って候
8. 透明少女

9. 転校生
10. EIGHT BEATER

Masami Tsuchiya: Life in mirrors

Yet another fantastic album from Masami Tsuchiya. While I enjoyed TOKYO BALLET, Life in mirrors is more reminiscent of the later Ippu-do/RICE MUSIC sound, which I prefer. Also it doesn't hurt when David Sylvian and Mick Karn (Japan), John Taylor (Duran Duran) and Andy Mackay (Roxy Music) lend their talents to the mix. Great Stuff, highly recommended! Enjoy!

Life in mirrors (1986)

1. STAY IN HEAVEN
2. DON'T STOP LOVING
3. KHAOS TOWN（日射しの罪人)
4. 水の中のホテル (HOTEL ATLANTIS)
5. PERFECT DAYS
6. DAYDREAMS OF YOU
7. 一日千夜(ONE DAY A THOUSAND NIGHTS)
8. LAPIS
9. BECAUSE
10. PLANET MIRRORS

Masami Tsuchiya: TOKYO BALLET

A superb second album from one of my favorite artists. Enjoy!

TOKYO BALLET (1985)

1. SUDDENLY　突然の明日

2. SILENT HUNTERS

3. LIKE A FOREIGNER

4. THE FOREVER HOUR

5. NIGHT IN THE BABYLON

6. TOKYO BALLET

7. ALIEN

8. MANNEQUIN

9. 最上階のバタフライ

10. UNKNOWN SOLIDER

11. 風石