5 Selects from Tokyo-based DJ, composer, and NTS resident Abiu!

A rising star from Tokyo’s underground, Abiu (formerly known as Little Dead Girl) is a DJ and composer known for creating unexpected, ecstasy-laced moments on the dancefloor with her thrilling blend of sounds, which are rooted in the rich history of house music, but also easily shift into experimental, cosmic disco, new beat, and psychedelic techno. In the past few years, she’s stunned audiences at various festivals across Japan and Asia including Rainbow Disco Club, Mindgames Balance, and Bonna Pot, which is where the team behind In Sheep’s Clothing was able to catch one of Abiu’s sets in person last fall.

Recently, Abiu has begun sharing another side of her vast record collection through her residency on London’s NTS Radio. Less dancefloor-focused, but still funky in an unconventional or even hedonistic sort of way, her shows showcase a selection of art rock, industrial, new beat, and EBM pulled from the deepest corners of records stores in Tokyo and beyond. Tracks from Coil, Cabaret Voltaire, Nitzer Ebb, and Material tastefully blend into various lost groups from Japan’s underground music scenes for a captivating listen that’s sure to uncover new favorites.

Below, we asked Abiu to share five selections with us! Her picks explore a world of Japanese post-punk, noise, and gothic experimental music from the ’80s… For further listening, we also highly recommend checking out her monthly DJ charts for JET SET records.

Surrealistic Men – 覚醒期 (1986)

“The 1986 release by the Positive Punk band Surrealistic Men, issued through Vital Plant, a subdivision of Explosion Records. Explosion Records was founded by Hideki Fujisawa, owner of the live house Explosion (opened in Kagurazaka in 1982), who played a key role in energizing the Kanto metal scene.”

Mannequin Neurose – #¼&¢ (1984)

“The 1984 release by the Japanese post-punk band Mannequin Neurose, which was active around City Rocker Records, a label founded by Mikio Moriwaki, editor-in-chief of the Japanese punk magazine DOLL. Though the band ended their activities without releasing a full album, they left a definite presence with several 7-inch records. This work is a 4-track 7-inch, featuring sharply cutting guitars characteristic of post-punk, with a well-balanced mix of punkish and chaotic tracks.”

いんど猫 – Hakuchi! (1989)

“Formed in 1986. By 1988, they had become a trio consisting of Yamatoya (vocals, guitar), Kurage (bass), and Arai (drums). In May 1989, they appeared on Ika-ten. Although they unfortunately did not become challengers, their distinctive performance drew attention. Their sound, with lyrical lyrics and Middle Eastern–styled melodies yet carrying an urban atmosphere, could be described as a multinational sound.”

IdeAL – 陰影 (かげ) (1986)

“A female-vocal Japanese Goth/Positive Punk band based in Osaka, which left this work as their only release in the mid-1980s. Their dark and psychic songs, making use of modulation at key points, together with the unsettling female vocals, are mesmerizing. The Osaka Positive Punk scene still holds much room for rediscovery.”

胎児 – Scatos Copy (1985)

“Taiji is a Japanese Gothic / Industrial / Avant-garde Noise band formed in Tokyo in the early 1980s. Taken from their bizarre second EP released in 1985. Industrial noise and gothic experimental crawl through the underground. Vocalist Masayuki Kurihara later became active in the Goa trance and techno fields, and is also known for remixes of Juno Reactor.”