Our friend Alejandro Cohen shares fives favorites in celebration of his new album Chamber of Tears. Followers of this site will most likely know Alejandro Cohen as the […]
5 Selects with Norio Sato (Rare Groove) and Eiji Taniguchi (Revelation Time)
More “CD Age” selections from two of Japan’s most respected diggers.
If you haven’t yet listened to Music from Memory’s newest release Heisei No Oto – Japanese Left-field Pop From The CD Age (1989-1996), we highly recommend checking it out below. Compiled by Osaka record store owners Norio Sato (RECORD SHOP rare groove) and Eiji Taniguchi (Revelation Time), Heisei No Oto explores a selection of Japanese discoveries that go beyond the city pop and environmental music that have become popular in recent years.
The compilation focuses on an overlooked period of Japanese music during the Heisei era when the industry shifted firmly away from vinyl to CD’s. During this exciting time, musicians who had produced groundbreaking electronic works in the 80s, like Haruomi Hosono and Yasuaki Shimizu, continued to explore new sounds while many new artists emerged with the rise of increasingly affordable but state-of-the-art equipment.
Read more on the release here: https://www.musicfrommemory.com/release/6971/various-artists/heisei-no-oto-japanese-left-field-pop-from-the-cd-age-1989-1996
To celebrate the compilation’s release, Norio and Eiji have graciously shared a few more discoveries from Japan’s “CD Age.” Below, you’ll find 5 selections from each ranging in styles including mellow r&b, exotic pop, minimal downtempo, and slo-mo house…
Goddess In The Morning – Ucraine
Norio Sato: A female duo who released only one album in 1996. Good Spiritual breakbeats.
Epo – Koi No Hitohira
Eiji Taniguchi: Mellow UK Soul style track released in 1991 by Japanese SSW. She recorded this In London when she used to live in the UK.
Ichiko Hashimoto – D.M. no. 4
Norio: From the same album D.M. Cool Exotic pop number.
Yosui Inoue – Yumenemi
Eiji: From the same album, Handsome Boy, which contains “Pi Po Pa.” The album wasn’t released on vinyl but this track was released on a 7-inch single.
Nae Yuuki – 裕木奈江
Norio: Japanese actress, singer. Music by Haruomi Hosono. Good reggae pop!
Maico Rozy – Gosho No Oniwa (Annex Mix)
Eiji: Ethnic Slo-Mo House by Akiko Kanazawa’s alias, produced by Soichi Terada in 2005. You can still buy CD from Terada himself on Amazon Japan.
Ken Morioka – The Sadness Of Things
Norio: From Soft Ballet. This album Questions was produced by Yasuaki Shimizu. Nice balearic pop featuring Momus.
Yasuaki Shimizu & The Saxophonettes – Sukoyaka San
Eiji: This beautiful minimal downtempo track was recorded in 1983 but wasn’t released until 1991, and only released on CD. Minako Yoshida on background chorus.
Akio Dobashi – Gotta Do Something About Your Love
Norio: Member of J-pop group Rebecca. Produced by François Kevorkian. Ethno electronic pop!
Minako Yoshida – Gogo No Koibito
Eiji: Mellow R&B track released in 1990 recorded in New York. Her album hasn’t been released on vinyl after her 1983 live album, In Motion.
If you’re interested in buying Japanese records, be sure to check out Norio and Eiji’s shops below and follow them on socials for the most up-to-date record drops.
RECORD SHOP rare groove
Web Store: http://www.raregroove.jp/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/norio.sato.39
Instagram: recordshopraregroove
Twitter: shopraregroove
Revelation Time
Website: http://revelationtime.net/
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/seller/RevelationTime_Osaka/
Facebook: revelationtimerecords
Instagram: revelation_time
