Various – Tokyo Riddim 1976-1985

Part of Time Capsule’s Nippon Series, a loose series of compilations exploring different musical scenes from Japan between the 1960s and 2010s, Tokyo Riddim 1976-1985 dives into reggae-infused songs that emerged during the city pop era. Inspired by Bob Marley, UK lovers rock, as well as pop acts like The Police and UB40, city pop idols and their producers crafted their own uniquely Japanese take on reggae often featuring sentimental melodies, playful grooves, and modern (at the time) synthesizer textures. Time Capsule’s Kay Suzuki picks out truly the best cuts from this era including Junko Yagami’s off-kilter drum machine deep cut “Johannesburg,” Izumi “Mimi” Kobayashi’s authentic Babylon Warriors-backed “Lazy Love,” and the smokey-voiced jazz singer Lily’s euphoria-inducing “Tenkini Naare.” If you like these tracks, we also recommend checking out our feature on Hiroshi Fujiwara’s Universal Dub for another Japanese take on reggae.

Recommended – Full Listen

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