Spanning the country’s 1980s exploration of ambience, minimalism and idiosyncrasy.
Light In The Attic have announced the release of a new compilation entitled Somewhere Between: Mutant Pop, Electronic Minimalism & Shadow Sounds of Japan 1980–1988.
Coming to vinyl in January, the latest instalment in the famed label’s Japan archival series presents a realigned focus that hones in on the country’s exploration of ambience, minimalism and more experimental tendencies seen throughout the 1980s.
Discussing the new compilation Light In The Attic state the following,
“Somewhere Between: Mutant Pop, Electronic Minimalism & Shadow Sounds of Japan 1980–1988 hovers vibe–wise between two distinct poles within Light In The Attic’s acclaimed Japan Archival Series—Kankyō Ongaku: Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980–1990 and Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1976–1986. All three albums showcase recordings produced during Japan’s soaring bubble economy of the 1980s, an era in which aesthetic visions and consumerism merged. Music echoed the nation’s prosperity and with financial abundance came the luxury to dream.
Sonically, Somewhere Between mines the midpoint between Kankyō Ongaku’s sparkling atmospherics and Pacific Breeze’s metropolitan boogie. The compilation encompasses ambient pop, underground electronics, liminal minimalism and shadow sounds—all descriptors emphasizing the hazy nature of the nebula. Out–of–focus rhythms wear ethereal accoutrements, ballads are shrouded in static, and angular drums snake skyward on transcendent tones. From the Avant–minimalism of Mkwaju Ensemble and Yoshio Ojima, to the leftfield techno-pop of Mishio Ogawa and Noriko Miyamoto (featuring members of YMO), and highlights from the groundbreaking Osaka underground label Vanity Records, these are blurry constellations defying collective categorization.”
Stream Mishio Ogawa’s ‘Hikari No Ito Kin No Ito’ and view the album’s full tracklist in advance below.
Somewhere Between: Mutant Pop, Electronic Minimalism & Shadow Sounds of Japan 1980–1988
1 Noriko Miyamoto – ‘Arrows & Eyes’
2 Mishio Ogawa – ‘Hikari No Ito Kin No Ito’
3 Yoshio Ojima – ‘Days Man’
4 Mkwaju Ensemble – ‘Tira-Rin’
5 R.N.A-ORGANISM – ‘WEIMAR 22’
6 Naoki Asai – ‘Yakan Hikou’
7 Takami Hasegawa – ‘Koneko To Watashi’
8 Mammy – ‘Mizu No Naka No Himitsu’
9 Dip in the Pool – ‘Hasu No Enishi’
10 Wha Ha Ha – ‘Akatere’
11 D-Day – ‘Sweet Sultan’
12 Perfect Mother – ‘Dark Disco-Da·Da·Da·Da·Run’
13 Neo Museum – ‘Area’
14 Sonoko – ‘Wedding With God (À Nijinski)’
Somewhere Between: Mutant Pop, Electronic Minimalism & Shadow Sounds of Japan 1980–1988 releases on January 22nd via Light In The Attic. Pre-order the album on cloudy clear purple vinyl here.
Words by Sam Wilkinson.
Like this article? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more.
Fruit and Grooves Collective 