Yukako Hayase 早瀬優香子
躁鬱 / So・Utsu

✺ Sunny vinyl repress ✺ The follow up to LITA’s 2019 release Pacific Breeze is again a lovely doublepack of goodies with extensive artist bios in oversized fold-out bookletPacific Breeze 1 included Minako Yoshida, Taeko Ohnuki, Hiroshi Sato and Haruomi Hosono among other key players of ‘70s-’80s Japanese City Pop, the nebulous genre that encompassed an “amalgam of AOR, R&B, jazz fusion, funk, boogie and disco, all a touch dizzy with tropical euphoria,” as we described it the first time around.With Pacific Breeze 2: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1972-1986 Light in the Attic dig deeper into those sounds of bubble-era Japan. From the proto-City Pop funk of Bread & Butter and Eiichi Ohtaki to the crate-digger favorites Eri Ohno and Piper, the latest entry in Light In The Attic’s Japan Archival Series brings another set of sought-after tunes, most of which have never before been available outside of Japan. Tomoko Aran and Anri, also included in this compilation, are just a few of the artists who have gained popularity in recent years thanks to Vaporwave, the meme-genre that heavily samples Japanese City Pop to create its particular aesthetic.Pacific Breeze 2 once again feature the artwork of renowned Tokyo-based illustrator Hiroshi Nagai, whose iconic images of resort living have become synonymous with City Pop. Nagai’s urban tropical imagery is a perfect match for the expertly curated tunes, evoking a certain sense of nostalgia for the leisure lifestyles of ‘70s-’80s Tokyo, while simultaneously being perfectly in tune with the current zeitgeist.

✺ Neuromantic is Takahashi’s first solo release for ALFA and his third solo album overall.✺ Features Phil Manzanera, Andy Mackay (Roxy Music), and Tony Mansfield.Neuromantic is Takahashi’s first solo release for ALFA and his third solo album overall. In addition to Japanese musicians Haruomi Hosono, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Kenji Omura, the album also features Phil Manzanera, Andy Mackay (Roxy Music), and Tony Mansfield whom he recorded with during a long stay in London. This record builds on the techno sound of YMO’s BGM (released the same year), infusing Takahashi’s unique romantic aesthetic and is considered one of his masterpieces. The sixth track, “Drip Dry Eyes" is a self-cover of a song that he wrote for ALFA artist artist Sandii.Yukihiro Takahashi explains, “The early 80’s was one of the busiest periods of my music life…When I think back now, I think that my recording style and production process that I continue to this day may have been solidified then, during the early 80’s.”The new reissue of Neuromatic is part of ALFA’s ongoing reissue series featuring many of Yukihiro’s early 80s solo albums from his first hit record Murdered by Music (1980) to his last record from his ALFA era Poisson D’Avril (1985 soundtrack to the film of the same name).

After the re-issue of Ghia's “Don't Leave Me Alone” we continue the Austrian collaboration with Ghia's only known album release to date. Originally from 1988, this album features 9 tracks that further deepen the aesthetic direction strongly established by the now digger-delight single released the year before. An album that was somewhat mysterious due to little information online, yet coveted amongst diggers that had already been exposed to the magic of “Don't Leave Me Alone”. From slow dance ballad pop smoothness to high paced quasi-house keyboard and guitar infused playfulness, “Here I Am” has a sound that's unique yet refined, characteristic of an ace studio recording environment. Essential in any well seasoned record collection. Severely remastered.