Somewhere Between: Mutant Pop, Electronic Minimalism & Shadow Sounds of Japan 1980-1988

by Somewhere Between: Mutant Pop Electronic / Var

Overview

Whereas Light in the Attic titled this installment in their Japan Archival Series to indicate where they feel it lands with their Pacific Breeze and Kankyo Ongaku compilations, Either Between or Far Afield might have been a more accurate (if more cumbersome) way of putting the rather assorted contents into context. None of these selections has the high-gloss pop appeal or commissioned utilitarian intent offered on the preceding compilations. Whether they were funded by major labels such as Epic and Nippon Columbia or originated on independent labels like the well-represented Vanity, each one is more exploratory and/or less commercial than any of its counterparts. This is evidenced most strongly by the bleak post-punk electronics of Perfect Mother, whose "Dark Disco -- Da-Da-Da-Da-Run" convulses like an outgrowth of Throbbing Gristle or Cabaret Voltaire (and was previously excavated by the Minimal Wave label). Starker still and more alien is an alternately thudding and twinkling cut from R.N.A.-Organism; a copy of the parent album was dispatched to BBC DJ John Peel, who was pleased enough to at least give it his typed index-card insert treatment and file it in his collection. The poppier inclusions from Noriko Miyamoto, Mishio Ogawa, and the great Dip in the Pool all have at least a more artful or slightly odder quality compared to the material on the Pacific Breeze sets. Prettiest and most enchanting of all is Sonoko's Virginia Astley-like "Wedding with God (A Nijinski)," an Aksak Maboul production. Yoshio Ojima's "Days-Man," among the tracks previously available only on cassette, is an electro-pop instrumental as warped and entrancing as anything from Yellow Magic Orchestra or that group's solo projects. Elsewhere, marimba minimalism fanatics get a stunning treat with Mkwaju Ensemble's "Tira-Rin," a dazzling piece of proto-techno with deliberate links to Africa. Lovers of left-field '80s music have much to enjoy and further explore here. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	02/12/2021
Label:	Light In The Attic Records
UPC:	0826853018319
Rank:	88589

Album Credits

Performance Credits

R.N.A.-Organism   Primary Artist
D-Day   Primary Artist,Primary Artist
Takami Hasegawa   Primary Artist
Wha Ha Ha   Primary Artist
Perfect Mother   Primary Artist
Naoki Asai   Primary Artist
Mammy   Primary Artist
Yoshio Ojima   Primary Artist
Dip in the Pool   Primary Artist
Mkwaju Ensemble   Primary Artist
Neo Museum   Primary Artist
Noriko Miyamoto   Primary Artist
Mishio Ogawa   Primary Artist
Sonoko   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Chris Mosdell   Composer
Tomohiko Miyabe   Producer
Tohru Okada   Composer
Mishio Ogawa   Composer
Miyako Koda   Composer
Darryl Norsen   Design
Tatsuji Kimura   Composer
Naoki Asai   Composer
Mammy   Composer
Takami Hasegawa   Composer
R.N.A.-Organism   Composer
Kaoru Sato   Producer,Composer
Yosuke Kitazawa   Compilation Producer
Mark Frosty McNeill   Compilation Producer,Liner Notes
Koichi Sato   Illustrations,Design
Haruomi Hosono   Composer
Joe Hisaishi   Composer
Dave Cooley   Remastering
Ki-Ichiro   Composer
Yoshiko Kawashita   Composer
Sonoko Yasuda   Composer
Shuichi Shino   Composer
Perfect Mother   Composer
Neo Museum   Producer