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Hailing from Hiroshima, Meitei, unveils the final chapter of his transformative Kofū trilogy. “Kofū Iii” marks the apex of a musical journey that began in 2020, unraveling an introspective exploration of the artist's psyche while delving deep into the essence of Japanese culture. This latest release invites listeners into the innermost sanctums of Meitei's existence — a passage filled with serenity, self-discovery, and the triumphant conquest of personal demons.

Meitei's journey has been deeply intertwined with his surroundings. His move from bustling Kyoto to the tranquil rural town of Onomichi in Hiroshima wasn't just a change of location but a profound shift in his life. Navigating through the ebbs and flows of mental well-being, Meitei found solace in the quiet, low-key energy of Onomichi, where he began creating his distinctive brand of "ambient" music dedicated to resurrecting ‘lost Japanese moods’.

"Kofū Iii" is not just a collection of songs; it's a window into Meitei's mind, where he reflects on ‘the Japanese mental landscape,’ as experienced during the period of his return to his hometown. This album stands as a testament to Meitei's evolution, from his tentative inner quest to a state of deep healing.

"Kofū” and its precursor, "Kwaidan,” germinated in the solitude of Onomichi, embodying the mysterious, vanishing essence of Japan that Meitei unearthed in the shadows of his hometown. With "Kofū III," this exploration reaches its zenith, weaving musical landscapes that transcend temporal bounds. Each track vividly paints bygone eras and vignettes, all while drawing on the rich tapestry of Japanese literature and mindscapes.

Meitei introduces listeners to the tranquil Hiroshima countryside in 'Reimei,' while 'Hiroshima' reflects upon the city's transformation. It explores Meitei's intricate relationship with the city and contemplates the ever-changing visage of contemporary Japanese progress.

Within the sonic fabric of "Kofū III," "Shisei" brings listeners to Japan's past, when tattoos bore the name "Shisei." Fueled by Junichiro Tanizaki's "Shisei" narratives, the song paints a sensual tale of a tattooed man adorning a woman with a spider tattoo.

Meitei's authenticity shines through in "Kofū III," where complex emotions metamorphose into a kaleidoscopic fusion of lo-fi bliss. In "Yume-jūya," Meitei recounts a peculiar dream and the lingering anxiety it left behind. Also, inspired by the famous Japanese writer Soseki Natsume's "Yume-jūya," Meitei's interpretation offers his own perspective on this comical and bizarre tale.

"Edogawa Ranpo" stands as a mind-bending loop track that pays homage to the genius of the lesser-known Japanese author Edogawa Ranpo, a pioneer of the mysterious and bizarre. This experimental piece melds folklore, electronic rapture, and distortion, echoing Meitei's fascination with Ranpo's work since his elementary school days.

At the core of "Kofū Iii" lies "Heiwa," originally titled "1945," encapsulating Meitei's profound reflection on peace education in his hometown and the weighty significance of acknowledging historical tragedies. Its renaming as "Peace" symbolizes his personal odyssey towards understanding and reconciliation.

As Meitei concludes his Kofū trilogy, global listeners are invited to embark on this voyage to unearth the hidden treasures of Japanese culture and the depths of the human soul. "Kofū Iii" is a meditation on the intangible threads that bind us to our past - a portal to Japan's veiled history, capturing the essence of Japan's elusive spirit through the enigmatic landscapes of Meitei's inner terrains.

"Kofū Iii" is slated for release on December 1, 2023, in 180g LP, CD, and digital formats via Kitchen. Label. Both LP and CD format are presented in a debossed sleeve with obi strip and include an accompanying 32-page booklet. This album is mastered by Chihei Hatakeyama in Tokyo, Japan.

Collaborative studio album by Japanese jazz trumpeter Toshinori Kondo and Japanese hip hop producer DJ Krush. It was released on 1996.
First time Reissue.

Originally announced before J Dilla’s death in 2006, "Jay Love Japan" was finally released in ’07, giving fans of the revered hip-hop producer (aka Jay Dee, born James Yancey) another sampling of his emotive and inventive aesthetic. Much of the posthumous album is steeped in Dilla’s vintage soul sound, as best exemplified by the cinematic “Can’t You See,” making it an intriguing addition to his impressive but tragically brief discography.

Oonops's first encounter with Japanese producer Shin-Ski dates back six years when he asked him for an exclusive guest mix for his show on Brooklyn Radio. He became aware of him years ago through his group ShinSight Trio with Insight and DJ Ryow a.k.a. Smooth Current. After one more mix and two collaborations on his Resense-series plus »Oonops Drops - Vol.1« compilation via Agogo Records they started working together on a whole album of instrumentals.

For this 45 Oonops had the chance to dig through an amount of unreleased tracks and selected some of the essential essences with different influences from Jazz, Soul, Funk and much more.

Meitei’s 2020 album 'Kofū' was the bold bookend to an expedition, where sounds were first navigated and then subverted in 2018’s 'Kwaidan' and 2019’s 'Komachi'.

All three albums were Meitei’s attempt at immersive storytelling, reimagining moments of Japanese history he felt were being washed away – not least by the unforgiving sands of time – through wistful compositions that stretched across ambient music, hauntology, and musique concrete.

When it came to finalizing 'Kofū', Meitei found he was left with over 60 fully realized tracks, bursting with ideas that fired in divergent, curious directions. Meitei was content with the 13 tracks he had selected. But when it came time to begin his next album, he found that it had been sitting in front of him all along. He realized his work wasn’t over yet.

Meitei sounds right at home celebrating the past he first reimagined in his previous work. The merriment is palpable in its first two tracks of 'Kofū II' – a loop of cheery whistling amidst the clanking of wood leads into strings, cricket sounds and flutes, all united in bustling harmony.

'Happyaku-yachō' is where it comes into focus. Pitch-shifted vocal samples roam around in the crowded sonic field. “My image of this music is that it expresses the vibrant mood of Edo's merchant culture,” says Meitei, “where old Japanese dwellings were densely packed together in a vast expanse of land.” The affair becomes bittersweet as the track leads into the desolate 'Kaworu', a compositional piece lifted from his 'Komachi' sessions – a final requiem to his late grandmother.

The album is bursting with spectral vignettes of wandering samurais, red lanterns, ninjas, puppet theatres, poets, even a vengeful assassin ('Shurayuki hime', known to Western audiences as ‘Lady Snowblood’).

'Saryō' is as elegant and refined as you would expect. It induces stillness in its repetition, with each synth note a brushstroke. It was inspired by a Sengoku-era tea house he once visited, designed by national icon Sen no Rikyū. Meitei tied it to the reaction he felt while poring over the ink paintings in his grandmother’s house. “The decayed earthen walls and faded tatami mats gave me an emotional impression,” he says. “And the cosmic flow of time drifting in the small room. I decided to put my impression of this into music.”

In 'Akira Kurosawa', an appropriately thunderous track, Meitei finds deep resonance in his vast filmography, which drew equally from Japan’s rich heritage and troubled circumstances post-WWII.

'Kofū II' is not a leftovers album, nor is it a straightforward companion piece. In this album, Meitei has his biggest reckoning with the Japanese identity yet. Over the years, he has attempted to peel back what he believes has defined Japan and its people. After seeking answers with three full-length albums, his fourth poses more questions.

If his first three albums inspired a sense of longing – or, perhaps inevitably, fed an irreparable nostalgia doomed to history – 'Kofū II' compels us to reassess our relationship with the past. By constantly looking back, are we ever afforded a clearer present? After capturing the “lost Japanese mood”, where does that leave its country in the modern world? Meitei offers no immediate answers with 'Kofū II'. It forces you to sit with its disparate moods, to meditate amidst the textured fragments.

'Kofū II' will be released on 180g LP, CD and digital format on December 10, 2021 (LP expected to land January 28, 2022) via KITCHEN. LABEL. Both LP and CD format are presented in a debossed sleeve with obi strip and include a 16-page insert with words in Japanese and English from Meitei, printed on premium paper stock with design by KITCHEN. LABEL founder Ricks Ang, and is mastered by Chihei Hatakeyama in Tokyo, Japan.

Gaining attention with the release of high-quality lo-fi hip-hop compilations such as "Timeless" and "The Cave," Grey October Sound is a lo-fi hip-hop production team that has also gained recognition in Japan and abroad. They have released covers of famous Studio Ghibli songs in "Lo-Fi Ghibli," popular city pop tracks in "Lo-fi City Pop," and beloved Japanese anime songs in "Lo-fi Anime."

Now, a collaboration between Grey October Sound and Salad Days, widely known as Europe's top lo-fi/chill pop label, has come to fruition! This compilation features popular lo-fi tracks released digitally by Salad Days, including those by artists like Enra, Lenny Loops, Slowheal, and Eugenio Izzi. The visual imagery, including the cover art, is handled by illustrator Rika Nagatani, who is also well known with the artwork for "Lo-fi Ghibli" series.

Hailing from Hiroshima, Meitei, unveils the final chapter of his transformative Kofū trilogy. “Kofū Iii” marks the apex of a musical journey that began in 2020, unraveling an introspective exploration of the artist's psyche while delving deep into the essence of Japanese culture. This latest release invites listeners into the innermost sanctums of Meitei's existence — a passage filled with serenity, self-discovery, and the triumphant conquest of personal demons.

Meitei's journey has been deeply intertwined with his surroundings. His move from bustling Kyoto to the tranquil rural town of Onomichi in Hiroshima wasn't just a change of location but a profound shift in his life. Navigating through the ebbs and flows of mental well-being, Meitei found solace in the quiet, low-key energy of Onomichi, where he began creating his distinctive brand of "ambient" music dedicated to resurrecting ‘lost Japanese moods’.

"Kofū Iii" is not just a collection of songs; it's a window into Meitei's mind, where he reflects on ‘the Japanese mental landscape,’ as experienced during the period of his return to his hometown. This album stands as a testament to Meitei's evolution, from his tentative inner quest to a state of deep healing.

"Kofū” and its precursor, "Kwaidan,” germinated in the solitude of Onomichi, embodying the mysterious, vanishing essence of Japan that Meitei unearthed in the shadows of his hometown. With "Kofū III," this exploration reaches its zenith, weaving musical landscapes that transcend temporal bounds. Each track vividly paints bygone eras and vignettes, all while drawing on the rich tapestry of Japanese literature and mindscapes.

Meitei introduces listeners to the tranquil Hiroshima countryside in 'Reimei,' while 'Hiroshima' reflects upon the city's transformation. It explores Meitei's intricate relationship with the city and contemplates the ever-changing visage of contemporary Japanese progress.

Within the sonic fabric of "Kofū III," "Shisei" brings listeners to Japan's past, when tattoos bore the name "Shisei." Fueled by Junichiro Tanizaki's "Shisei" narratives, the song paints a sensual tale of a tattooed man adorning a woman with a spider tattoo.

Meitei's authenticity shines through in "Kofū III," where complex emotions metamorphose into a kaleidoscopic fusion of lo-fi bliss. In "Yume-jūya," Meitei recounts a peculiar dream and the lingering anxiety it left behind. Also, inspired by the famous Japanese writer Soseki Natsume's "Yume-jūya," Meitei's interpretation offers his own perspective on this comical and bizarre tale.

"Edogawa Ranpo" stands as a mind-bending loop track that pays homage to the genius of the lesser-known Japanese author Edogawa Ranpo, a pioneer of the mysterious and bizarre. This experimental piece melds folklore, electronic rapture, and distortion, echoing Meitei's fascination with Ranpo's work since his elementary school days.

At the core of "Kofū Iii" lies "Heiwa," originally titled "1945," encapsulating Meitei's profound reflection on peace education in his hometown and the weighty significance of acknowledging historical tragedies. Its renaming as "Peace" symbolizes his personal odyssey towards understanding and reconciliation.

As Meitei concludes his Kofū trilogy, global listeners are invited to embark on this voyage to unearth the hidden treasures of Japanese culture and the depths of the human soul. "Kofū Iii" is a meditation on the intangible threads that bind us to our past - a portal to Japan's veiled history, capturing the essence of Japan's elusive spirit through the enigmatic landscapes of Meitei's inner terrains.

"Kofū Iii" is slated for release on December 1, 2023, in 180g LP, CD, and digital formats via Kitchen. Label. Both LP and CD format are presented in a debossed sleeve with obi strip and include an accompanying 32-page booklet. This album is mastered by Chihei Hatakeyama in Tokyo, Japan.

»Jazz'n'Beats« is a new mini-compilation selected by Oonops and it's named as the eponymous »Oonops Drops«-series on Brooklyn Radio.

In the mix are renowned beatproducer DJ Mitsu The Beats from Japan who joined forces with 1Co.INR for a laid back instrumental tune with a well known core melody. Next up label-graphic design head honcho is back with a new'n'sweet mini beat called »Parakeets« before we get to the flipside. This gets started with German underground rap & producer duo 4Trackboy & Echomann a.k.a. Retrogott & Twit One who drop a sharp and jazzy dope tune for this release which gets rounded down with a beautiful jazzy hip-hop instrumental by Japanese jazz musician and composer Kazumi Kaneda.

Get your hands on these limited pieces of recycled vinyl, be that the colored or the black version (or the digital version).

Following the release of Lo-Fi Ghibli in 2022; lo-fi hip-hop covers of classic Ghibli songs, the underground hip-hop producer Grey October Sound and P-vine delight to release a cover album of lo-fi hip-hop arrangements of Japanese City-Pop classics!

After their succssesfully debut for worldwide with "Lo-Fi Ghibli", Grey October Sound is gaining recognition not only in Japan but also in overseas. The album features world-famous city-pop classics covered in lo-fi hip-hop arrangements, including covers of "Mayonaka no Door ~ stay with me" by Miki Matsubara, "Fly-Day Chinatown" by Yasuha and Taeko Onuki's "Tokai", which opened up the recent global popularity of city pop, as well as classic tracks by Tatsuro Yamashita, Mariya Takeuchi and Yumi Arai. The cute artwork with the traditional style of Lo-Fi Girl and city pop is by Rika Hase, who also designed the Lo-Fi Ghibli cover.

The long-awaited 7-inch version of the classic Japanese Lo-Fi~Jazzy Hip Hop song "yoru WO Matte / RE:Vibe" by Dweet x Kenichiro Nishihara. The hit single "yoru WO Matte" by the smash hit producer "Kenichiro Nishihara" and the remarkable rapper "Dweet" is now available on 7-inch. Inspired by Ahmad Jamal's "Dolphin Dance," this song combines a beautiful piano line with an exquisite beat and is hailed as one of Japan's greatest Lo-Fi~Jazzy Hip Hop songs. Also included on the flip side is "RE:Vibe," a beautiful, gentle track that blends Dweet's positive lyrics perfectly. The long-awaited rebirth after five years of absence of the original 12inch, a masterpiece that is often sold at a high price.

Gas Lab (Argentina) and Kazumi Kaneda (Japan), having never met in person, collaborate across an ocean and blend their unique styles to make pure magic. Trans Pacific is one of those moments in time when two amazing producers come together to create something incredibly special. Gas Lab with his undeniable funky bass guitar and loose beats, mixed with Kazumi’s incredible piano playing stemming from the Japanese school of jazz. Combined with their favourite collaborators (David Lavoie on Trumpet, Andrew Gould on Saxophone, Hector Mario on Flute), this recipe is an entirely new flavour!

Gas Lab (Argentina) and Kazumi Kaneda (Japan), having never met in person, collaborate across an ocean and blend their unique styles to make pure magic. Trans Pacific is one of those moments in time when two amazing producers come together to create something incredibly special. Gas Lab with his undeniable funky bass guitar and loose beats, mixed with Kazumi’s incredible piano playing stemming from the Japanese school of jazz. Combined with their favourite collaborators (David Lavoie on Trumpet, Andrew Gould on Saxophone, Hector Mario on Flute), this recipe is an entirely new flavour!

Samurai Champloo Music Record: Departure is a soundtrack album, originally released on June 23, 2004. It is the second of four soundtrack albums released for the show. The album was produced by Japanese DJ / producer Nujabes, and American MC/producer Fat Jon, and featured Japanese rapper Shing02 and Japanese singer-songwriter MINMI on the album’s first and last tracks, respectively. Departure was critically lauded and is the best known album from the series, with especially high praise being reserved for “Battlecry”.

The music of the Samurai Champloo anime series was created by a group of producers: Japanese hip-hop producer Tsutchie of the rap group Shakkazombie, American hip-hop producer & emcee Fat Jon of the rap group Five Deez, Japanese hip-hop producer Nujabes, and Japanese DJ & production duo Force Of Nature. The music genre is primarily instrumental hip-hop.

Chinese-born singer "Rushika (る鹿)," active as a fashion model in Japan, made her debut by releasing a cover of Yura Yura Teikoku's "Kudou Desu" (Hollow). Her 3rd single, "Karada ga Shibareru Atama ga Yorokobu," released in October 2023, features an original composition by Shintaro Sakamoto and Seiichi Yamamoto, influential figures in Japan's alternative music scene. The song, a blend of catchy, danceable, and psychedelic elements, intertwines with a memorable poetic world carrying an unsettling atmosphere, bringing out Ruka's newfound charm. This 7-inch single includes versions sung in Japanese on the A-side, and B-side is a remix that features remixes by Meitei.

Acclaimed Jazzbeat-Producer FloFilz teams up with experimental HipHop/Jazz quartet Bokoya for collabo album Yurika on Melting Pot Music. What happens when a four-headed human drum computer meets a classical trained vilonist turned beatmaker to spend time in the studio? A beautiful lily blossoms. At least this was the case when Bokoya and FloFilz entered Atelier 21 in Aachen (a Produzentengalerie für globale Kunst) for a musical encounter with no goals set. The music that was born out of these sessions is simply amazing and we are more than happy to release them as an album under the name “Yurika” - which is a Japanese name that means “beautiful lily”. The artwork was created by Jens Roth & Jeremias Diekmann who are responsible for almost all Bokoya artworks yet. The 19-track strong instrumental album includes one vocal track featuring Japanese singer Kan Sano. FloFilz is one of Europe's most acclaimed Jazzbeat-producers with four albums on MPM under his belt. His last album “Close Distance” came out in 2022 an featured artists Alfa Mist, Blue Lab Beats, Jerome Thomas and Summers Sons. FloFilz is a classical trained musician who not only plays the SP 404 but also violin. Bokoya describe themselves as a four-headed human drum machine that play improvised beat music. You can call it jazz if you like (all four members are graduated jazz musicians ) but be ready to stumble over some Dilla, Kraut Rock, Ambient or Dub in the mix. In 2022 Bokoya released their second album Hausensession on MPM , followed by a collabo album with Cologne-based producer Ginanni Brezzo (Jakarta Records) called „Minari“.

The brand new one of Timeless Lo-fi series is here! A beat-maker crew called "Grey October Sound" gained international recognition not only in Japan but also overseas through their covers of Studio Ghibli songs titled "Lo-Fi Ghibli" and City Pop covers titled Lo-Fi City Pop. Even now, when they are globally known for their covers of Ghibli and City Pop, we still feel that their music is underrated. In order to overturn that evaluation, we confidently release this Timeless Lo-fi 2.

This album is inspired by bits and pieces of Ethio-Jazz, Afrobeat, Highlife Spiritual Jazz and dusty funk 45’s. It’s where I’m at now and what has kept this mortal vehicle fueled. I tend to take different paths each musical outing but this one is for the long haul, the one for the blue highways and forgotten byways. It’s the one to get lost to. It’s about the journey, not the destination." Tommy Guerrero continues pushing the boundaries while upholding his San Francisco Bay heritage. Starting from the Bones Brigade skate team in the '80s, he’s made movie appearances, designed for Levi's in Japan, Vans shoes worldwide and Sutro eyewear among others, signed a skateboard contract with Converse, co-founded Real Skateboards and 40’s Clothing, is art director for Krooked Skateboarding, and found time to be a prolific recording artist.

Following the release of Lo-Fi Ghibli in 2022; lo-fi hip-hop covers of classic Ghibli songs, the underground hip-hop producer Grey October Sound and P-vine delight to release a cover album of lo-fi hip-hop arrangements of Japanese City-Pop classics!

After their succssesfully debut for worldwide with "Lo-Fi Ghibli", Grey October Sound is gaining recognition not only in Japan but also in overseas. The album features world-famous city-pop classics covered in lo-fi hip-hop arrangements, including covers of "Mayonaka no Door ~ stay with me" by Miki Matsubara, "Fly-Day Chinatown" by Yasuha and Taeko Onuki's "Tokai", which opened up the recent global popularity of city pop, as well as classic tracks by Tatsuro Yamashita, Mariya Takeuchi and Yumi Arai. The cute artwork with the traditional style of Lo-Fi Girl and city pop is by Rika Hase, who also designed the Lo-Fi Ghibli cover.

The vinyl edition is limited to 300 copies and comes in a cardboard sleeve.

"Jazz Things" is the all new album by producer Shin-Ski repping Hyogo, Japan. 15 tracks in total fully dedicated to all things Jazz with dusty drums and grooves. The artwork shows Thalita D'Amore.

Next to the vinyl edition the album is digitally available on all major platforms.

The Burrito Beats LP from Czarface's Esoteric showcases the grit, grime and flavor that rolls into his particular brand of Hip-Hop production. Similar to the ingredients of a burrito, there's much more than a single-serving of funk crammed into this meal, it is stuffed with everything on the menu. Deliciously dope drums, baked basslines, grilled grooves and savory soundbytes are chopped and served to your liking with Burrito Beats. Expect new recipes fresh off the skillet and some old classics as well, several culled from Esoteric's 2005-2009 production spree that brought us Serve or Suffer, Egoclapper, Esoteric vs. Japan, and Saving Seamus Ryan.

The brand new one of Timeless Lo-fi series is here! A beat-maker crew called "Grey October Sound" gained international recognition not only in Japan but also overseas through their covers of Studio Ghibli songs titled "Lo-Fi Ghibli" and City Pop covers titled Lo-Fi City Pop. Even now, when they are globally known for their covers of Ghibli and City Pop, we still feel that their music is underrated. In order to overturn that evaluation, we confidently release this Timeless Lo-fi 2.

"Grey October Sound", a lo-fi hip-hop production team that gained international recognition not only in Japan but also overseas through their covers of Studio Ghibli songs titled "Lo-Fi Ghibli" and City Pop covers titled Lo-Fi City Pop. The compilation of their early works is called "timeless vol.1," which gained attention upon its digital-only release in 2020, will be re-released under the new name "Timeless Lo-Fi" as an analog record, with the addition of bonus tracks.

“Tokyo Candy Box” is a musical echo to Koji Onaka’s book of photographs of the same name (on the transformations of the city’s architecture between 1999 and 2001). 6 new tracks from samples collected during Lex's travels to Japan over the past 10 years. Without falling into the exoticism of a fantasized Japan, the producer captured the sensations and scraps of memory of an always elusive city that he wanted to share through this instrumental project.

To celebrate "Full Cycle"'s 10th anniversary I've decided to share some of the many beats I did at the time I was working on it.

It was such an important moment to me as I was living in Berlin half a year for my art studies. I've never produced that much, probably made 5 beats a day for 6 months.

"Full Cycle" is also the album that helped me to reach Japanese audience thanks to Shing02 who featured on 2 tracks. I contacted FK, as I was a huge fan of his track 'Shades of Nostalgia". He eventually connected me to Takumi Koizumi (ex-Nujabes' manager) who releases my music since then.

Today I've carefully selected some of my favorite joints from that period. Some of them were really close to be part of the LP, some others I've totally forgot but re-discovered when I realized how fast time flies.

I hope you'll enjoy this batch of instrumentals. Get ready for (really) new music in the next months !

Thank you for your continuous support and let me know which track is your favorite.

-Lex (de Kalhex)

Japanese Instrumental band Sairu's frontman Kohei launches solo project 'dubfrank'!! Releases limited edition 7-inch vinyl. Gently, soothingly, and with a warm melody, Dubfrank creates a nostalgic soundscape. A precious piece that, while downtempo, can also shine on the dance floor.

Inspired by Ultraman and Norwegian nature, Torb the Roach and Floppy McSpace joined forces and cooked up their instrumental debut. The result, Tape Echo Gold Floppies. It tickles your senses with low fidelity rhythms, time warping space echo, rare world spices and psychedelic field recordings.
The album is a combination of beats from the SP1200/S950 combo as well as dubs & ef-fects from the Roland 201 Space Echo. Torb collects rare, obscure, world funk and rare groove records from India, Thailand, China & Japan. There are a bunch of dusty loops on the record made from his digs.

The cover design is a mix of hand drawn illustrations, pictures of equipment and a picture of Floppy McSpace by Ocht & Torb.

This instrumental debut LP with download card is limited to 300 copies!

The reputation of the Japanese hip-hop production team Grey October Sound is spreading both in Japan and abroad. While they have released quality albums such as "Timeless" and "The Cave," their two lo-fi hip-hop cover albums, "Lo-Fi Ghibli" and "Lo-Fi City Pop," have become hits in record stores around the world. For the third installment of this series, they have set their sights on Japan's world-famous anime songs!

They will be covering songs from "Bleach", "Saint Seiya", "Puella Magi Madoka Magica", "k-on! and "Dragon Ball", all of which are lo-fi arrangements of theme songs and insert songs of high quality, while still showing respect for the originals. The cover of this album was designed by Rika Hase, an illustrator who also created the artwork for "Lo-Fi Ghibli" and "Lo-Fi City Pop".

Drum Drivers is the essence of the artistic complicity between two Beatmakers, Linkrust and Slone. Both members of the collective French-speaking "Tour De Manège" they follow each other from a distance until the day when at a virtual crossroads the two associates meet for a musical road trip towards California. This duo of talented beatmakers takes us to the crossroads of their influences through encounters during their journey. 12 tracks mostly punctuated by drums with a demonic groove. 12 stopovers tinged with Jazz, Blues, sprinkled with Folk and Psych Rock. Adding vocals with Japanese and Portuguese accents, a few scratches and some trumpet solos. You will then obtain an album which can be listened to as one watches a film, from beginning to end, driven by dynamic drums, a bass with funky flavor, on atmospheres that are both chill and contemplative.

Japanese producer Boogie Mason pays homage to the LA Beat Scene with slooped samples, swung grooves, and MPC cuts that will make head-nodders out of rhythm skeptics. These 10 instrumental tracks weave a tale of reverence for the no rules, unquantized ethos that took Los Angeles beatmakers by storm in the early 2010s. Geared toward the inquisitive listener, Bonsai is the perfect companion to a smoked-out sunrise or a solo walk through Tokyo’s back alleyways.

The Japan / Cold Busted connection tightens with the release of Timeless, a collaborative album from two rising figures from the Land of the Rising Sun. Buzzing in from Chiba, Bugseed has been making a name for himself in hip hop circles with finely constructed beats and clever sample riffs, inspiring a multitude of releases filtering across the globe. The Nagasaki-based DJ Motora is owner of Team Ken Records and 'genreless' DJ since 1997. Together they've concocted Timeless, a densely constructed 12 track album that's filled with gritty hip hop beats and evocative city-dwelling soundscapes. The album opens dramatically with "Vibrant," spookily laying down lost-on-the-way electric piano and a tense string line before the most crucial of beats kicks in. "Ideal" grabs another flavor with its off-kilter jazz club ambiance and snapping, minimal rhythm. More ragged beats come into play on "Hefty," accompanied by rolling stand-up bass and dreamily tinkling keys. "Cultivation" delves deep into the abstract, stereo effects and crunching percussion push and pull, giving the cut a unique rumbling and tumbling feel. Those are just some highlights — overall, this album transcends the usual 'beat record' with productions that seem to reminisce with a futuristic flair. In other words, these vibes are Timeless.

Japanese import / Gatefold / First time on vinyl / Limited run

An independent label ‘’Hydeout Productions’’ releases the best compilation album for the first time.

Including from Nujabes’s fresh and passionate works only found in his early works to more emotional and metaphorical works which became the basis of his later success.

In 2018, Meitei shook the ambient world with the release of his debut album “Kwaidan”, a transposition of Japanese folklore into intricate compositions, capturing what he would coin as the “lost Japanese mood”. The album almost instantly received critical acclaim from the likes of Pitchfork, where it was included in their Best Experimental Albums of 2018, Bandcamp, calling it “different than some of the ambient music that has been coming from Japan in recent years”, The Wire and more. Outside of press, he has also received nods from the likes of Rosalía and has collaborated with contemporaries Anthony Naples, DJ Python, Tourist, Chitose Hajime and more.

Cementing his name in the ambient and experimental world, Meitei has since continued to cultivate devoted fans globally, with monumental follow-up albums as part of his unique musical canon – Komachi, Kofu I and Kofu II, showcasing his immense musicianship in building a unique sonic world of his own.

5 years later and a collaboration between 2 Singaporean labels – Kitchen. Label (Kofu I & II) Evening Chants (Kwaidan), the anniversary sees the highly anticipated special 5th Anniversary Edition of Kwaidan with 2 unreleased bonus tracks. This will come in the long out-of-print vinyl format, with obi strip, 8-panel insert, new colour variant and the first ever CD version.

Mastered by Taylor Deupree, Kwaidan’s 5th Anniversary Edition will be released with 2 bonus tracks on a smoke haze variant LP, CD and digital formats, released via Kitchen. Label and Evening Chants.

Edition of 150 | JAPAN IMPORTw/ Photo & Collage Booklet (10,5 x 12,7cm) by Alex Besikian

Ill Sugi has been DJ’ing in Tokyo since 2006, and has gained in international popularity, particularly throughout Europe and North America. In addition to working with prominent artists in Japan, such as Budamunk on the 2016 Urbnet release of “Spirit of the Golden Era”. Ill Sugi has released beat releases on Cold Busted, Radio Juicy, and Jazzy Sport and collaborated with the likes of Bugseed and San Francisco’s Dregs One. On December 9th, 2022 Ill Sugi will release his new 10 track instrumental album available via Urbnet entitled ‘ZYPressen’. The album features his signature laid back and dreamy rhythmic sounds. "Keep an eye on ILL Sugi, he represents the real from the golden past to the best of now and beyond. Don't sleep!” - NTS Radio

Limited to 300 copies. Only available at HHV in clear vinyl.

Acclaimed Jazzbeat-Producer FloFilz teams up with experimental HipHop/Jazz quartet Bokoya for collabo album Yurika on Melting Pot Music.

What happens when a four-headed human drum computer meets a classical trained vilonist turned beatmaker to spend time in the studio? A beautiful lily blossoms. At least this was the case when Bokoya and FloFilz entered Atelier 21 in Aachen (a Produzentengalerie für globale Kunst) for a musical encounter with no goals set. The music that was born out of these sessions is simply amazing, and we are more than happy to release them as an album under the name “Yurika” - which is a Japanese name that means “beautiful lily”. The artwork was created by Jens Roth & Jeremias Diekmann who are responsible for almost all Bokoya artworks yet. The 19-track strong instrumental album includes one vocal track featuring Japanese singer Kan Sano. FloFilz is one of Europe's most acclaimed Jazzbeat-producers with four albums on MPM under his belt. His last album “Close Distance” came out in 2022 and featured artists Alfa Mist, Blue Lab Beats, Jerome Thomas and Summers Sons. FloFilz is a classical-trained musician who not only plays the SP 404 but also violin. Bokoya describe themselves as a four-headed human drum machine that play improvised beat music. You can call it jazz if you like (all four members are graduated jazz musicians) but be ready to stumble over some Dilla, Kraut Rock, Ambient or Dub in the mix. In 2022 Bokoya released their second album Hausensession on MPM, followed by a collabo album with Cologne-based producer Ginanni Brezzo (Jakarta Records) called „Minari“.

A bright and colourful scenery: Shrill blinding sights, piercing foreign sounds, a fusion of disparate scents blended into a cocktail of curiosity. Fleeting attempts embrace a thousand senses in one single second. Bustling around in the shadows of buildings as high as mountains, an almost eerily overwhelming sense of contentment is omnipresent - but something doesn't appear to be right...
Stranded on a lonely island in the midst of a chaotic metropolis, disconnected - a feeling of drowning in an ocean of overstimulus and importunities of disproportionately inflated personalities, without ever even being registered or taken notice of.
What's left is nothing more than the ghost of a young soul, wandering about and curiously studying the surrounding, forever looking for answers that would otherwise seem trivial.

After “Kidsuke” the critically acclaimed collaboration project with Daisuke Tanabe, “Tokyorkshire” based producer kidkanevil continues his fascination with Japan and readies his latest solo album My Little Ghost. Inspired by a summer spent in Tokyo collaborating, exploring and generally refusing to grow up, the double vinyl is due May 2nd on Project: Mooncircle and features a wide range of guests including PMC's own submerse and Tokyo vocalist Cuushe.

'My Little Ghost' comes out worldwide on limited gatefold, double, pink vinyl (including download code (on the insde of the cenetr fold)) as well as a limited edition CD including a bonus track via flau records - http://www.flau.jp/ in Japan.

New album by pioneering German beatmaker FloFilz. On Close Distance, the lofiturned-hifi producer blends hip-hop inspired beats with contemporary jazz, alt r&b and a little rap. Featuring Alfa Mist, Blue Lab Beats, Jerome Thomas, KeepVibesNear, Summers Sons & C.Tappin, Dal & Hunter Rose. Close Distance is his fourth album for Melting Pot Music. Since 2013, the self-taught bedroom producer and classically trained violinist has sold more than 10k LPs and gained 200 million streams. Close Distance literally means “near in space or time” (or “nah dran”, as we say in German). The 16 songs on Close Distance came to life over the past two years. Many sketches were birthed at FloFilz's old home studio in Aachen. Some songs were made from scratch in London, where Flo did sessions with UK jazz supremos Alfa Mist and Blue Lab Beats at their studios. One was recorded in a kitchen in Streatham, where rap duo Summers Sons and pianist C.Tappin reside. More sessions were already in planning when lockdown kicked in and travelling was no longer an option. Around the same time, Flo was about to move from Aachen to Berlin which he eventually did in November 2020. Once installed, he started sharing beats and files out of his makeshift studio in Moabit. Beat folders were sent to London where two of our favourite new alt R&B vocalists – Jerome Thomas and KeepVibesNear – live. Another one went to Dartmoor where the jazz/hip-hop trio Dal added their magic touch while Hunter Rose processed her sultry vocals in Cape Town - 12 flying hours away from Berlin. The album artwork has been created by Indonesian illustrator Fatchurofi, who caught FloFilz's attention through his work for everybody’s favourite band Khruangbin. Taking influences from Japanese Ukiyo-e art, Fatchurofi is adding a zen-like clarity (and tranquility) that resonates very well with the album. It is no exaggeration to say that FloFilz has not only created another inspiring album with Close Distance but one that demonstrates how music can close

Samurai Champloo Music Record: Impression is the fourth soundtrack album in the series of the anime show Samurai Champloo. It contains tracks by Nujabes, Force of Nature, Fat Jon and MINMI. The lyrics on “Hiji Zuru Style” are written and performed by S-Word and Suiken. The lyrics on “Who’s Theme” are written and performed by MINMI; vibraphone is by Yoshihiko Katori.

The music of the Samurai Champloo anime series was created by a group of producers: Japanese hip-hop producer Tsutchie of the rap group Shakkazombie, American hip-hop producer & emcee Fat Jon of the rap group Five Deez, Japanese hip-hop producer Nujabes, and Japanese DJ & production duo Force Of Nature. The music genre is primarily instrumental hip-hop.

Fiendsh returns to Cold Busted with Hayashi Reborn, the Bangkok-based producer’s long-awaited follow-up to 2016’s To The End. The title refers to the Hayashi, a group of instrumentalists in Japanese Noh theater. Noh often revolves around themes of life, so with this album the Fiendsh alter-ego takes on the role of the Hayashi of the young beat-producer’s life. The album’s sounds are introspective and rich, combining deep rhythms and warm melodies. Sometimes a hint of Fiendsh’s Thai culture drops in, but mostly the influences are straight from the well of hip-hop, soul, and jazz classics.

The Content Label, Los Angeles’s ‘experiential’ hip hop imprint, rarely signs an artist based on a demo, but an impressive delivery from Japan recently broke the trend. Recorded by Salty – AKA Tokyo-based producer / videographer Naoya Ninomiya – the demo arrived as a nearly complete object, ready for dissemination to the global hip-hop headz-space. The songs have been mastered by legendary Japanese hip-hop studio engineer ‘The Anticipation Illicit’ Tsuboi and, with Dday One acting as executive producer it is now ready to be unveiled as the thirteen track album Camera. It’s a fantastic audio journey that gives a glimpse into Japanese beat-making prowess while sitting proudly within the instrumental hip hop echelon. With “Camera”, Salty showcases a diverse set of styles and an acumen for rhythmic patterns and tone, developed through his years of crate-digging and experimentation. And there are many moments to claim as highlights … “Remonoganac” with its gentle piano, atmospheric textures, and tough beats; the laid-back hip hop funk and scratches of “ADSL”; the smoky downtempo vibe of “The Sea Came At Midnight” is reminiscent of sounds of classic Dj Krush; and “Melting In The Dark” with its cinematic layers and haunting vocal. These all qualify for honors, among other possible choices. With Camera, a compelling portrait of Salty as a rising star on the beat-making scene has emerged and The Content Label is on the case.
Vinyl version is limited to 300 copies worldwide. The executive Producer is Dday One.

Limited edition repress with a slightly switched up cover. Inspired by Ultraman and Norwegian nature, Torb the Roach and Floppy McSpace joined forces and cooked up their instrumental debut. The result, Tape Echo Gold Floppies. It tickles your senses with low fidelity rhythms, time warping space echo, rare world spices and psychedelic field recordings. Along with the project they’ve also released a 15-minute motion picture revealing the extraordinary story of how the record came to be; a dramatic piece involving ski accidents, black coffee magic and brutal fight scenes. The album is a combination of beats from the SP1200/S950 combo as well as dubs & effects from the Roland 201 Space Echo. Torb collects rare, obscure, world funk and rare groove records from India, Thailand, China & Japan. There are a bunch of dusty loops on the record made from his digs.

Urban Waves Records proudly announces "Gris" the third album by Lidly. The producer hailing from Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan brought us an emotional and melancholic album that presents like a story thanks to the incredible artwork by Max Wilkins. "Gris" is about the passing of time exploring classic sounds, with the dusty sampling, and mixing the rare vintage treasures of the past with the modern and experimental atmosphere that makes the unique style of Lidly which we love so much. Gris was originally a soundtrack made for a dear friend of Lidly and his hair salon called "Gris" in Nakameguro, Tokyo. Thankfully the project shaped up into a full album and we got the chance to be able to release it for you.

A bright and colourful scenery: Shrill blinding sights, piercing foreign sounds, a fusion of disparate scents blended into a cocktail of curiosity. Fleeting attempts embrace a thousand senses in one single second. Bustling around in the shadows of buildings as high as mountains, an almost eerily overwhelming sense of contentment is omnipresent - but something doesn't appear to be right...
Stranded on a lonely island in the midst of a chaotic metropolis, disconnected - a feeling of drowning in an ocean of overstimulus and importunities of disproportionately inflated personalities, without ever even being registered or taken notice of.
What's left is nothing more than the ghost of a young soul, wandering about and curiously studying the surrounding, forever looking for answers that would otherwise seem trivial.

After “Kidsuke” the critically acclaimed collaboration project with Daisuke Tanabe, “Tokyorkshire” based producer kidkanevil continues his fascination with Japan and readies his latest solo album My Little Ghost. Inspired by a summer spent in Tokyo collaborating, exploring and generally refusing to grow up, the double vinyl is due May 2nd on Project: Mooncircle and features a wide range of guests including PMC's own submerse and Tokyo vocalist Cuushe.

Limited handmade and handpainted pink cassette edition (including download code).

Join 40 Winks on a road trip to anywhere. Bring your music player and tell your honey you won’t be home for dinner. It’s the trip, not the destination.“
About 40 Winks:
No hay banda! (“there is no band”, Mulholland Dr. 2001) pretty much sums up where 40 Winks aims to go with its instrumental hip hop: meticulously chop and paste samples together, to create an atmosphere of beats and vibes which steps beyond unimaginative loops. 40 Winks hit the scene in 2002, with a whole slew of laidback beats. Eager to share their sound with the world, they released a couple of albums independently. The attention they got from this, allowed them to build with people from around the world. One of these independently released albums, More Than Loops, got reissued in Japan on Swamp Records, after that the ball kept rolling. On their first worldwide release, Extended Pleasure on Escapism Records (2005), they reached listeners well beyond the (instrumental) hip hop community with the song “Melancholia”. After appearances on compilations, like Weapons Of Hope on Little-D (2006), they got a chance to do their thing on the renowned label, Merck Records with Sound Puzzle (2007). All this led them back to Europe, where the German based Project: Mooncircle welcomed them with a spot on the compilation Heart On The Right Spot (2007) and a full album The Lucid Effect (2008). In 2009 they took some time off, doing solo stuff and remixes. In 2011 40 Winks is back with a double LP called It’s The Trip (2011) on Project: Mooncircle.
Artwork By Afreux.

Even in the land of the rising sun, during the last months the enthusiasm for eccentric rhythms has increased. More and more young beat maker in Japan emulate their models J Dilla, Flying Lotus or Hudson Mohawke. This new generation of beat smiths understood Hip-Hop not as a mere pose, but as an aesthetic principle, in which it is explored, where the boundaries of this music style lie. The artistic crucial questions are therefore: How can you make known subjects in other contexts? How abstract can it be? Some of these emerging artists, we can now gather on this download Compilation. It’s a good way to become familiar with these extraordinary artists. So the Compilation shows the wide range of this emerging beat music scene, the originality of each artists. The title of the records tries to reduce very different types of artists to a common denominator: Finest ego.
The compilation includes BudaMunk, a.z, Daisuke Tanabe, The Astronotes, Dj Olive Oil, FERRARI, RLP, SATO, Ogiyy, ichiro_, Eccy & Himuro Yoshiteru.
Design by LGB5. A&R by Akira Inagawa & Gordon Gieseking. Mixed & Mastered by Sven Friederichs.

DOWNLOAD

This album is the first collaboration between DISC SYSTEM and INNER SCIENCE. An incredible amalgamation of Djing and composition, moving through many different styles and moods. Elements of Hip Hop, Ambient, Techno and more generally ‘electronic music’ are all apparent. Originally release on CD by ROMZ RECORD in November 2007 for Japan, Project: MoonCircle are issuing the album worldwide on vinyl to give this recording more thorough worldwide exposure and so that it can be presented on our favourite format. 45 min.!!

Limited 500 copies only!!!

‘Lightweight Heavy’, Fat Jon’s third solo offering, is a concoction of “loping beats, dub bass lines, classical piano, breathy vocals and sparkling harmonies…” (bbc). From the gentle piano-led intro of ‘Talk to Me’ and threading through the album’s 14 dazzling tracks, Fat Jon’s subtle use of vocals and his bass-heavy beats take listeners on a heartfelt journey. “I lived in Japan while I made this record and produced the whole album there. Being able to make a project like this from beginning to end the way I had envisioned it was a dream come true,” Jon reflects. “I recorded and produced the whole album in my friend Nujabes’ studio. I told him about my concept for the album, and he said I could use his studio while I was there. We had similar studio setups so it was a very easy transition and fun experience.” We are very pleased to announce that ‘Lightweight Heavy’ is getting its first vinyl reissue via YHS Records, a vinyl-focused imprint of Detroit label Young Heavy Souls.

Gaining attention with the release of high-quality lo-fi hip-hop compilations such as "Timeless" and "The Cave," Grey October Sound is a lo-fi hip-hop production team that has also gained recognition in Japan and abroad. They have released covers of famous Studio Ghibli songs in "Lo-Fi Ghibli," popular city pop tracks in "Lo-fi City Pop," and beloved Japanese anime songs in "Lo-fi Anime."

Now, a collaboration between Grey October Sound and Salad Days, widely known as Europe's top lo-fi/chill pop label, has come to fruition! This compilation features popular lo-fi tracks released digitally by Salad Days, including those by artists like Enra, Lenny Loops, Slowheal, and Eugenio Izzi. The visual imagery, including the cover art, is handled by illustrator Rika Nagatani, who also worked on the "Lo-fi Ghibli" series.

" I’ve started to work on this album before I knew it. During June 2018 I was in Japan for a month to release my previous album « Cairn » as well as my first solo exhibition of drawings in Tokyo.

Everyday on my way to the gallery I passed in front of the same building, its name kept haunting me.

Back then I was digging for cheap 80’s Japanese CD’s in second hand stores. Most of them set the tone of this album and the direction I wanted to follow. I feel there’s a direct connection between these original sources and the sound I pursue by their meditative aspect.

Most of the demo songs were done before my daughter’s birth on August 2019 and were finalized since then. Many of the titles refer to this main event and relate to how it changed my position in life : being a link through time by becoming a father. "

Fiendsh returns to Cold Busted with Hayashi Reborn, the Bangkok-based producer’s long-awaited follow-up to 2016’s To The End. The title refers to the Hayashi, a group of instrumentalists in Japanese Noh theater. Noh often revolves around themes of life, so with this album the Fiendsh alter-ego takes on the role of the Hayashi of the young beat-producer’s life. The album’s sounds are introspective and rich, combining deep rhythms and warm melodies. Sometimes a hint of Fiendsh’s Thai culture drops in, but mostly the influences are straight from the well of hip-hop, soul, and jazz classics.

Given his noted love of anime, scoring a fantastical retelling of a 16th-century samurai warrior of African descent serving under a Japanese daimyo, must be a dream project for Flying Lotus. But, as we’ve come to expect from the man who brought us the mind-bending 2019 LP Flamagra and his own written, directed and scored full-length surrealist fever dream Kuso back in 2017, Steve Ellison is anything but predictable.

Where his recent work has ventured deep into the hitherto unexplored avant-garde reaches of contemporary electronic music, jazz and hip-hop, FlyLo’s score to renowned anime creators Studio MAPPA’s Netflix original series Yasuke — on which he also acts as story consultant and executive producer — sees FlyLo eschew his digital maximalism with rumblings of traditional instrumentation, sweeping romanticism and widescreen cinematic scope.

Broadening the canvas of show creators LeSean Thomas and Takeshi Satou’s alternative-historical Sengoku period of magic and swordplay, with a soundtrack of Morricone-style epic tones, traditional Japanese percussion instruments and West African percussion, the feudal yet futuristic world of Yasuke is summoned.

The drum-driven drama of ‘Your Armour’ and ‘Your Lord’ simmer with synth flutes, strings and koto, as the bubbling arps of ‘War Lords’ recall the cyberpunk noir of Vangelis’ Blade Runner score, while frequent collaborators Thundercat and Niki Randa, also make an appearance in this parallel universe.

Another spellbinding FlyLo release even without the stylish animations of the show, Yasuke is set to be one of Ellison’s most prized releases.

Japanese beat maker Yuki Kitano’s commitment to music began when he was thirteen, crediting skateboarding culture as his intro to the sound of hip hop. Better known as NICKELMAN, he started making beats with a MPC2000XL and later in 2008 established the independent record label deepconstructionrecords in his home city of Osaka. Along with his close crew of artists, the label released several NICKELMAN, Sugarau and Frogman records to name a few. Working collaboratively with fellow beat maker Frogman, the duo began putting out music under Freemanz Production.

NICKELMAN’s work is inspired by the likes of rare groove, jazz, soul, and beat culture. As a follow up to his 2020 release titled Butterwax, he is set to release Mangoes, a twelve track instrumental LP, in May 202`. Using an MPC2000XL, SP-303, and Tape Echo, the record was produced entirely in NICKLEMAN’s home studio. Each track was recorded on to cassette tapes and then compressed.

Mangoes is full of fine beats and will certainly attract hip hop junkies and vinyl diggers around the world.

Residing at the base of Mount Yōtei on Japan’s geologically wondrous island Hokkaido - with it’s volcanoes, hot springs and national park - Masaki “mfp” Konagi is no stranger to natural beauty. Having resided in L.A. and Melbourne in the past, mfp (or mindfullpeace) settled in this natural haven as the place to set down some roots and create.

Having begun his musical journey over a decade ago, including an appearance on Gilles Peterson’s “Brownswood Electr*c 2”, we are proud to announce his debut full length album “Natural Law”.

Drawing on long time collaborators and friends from his travels, mfp has pulled on his foundation in hip-hop and pushed its boundaries to breaking point, embodying the true ethos of the genre as an ever expandable principle.

Featuring Melbourne stalwarts Simon Mavin (Hiatus Kaiyote) and Alien (Piette Aillion) plus Sydney’s Natalie Slade (Eglo), funk maestro sauce81 and hip-hop hero Stan Smith, mfp’s productions ebb and flow, building and releasing pressure, exploring discord and harmony through electronic polyrhythms and diverse explorations in slaps, swirls, lopes and kicks.

Masaki has also opened the very first organic food store in the area - Pyram Organics & Plants - embodying his, (and our) ethos in food and music as a way to bring ecological awareness to reconnect with nature and our planet for sustaina

A bright and colourful scenery: Shrill blinding sights, piercing foreign sounds, a fusion of disparate scents blended into a cocktail of curiosity. Fleeting attempts embrace a thousand senses in one single second. Bustling around in the shadows of buildings as high as mountains, an almost eerily overwhelming sense of contentment is omnipresent - but something doesn't appear to be right...
Stranded on a lonely island in the midst of a chaotic metropolis, disconnected - a feeling of drowning in an ocean of overstimulus and importunities of disproportionately inflated personalities, without ever even being registered or taken notice of.
What's left is nothing more than the ghost of a young soul, wandering about and curiously studying the surrounding, forever looking for answers that would otherwise seem trivial.

After “Kidsuke” the critically acclaimed collaboration project with Daisuke Tanabe, “Tokyorkshire” based producer kidkanevil continues his fascination with Japan and readies his latest solo album My Little Ghost. Inspired by a summer spent in Tokyo collaborating, exploring and generally refusing to grow up, the double vinyl is due May 2nd on Project: Mooncircle and features a wide range of guests including PMC's own submerse and Tokyo vocalist Cuushe.

'My Little Ghost' comes out worldwide on limited gatefold, double, pink vinyl (including download code) as well as a limited edition CD including a bonus track via flau records - http://www.flau.jp/ in Japan.

A child agrees then screams the name. Kid-o-suke. Did you hear that right? The music trickles in. It sounds like it was made in a toy factory. Hold on. Let me reach for the button over there. Childhood memories. The magical sounds of a roundabout sending you to sleep. The wonders of the world seen through eyes that don’t yet fully comprehend and ears that find musical potential in everything. Two kindred souls find each other, distance never the issue, they share and laugh the only way they know how.

The wonderful pixelated world of a video game. Where does reality end and where does the imagination start? Somewhere in the distance an explosion can be heard, or was it a booming bass drum? There are birds singing a crystalline melody. One I heard before, in a dream perhaps. All of a sudden a child exclaims ‘come, let’s go’. Where did he come from? Is he real or another pixelated fragment of imagination?

Yokatta desu. There’s a castle in the sky. Two boys team up to reach it, carried by the power of their dreams. The same dreams that marked their childhood and brought them to be men. If ever there was music worthy of becoming the soundtrack to a Ghibli movie this could be it. There’s a girl asleep on a plastic deer, going around and around. She reminds me of the hand drawn versions of the pixelated heroes of my childhood. I imagine her dreams filled with exciting adventures.

I swear I heard the sounds of Tokyo’s public transport. It told me we’d arrived at Shibuya yet I can’t see the neon bright lights when I look around. Oh well, I’ll just have to imagine them.

It’s an album, so of course it’s real. The music is the result of a desire to create regardless of outcome, for the simple fact that there is a story to tell. People will consume it whichever way they want. Is it this sound or that sound? Does it really matter? Stop for a minute and enjoy the music for what it is. A synthesis of two aesthetics joined not just by a love of music but also a love of the abstract and the childish, the things that remind us we were all young one day and things were simpler. Things like dancing as if no one was looking or making music as if the outcome never mattered.

Kidsuke is a collaborative project between the UK’s Kidkanevil and Japan’s Daisuke Tanabe. Their self-titled debut is released by Project Mooncircle in November 2012 on double colored vinyl LP and digital.

Join 40 Winks on a road trip to anywhere. Bring your music player and tell your honey you won’t be home for dinner. It’s the trip, not the destination.“
About 40 Winks:
No hay banda! (“there is no band”, Mulholland Dr. 2001) pretty much sums up where 40 Winks aims to go with its instrumental hip hop: meticulously chop and paste samples together, to create an atmosphere of beats and vibes which steps beyond unimaginative loops. 40 Winks hit the scene in 2002, with a whole slew of laidback beats. Eager to share their sound with the world, they released a couple of albums independently. The attention they got from this, allowed them to build with people from around the world. One of these independently released albums, More Than Loops, got reissued in Japan on Swamp Records, after that the ball kept rolling. On their first worldwide release, Extended Pleasure on Escapism Records (2005), they reached listeners well beyond the (instrumental) hip hop community with the song “Melancholia”. After appearances on compilations, like Weapons Of Hope on Little-D (2006), they got a chance to do their thing on the renowned label, Merck Records with Sound Puzzle (2007). All this led them back to Europe, where the German based Project: Mooncircle welcomed them with a spot on the compilation Heart On The Right Spot (2007) and a full album The Lucid Effect (2008). In 2009 they took some time off, doing solo stuff and remixes. In 2011 40 Winks is back with a double LP called It’s The Trip (2011) on Project: Mooncircle.
Artwork By Afreux.