Friends of Earth - Sex, Energy and Star (Non-Standard, 1986)

This one seemed too fun not to share right away. The Godfather of Soul and genre-hopping whiz dude Haruomi Hosono, together at last with F.o.E.! It sounds like what you'd expect - which means you probably want to get down with it. The rest of the album is a treat too, all over the place in terms of style. "Total Eclipse" is an electro-tribal burner with some great female vocals, "Opera" is old-school Hosono MIDI spazz shit. There's a nice Dr. John cover. For my $$$ though, check out "In My Jungle," an exemplary sexy synth jam with some lovely piano touches halfway through...

enjoy

Yukihiro Takahashi - What, Me Worry? (Alfa, 1982)

I don't want anything to do with anything
That isn't going to make the world a better place to live in

You know what I mean
There just isn't enough time for that...

Yuki with a special one. The intro to "Flashback," then the big strings... Bill Nelson, YMO's secret weapon, on eBowed guitar... "My Highland Home in Thailand"... pop hooks galore. Enjoy.

Various - Yen Manifold Vol. 1 (Yen Records, 1983)

I've been searching for this one for a while... Leonidas over at Warm & Gooey does a great job of telling the story of Harry Hosono and Yuki Takahashi's Yen Records (or the lack of story thereof) and the grail quest for collectors of finding their records/information about them (Also, check out the nice mix he made!). Fortunately, the far reaches of Google offer up gems like this from time to time. 

This label sampler offers 4 tunes from Interior to start us off (you might know their excellent eponymous LP that root strata was kind enough to supply).  These have a slightly different vibe from the Interior sound I was familiar with (except 'Hot Beach' from the LP) - and vocals - but still solid. Side 2 is more my speed: 3 tracks from Koji Ueno, whose music is pretty unavailable online (anybody got a copy of "Music for Silent Movies" they'd be willing to share?) and two non-LP songs from  Testpattern, one of my all time faves. The Ueno stuff is in the same vein as the Ryuichi soundtrack I posted last time - speedy orchestration that would sound at home in video game or anime scenes. And "Friday" is the most blissful of Testpattern tracks IMHO.

Here's to hoping someone reissues the Yen Box. Until then, happy hunting!

My favorite Koji number from this one:

Enjoy

Ryuichi Sakamoto - The Adventures of Chatran (Midi Inc., 1986)

As the internet and the back cover attest, this is Ryuichi's (stellar) soundtrack for the Japanese release of "Milo and Otis." I feel like my young life would have been cooler had I been hearing these MIDI-fied jams instead of whatever stringy schmaltz Disney cooked up. Lots of lovely numbers ranging from songs that sound teased up from the Synclavier-type technology Ryuichi was using at the time to seemingly fuller orchestra numbers (but who can tell?). He brings it, as always. If you're as into the 80's Japan scene as me, you'll want to hear this.

Enjoy

New Mix

I'm yours if you'll have me, LA area independent radio stations...

Listen here or get it there

World Standard - World Standard (Non-Standard, 1985)

I've been looking for this one for quite a while, ever since Jiro posted "Truth of Palm" over at the old Ying Yangs site. Very enjoyable world music sounds, invisible MIDI threads making for a bubbly addition to your morning coffee routine. Another stop in the neverending YMO journey of good vibes (Hosono on the boards).

Very little about this guy on Discogs, his website is completely in Japanese. Any help, sinophiles?

Thanks to Nuevas Músicas for the original post.

Best, RSM

Youtubin': Mayumi Miyata Plays the Sho

Beautiful, circulating sounds...

Here's some info on the instrument, which I wasn't familiar with until stumbling upon her record on root strata, excellent luck...

Ryuichi Sakamoto - Thousand Knives of... (Denon, 1984)

So...I've been gone a bit. This is where I am right now:

C'est nuageux, mais ça n'est pas grave. 

These electro jams provide a nice soundtrack for this promeneur solitaire. There's a strange Franco-Japanese 80's pop connection I've got to figure out, stay tuned.

À bientôt!

(Not on this album but oh so nice summer vibes:)):

Enjoy