Konbini Klassics Vinyl & CDs

Review: This 7" vinyl marks the inauguration of the new Konbini Klassics label and it features expertly curated city pop and funk gems from Japan's golden era. The A-side offers 1983's 'Do What You Do' which is a relaxed synth-driven track with irresistibly catchy vocals. On the B-side you can enjoy the sounds of Cosmos, the all-female supergroup who deliver their slap-funk classic 'Midnight Shuffle' with its big horns, funky bass and twinkling synth melodies. A perfect 45 rpm gem, this release brings Japan's iconic sounds back to life and then some.

Review: An airy, artfully curated city pop come funk release centring on the works of Junko Yagami and Yurie Kokobu, two of the defining singers and producers of Japan's golden era. Yagami's 'Bay City' kicks off Volume 2; the lead track is in turn a standout track from her 1984 album Communication, and serves a roomy slice of romantic skylit gateau, against which champagne bottles clink and heads turn. Kokubu's B-side is complementarily back-roomed by comparison, fitting better the lovelorn drama of the afterparty. Released four years earlier than the A, in 1980, the track is a moodier cut for savvier diggers.