Wewantsounds Vinyl & CDs

Review: Having previously issued Akiko Yano's 1976 debut "Japanese Girl" - an eccentric set of East-West pop fusions marked out by the artist's distinctive vocals - Wewantsounds has returned to raid her vaults once more. "Iroha Ni Konpeitou" first appeared in 1977 and garnered great hype in Japan thanks to the success of its predecessor. It's a similarly eccentric but inspired set, with Yano confidently flitting between synthesizer-heavy instrumental soundscapes (see superb opener "Kawaji"), drowsy country-inspired songs ("A Long Wait"), seductive jazz-funk ("Hourou"), head-nodding reggae-boogie ("Hai Hai Gasa") and breathy, post-soul ballads ("On The Way Home", a song that boasts both pedal steel and synthesizers).

Review: Ryuichi Sakamoto's 1984 classic, Ongaku Zuka, finally gets a long overdue re-release. Heralded at the time as yet another example of Japan's sorely-missed musical genius in full flow, the tracks feature contributions from Yellow Magic Orchestra's Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, alongside Yasuaki Shimizu, Tatsuro Yamashita and Toshinori Kondo. Originally released in two versions, one with a bonus 7" two-track EP and another with a limited edition 12" three-tracker, both are now being reissued for the modern age. Part of an ongoing celebration of Sakamoto's life following his death in March 2023, when Ongaku Zukan (Musical Encyclopedia) hit it marked the celebrated musician and composer's first top five hit in his homeland, building on the success of both his soundtrack to Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence and the Yellow Magic Orchestra, on which time had only recently been called. Syth pop perfection, with unique, mesmerising instrumental compositions, it's an essential for any fan.