Early 80's Japanese sounds

snav

snav

Well-known member
This is the stuff I'm into. We call it "City Pop". Have a whole subreddit for it: https://www.reddit.com/r/citypop. I was gonna make my own thread but this one already exists.

Used to be a lot of cratedigging involved, these albums were quite hard to find digitally for years and years, especially back around 2015 when I first discovered it. Lately there's been a resurgence, though, and more and more are coming online. There's even a record shop in Brooklyn called "Face Records" that just sells Japanese imports (overpriced ofc but it's cool to see them in person).

Attached is a similarly sloppy pic of some of my record collection, plus I have maybe 50-100 CDs I picked up at Manhattan's BOOK-OFF back when they had a $2 Japanese CD rack (RIP). But these aren't necessarily the ones I'd recommend to someone trying to get an overview of the genre. The best overview, what got me into it, was a 4 disc compilation called "CITY POP" from 2003, specifically the Sony and Warner Music discs. They're a bit hard to find, is the thing. Not sure what the next best alternative is, but maybe I can link some tracks I like if folks are interested.
 

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haji

haji

lala
snav said:
This is the stuff I'm into. We call it "City Pop". Have a whole subreddit for it: https://www.reddit.com/r/citypop. I was gonna make my own thread but this one already exists.

Used to be a lot of cratedigging involved, these albums were quite hard to find digitally for years and years, especially back around 2015 when I first discovered it. Lately there's been a resurgence, though, and more and more are coming online. There's even a record shop in Brooklyn called "Face Records" that just sells Japanese imports (overpriced ofc but it's cool to see them in person).

Attached is a similarly sloppy pic of some of my record collection, plus I have maybe 50-100 CDs I picked up at Manhattan's BOOK-OFF back when they had a $2 Japanese CD rack (RIP). But these aren't necessarily the ones I'd recommend to someone trying to get an overview of the genre. The best overview, what got me into it, was a 4 disc compilation called "CITY POP" from 2003, specifically the Sony and Warner Music discs. They're a bit hard to find, is the thing. Not sure what the next best alternative is, but maybe I can link some tracks I like if folks are interested.
Click to expand...
yes please!
 
D

DannyL

Wild Horses
Got to mention the seminal Roots, Mallets and Bamboo mix by Spencer D from Visible Cloaks in this context. One of the best mixes I've ever heard that completely nails a moment. He's behind a couple of comps of this stuff. I know we're picking highlights from a rich vein of musical history but the stuff above is all fire.
 
D

DannyL

Wild Horses
snav said:
This is the stuff I'm into. We call it "City Pop". Have a whole subreddit for it: https://www.reddit.com/r/citypop. I was gonna make my own thread but this one already exists.

Used to be a lot of cratedigging involved, these albums were quite hard to find digitally for years and years, especially back around 2015 when I first discovered it. Lately there's been a resurgence, though, and more and more are coming online. There's even a record shop in Brooklyn called "Face Records" that just sells Japanese imports (overpriced ofc but it's cool to see them in person).

Attached is a similarly sloppy pic of some of my record collection, plus I have maybe 50-100 CDs I picked up at Manhattan's BOOK-OFF back when they had a $2 Japanese CD rack (RIP). But these aren't necessarily the ones I'd recommend to someone trying to get an overview of the genre. The best overview, what got me into it, was a 4 disc compilation called "CITY POP" from 2003, specifically the Sony and Warner Music discs. They're a bit hard to find, is the thing. Not sure what the next best alternative is, but maybe I can link some tracks I like if folks are interested.
Click to expand...
I always thought City Pop was something different to the experimental electronics/4th World sounds of Hosono, Shimuzu and the like. There seems to be something uniquely Japanese about it that's hard to pin down or see occurring outside that cultural context - connecting with the Japanese economic boom of the time in some way.
 
snav

snav

Well-known member
DannyL said:
I always thought City Pop was something different to the experimental electronics/4th World sounds of Hosono, Shimuzu and the like. There seems to be something uniquely Japanese about it that's hard to pin down or see occurring outside that cultural context - connecting with the Japanese economic boom of the time in some way.
Click to expand...
You know what? You're absolutely right. I saw Hiroshi Sato and got carried away. I'll make a different thread just for City Pop.
 
D

DannyL

Wild Horses
Or keep it here? Why not?

One interesting thing I've noticed in record shops recently (last 2 years) is lots more Japanese pressings of 80s looking Japanese stuff I have no idea about. Reckless now has a big section.
 
snav

snav

Well-known member
DannyL said:
Or keep it here? Why not?

One interesting thing I've noticed in record shops recently (last 2 years) is lots more Japanese pressings of 80s looking Japanese stuff I have no idea about. Reckless now has a big section.
Click to expand...
Wrote too much, figured I'd put it elsewhere...
 
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