Japan

Song of the Day: Yasuaki Shimizu “I’m Dying For Love”

Fusing synth-pop with traditional Japanese music, Yasuaki Shimizu‘s “I’m Dying For Love” is a left-field classic in his native Japan.

Categories: Blog, music, Song of the Day, synth pop Tags: Japan, music, song of the day, synth pop, Yasuaki Shimizu

Japanese electronic music pioneer, Haruomi Hosono, merges international music influences with acid house on the insistent, “Laugh-Gas”.

Ryuichi Sakamoto‘s title theme to the ‎Nagisa Ôshima 1983 POW drama, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence strikes a hopeful note for the holidays.

Ichiko Hashimoto delivers a wonderfully bent alt-punk read of read of her own French language should-be classic, “Naja Naja”.

“Sparkle” finds Tatsuro Yamashita laying down a marker as the lead-off track to arguably the greatest Japanese disco LP.

Categories: Blog, disco, funk, music, R&B, Song of the Day Tags: city pop, disco, funk, Japan, music, song of the day, Tatsuro Yamashita

“Les Aventures de Tintin” sees Japanese singer Taeko Ohnuki turning in a charming J-Pop/ funk tribute to the Belgian comic strip character.

Japanese experimental band Boris launch an aural assault that dips a toe or two into the realm of bent bubblegum pop with “Statement”.

Categories: Blog, indie, music, Song of the Day Tags: alt, Boris, indie, Japan, music, shoegaze, song of the day

“Rydeen” is a relentless electronic single by Yellow Magic Orchestra: a song that was groundbreaking while still packing a pop punch.

Yellow Magic Orchestra alumni, Haruomi Hosono, went for broke with his ebullient 1982 J-pop hit, “Sportsmen”.

Sundays & Cybele deliver a furious psych attack with “Mystic Ocean”: a song that helps make the case for guitar music in the 21st century.