Repress!

With unprecedented prosperity and growing worldwide fame in broadcast, game, and synthesizers, the 1980s Japan entered a golden decade. New genre splashes from technopop, Pacifica, and AOR/City pop merged local sensibilities with jazz-funk and Latin influences. Spiced in sugary US West coast sparkle and boasting naive lyrics with opulent arrangements and cover designs, it beamed millions of listeners on the cosmic journeys of Japan and its connections with Asia.

Looking to bet on the city pop phenomenon, a group of young, just out-of-school in-house studio players gathered for ad hoc recording sessions between 1982-1986. Spearheaded by up-and-coming associate producer and arranger HASEGAWA Joe and keyboardist KATSURAGI Mariko their goal was to produce a hit album concept with a musical journey from Japan to Asia and beyond.

Just short of wrapping a handful of test-pressings for studio and radio executives and a few tapes of demo recordings, the sessions came to an abrupt halt in 1986 with a striking personal loss. With the band's consequent disbanding and members embarking on their decades-long sessions careers, the original tapes were archived and lost in the Akihabara district for decades…

…until Japanese pop culture *connoisseur extraordinaire* and producer Sten SALUVEER aka MILDHANS discovered a rare demo of the original recordings in one of Tokyo's Ebisu district's revered vinyl bars. After a lengthy period of digging and tracings for the original tapes, the lush soundscapes of KATSURAGI Mariko and HASEGAWA Jo are finally here to take you on a jazzy journey to City Heights of Asia.

// ORIGINAL MUSICIANS //

Drums: HONDA Takeo
Bass: MATSUMOTO Kenji
Backing Guitar: KONDO Taro
Electronics, Linndrum, CR78 & 808 programming: TAKEDA Hideo
Percussion & Support: NAMBA Rumi, Alejandro Junichi Suzuki (Special Guest)
Vocoder & Electric Guitar: HASEGAWA Jo
Vocals Fender Rhodes, Sequential Circuits Prophet, Synclavier, Yamaha CS80, Arp 2600 & Quadra, Minimoog & Memorymoog, Yamaha DX7?: KATSURAGI Mariko
Written, Recorded & Produced between 1982 - 1986 by KATSURAGI Mariko & HASEGAWA Jo for City.

Reimagined and reedited for Dirty Keys records by Joe HASEGAWA & Sten SALUVEER, with mixes by Julius TALVIK. More

L.B. Dub Corp - Only the Good Times // Original Version + Burial Remix

Cut direct from studio tape master to limited white label vinyl // Part of the forthcoming album “Saturn to Home” which will be out on Dekmantel later this month.

“For me ‘Only the Good Times’ is a deeply emotional track. It’s one of those tracks, that ended up entwined in love and somehow life affirming. My immediate thought was to get Burial to remix it, not only because he is one of the most entrancing producers ever, but also because of our heart felt connection and to get him away from his Playstation for ten seconds. Thank you Arnol, Will and everyone else connecting to the music ??” - Luke Slater 2024 More

Dubbed out new version of a Japanese reggae classic from 1982 by UK-based Tokyo Riddim Band. Recorded and mixed by the legendary Prince Fatty in South London, it's a fusion of past and present, East and West.
Three generations of female musicians from Japan come together, blending reggae drums, funky bass, and the smooth City Pop guitar, all magically dubbed-out live on stage. Tokyo Riddim Band is a culture clash phenomenon unlike anything else.

Championed by Gilles Peterson, and featured on NTS, Pitchfork and Bandcamp Daily, the group was born out of Time Capsule’s wildly popular compilation “Tokyo Riddim 1976-1985”. In just a matter of months they have sold out headline shows across London and supported Kyoto Jazz Massive at Jazz Cafe, conjuring a raucous, dubby dancefloor that brings the classic Japanese reggae sound of the ‘70s and ‘80s to life for a new generation.

Led by the inimitable pianist and composer Izumi ‘Mimi’ Kobayashi who featured on the original compilation, Tokyo Riddim Band are set to release a series of 7” singles in the coming months with more live shows planned throughout the summer 2024.

The first single, 'Denshi Lenzi', reinvents the Natural Mystic riddim of the original Japanese production, infusing it with dubbed-out vocals, sirens, and electrifying e-tom sounds, delivering an authentic reggae/dub experience with a distinct UK flair. More

Exit 100.3 Part 3 is a return to our DnB roots, with artists who have and will shape the Exit sound More

Placid aka Paul Wise is the chief operator at ‘We’re Going Deep’ – an online community and record label, born out of a lifelong affair with the many shades of electronic rhythm and obsession for collecting records since 1988. On a mission to share and release new music via his We’re Going Deep imprint: you’ll find only the best in Acid, Electro, IDM, Techno and Deep House for the dance floor, front room or even just your headphones.

Bringing the sounds of another highly experienced underground House and Techno fusionist to the next WGD solo series edition, Mark Thibideau is an enduring force. Hailing from Wallaceburg (Ontario) alongside his twin Brother Matt, he has been conjuring his own brand of sonic sorcery as far back as the 90s via various aliases and projects. Renown for his deeply soaked sound design that straddles the depths of Basic Channel’s aesthetic with a more altogether velours finish. Thibideau has graced the likes of Joule and Berg Audio in recent times, releasing some much sought after EPs.

Offering up 4 equally silk edged yet powerfully crafted dub infused grooves, going against convention and heading straight for the B side, the EP kicks off with the refreshing roll of B1 “Overcome Gravity” – a breezy flight through the upper reaches of the atmosphere. Combining tightly swung percussion with shimmering synthesis, all wrapped in undulating elements that basque in the warm glow of a mid summers evening. It’s a much welcome invitation. Accompanied with the slightly more introspective tones of B2 “The Fading Future” – minor chords lead to metronomic beats, leaving the bassline follow their path as the track twists and turns to take hold. An equally masterful trip to other worldly territory, you can’t help but admire his poise.

On the flip side, A1 “Circulate” ramps up the energy factor a notch as Thibideau unleashes a slice of pure understated, bass rumbling, heady workout all shot through a slow filter. The type of hypnotic cut that’s designed to do maximum damage at HIGH volume. Seriously restrained magic! It conjures up the magic of Mike Huckaby’s (RIP) Mix of “The Final Step”. Ending on the upward trajectory of A2 “Rotation”, here he continues his mission in the same vein but with more open frequencies – propelling to the outer reaches and leaving you wanting a whole lot more. More

Mechanical Dubbish Bongo Ragazzaccio More

Past Moves III is the final instalment of the vinyl-only series served up by Berlin's ever-well-curated and cultured Sushitech label. It is another essential 12' that packs in plenty of heat from the long-time UK favourite. His records are hard to find and expensive when you do and this collection highlights some of his superbly blended acid, dub, tech and house grooves from back between 1997 and 2004. On this one, you will find a pair of weighty, warm, and dubbed out tech cuts with bounce in the drums and Detroit soul in the pads. Timeless stuff. More