MORI RA 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: While he has released original music, many of Mori-Ra's most potent singles and EPs have been those where he has delivered Balearic-minded or dancefloor-focused ready re-edits of some seriously obscure music, mostly from his native Japan. As the title suggests, Japanese Breeze Edits sees him continue the latter approach, serving up a fantastic selection of gently beefed-up revisions of mostly synth-heavy 1980s fare from the Land of the Rising Sun. Musically, most of these tweaked obscurities sit somewhere between far-sighted electronica, Japanese takes on American minimalism, city-pop, jazz-funk and spaced-out post-disco, though there are also forays into horn-heavy disco-funk, AOR, new age ambient and percussion-rich curiosities. A brilliant collection of lightly tweaked musical obscurities: don't sleep!

Review: Berceuse Heroique's "Brasserie Heroique" edits series rarely disappoints, primarily because its chosen editors always steer clear of the obvious in favour of obscure, oddball source material. There's lots of this kind of eccentric madness to be found on Mori-Ra's second contribution to the series. Check, for example, the bonkers alien funk/Italo-disco fusion of "Half Body" - all Helium-voiced vocal samples, fizzing electronic motifs, crashing sound effects and squeezable synth-bass - and the heady beauty of "Mirage", where woozy backing vocals and crystalline synthesizer lines cluster around ricocheting drum machine beats. Elsewhere, "Plateau" turns a new age style soundscape into a dreamy house shuffler, while "Cheeks" sees the accomplished editor have his way with a new wave era Japanese pop gem.

Review: Discodromo's playfully titled CockRing d'Amore edit series hits its fourth chapter with three hypnotic, transcendental edits from respected Osaka groove sculptor and selector Mori Ra. Three unnamed tracks, the focus should be strictly on the soul at play... The sweeping cinematica and narrative of "Track 1", the glistening cascades and layered vibraphone elements of "Track 2" and the lolloping, Nordic-feeling chugger finale. Chimes, electric bass and distant fiddles a-go-go, it's another singular trip from both Mori and a highly limited dispatch from CockTail d'Amore.

Review: Jongno Edits are back with their fourth release and they got two tracks of pure Korean groove, by editing wizard Mori Ra. Side A is "Heavenly Me" (edit) which is a boogie banger that embraces all the elements of the top tunes of that era: strong drum beat, slappy bass synth and a violin break down. On the flip, there's "No One Knows" (edit) which is your perfect sunset balearic cut for this summer. The lush bell melodies perfectly match the suave voices so prepare your ascension to the clouds accompanied by delayed organs and acoustic guitar 'where Jeju becomes Ibiza'.

Review: Not content with helming the well-regarded Banoffee Pies imprint, Ell Weston has decided to set up a second imprint: the Balearic-inspired Tracy Island. The first artist to step foot on the baking hot sand and head for shade is Mori Ra, an experienced re-editor famed for quirky releases on Macadam Mambo, Forest Jams and Berceuse Heroique. The edits assembled here are undeniably trippy and out-there, with the producer smothering an intoxicating, Moog-laden instrumental with delay on "Wilderness", before heading to Idjut Boys pastures on the wonky, dub-fuelled eccentricity of "Machinally City". On the flip you'll find the trumpet-laden lounge disco sweetness of "Candy Flow" and the tropical quirkiness of "Musically Time".

Review: Japanese editor Mori Ra returns with four more perplexing, wonderfully obscure edits on Macadam Mambo; "Acid Indonesia" is an overwhelming experience laced with toxic percussion, gritty bass and buried harmonies. "Canoe Tamburi Sacri" retains the heavy percussive focus while flipping the mood switch for something much slower and meditative. "Sleeping Industry" is the most cosmic number on the release with an array of synths vying for our attention over a wind chime rhythms while "Tsuru-Kame Hinadisco" brings us back into reality with harmonic chimes, steel drums and more dubby overlays than a Kingston cutting house. Satisfyingly strange.

Review: Osaka's champion selector and groove doyen Mori Ra makes his PTP debut with four lavish helpings of synth-splashed disco. Side A sees him teaming up with fellow Macadam Mambo mate ASN with two almost Norwegian-sounding lessons in cosmic synth funk as "California Real" is straight up boogie and "Actual Flash" fuses far-away strings and close-up synth squiggles. Meanwhile side B sees Mori go solo with two more slightly esoteric cuts: "Mermaid" is duffle-coated drama where the operatics and soothing harmonies are under the pressure of sub aquatic textures and "Synchroid Eye" takes us right down into dreamland with its swooning strings and faraway vocal cries. Bliss.

Review: Limited repress!!! Launched in late 2013, Paul Raffaele's Most Excellent Unltd has developed into a most unpredictable label, equally happy to facilitate more thunderous techno from Phil Moffa being released as it is to coax Mr K edits out of Danny Krivit. The label's first point of business for 2015 swings the focus on the edit talents of Japanese selectors Mori Ra and DJ Ground, two heads with deep knowledge of their country's musical heritage (here's a tip: check Mori Ra's Japanese Breeze mix series). Anyway Ghost Guide is a fine edit 12", veering from thunderous psyche drum work outs to slinky proto house via sultry 80s sax pop workouts and cosmic jazz. This one is likely to remain in many a record box!

Review: Launched in late 2013, Paul Raffaele's Most Excellent Unltd has developed into a most unpredictable label, equally happy to facilitate more thunderous techno from Phil Moffa being released as it is to coax Mr K edits out of Danny Krivit. The label's first point of business for 2015 swings the focus on the edit talents of Japanese selectors Mori Ra and DJ Ground, two heads with deep knowledge of their country's musical heritage (here's a tip: check Mori Ra's Japanese Breeze mix series). Anyway Ghost Guide is a fine edit 12", veering from thunderous psyche drum work outs to slinky proto house via sultry 80s sax pop workouts and cosmic jazz. This one is likely to remain in many a record box!