Back catalogue: Funk/Reissues

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Takako Mamiya's Love Trip stands as a shimmering gem in the realm of Japanese City Pop and AOR. Released in 1982 as her only album, it exudes a timeless allure that is ideal for the resurgence in this style. The album's production, spearheaded by a talented ensemble of musicians including Genji Sawai and Yoshihiro Naruse, is nothing short of exemplary. Mamiya's vocals effortlessly glide over smooth jazz-infused melodies, painting a picture of nighttime introspection and melancholic longing. From the sultry allure of 'Love Trip' to the introspective musings of 'Midnight Joke,' each track shows Mamiya's ability to evoke a range of emotions through her music. The album's thematic coherence, albeit occasionally disrupted by varied composers, adds to its charm, creating a cohesive sonic journey that transports listeners to a world of moonlit introspection and wistful romance. While Love Trip may not have achieved commercial success upon its initial release, it has since garnered a dedicated following among City Pop enthusiasts worldwide. Its re-release on limited edition clear sky blue vinyl is an example to its enduring appeal and significance within the genre.

Review: Takako Mamiya's Love Trip stands as a shimmering gem in the realm of Japanese City Pop and AOR. Released in 1982 as her only album, it exudes a timeless allure that is ideal for the resurgence in this style. The album's production, spearheaded by a talented ensemble of musicians including Genji Sawai and Yoshihiro Naruse, is nothing short of exemplary. Mamiya's vocals effortlessly glide over smooth jazz-infused melodies, painting a picture of nighttime introspection and melancholic longing. From the sultry allure of 'Love Trip' to the introspective musings of 'Midnight Joke,' each track shows Mamiya's ability to evoke a range of emotions through her music. The album's thematic coherence, albeit occasionally disrupted by varied composers, adds to its charm, creating a cohesive sonic journey that transports listeners to a world of moonlit introspection and wistful romance. While Love Trip may not have achieved commercial success upon its initial release, it has since garnered a dedicated following among City Pop enthusiasts worldwide. Its re-release on limited edition clear sky blue vinyl is an example to its enduring appeal and significance within the genre.

Review: A lesser-known but electrifyingly slick city pop record (her fourth) by Junko Ohashi. 1979's Full House hears the Japanese singer's graceful but powerful contralto in full collaborative force, paired against the historic instrumental talents of her backing band, Minoya Central Station. Perhaps second only to Ohashi's timeless New York paean, Magical, Full House is yet another discographic dazzler that most likely contributed to the revival of the city pop genre after its retroactive but no less ironic recognition in the popular music sphere by the vaporwave subgenre, future funk. The mood throughout Full House is vital and joyful, suggesting something close to complete emotional fulfilment and idealistic glee on the singer's part - all part of the city pop's objective - its grand plan - to portray metropolitan life as an ultimate ideal.