Rhythm Of Paradise needs no presentations. You know that when he makes his return, it's going to be massive. Here is another lush 12" that you can't say no to. Not to be missed! More

REPRESS!
Rhythm Of Paradise returns on mothership Cosmic Rhythm after two years with a brilliant and lushy italo house masterpiece. To not be missed! More

On Oath’s latest release, the imprint are proud to present the latest offering from London-based producer and DJ Tom Jarmey, on a record that sweeps beautifully across the electronic music palette and comes forth sparkling, enticing, and enveloping all at the same time..

On his musical journey to date, Jarmey has showcased a particular dexterity to crafting music, a polymath of sorts who has been able to nurture his sound carefully as to expand into and above multiple facets of Dance music and electronica. His musical universe is one permeated by a series of prevailing threads that come together at very exciting thresholds, a dizzying array of sounds that boil and simmer with intensity and intelligence, whilst always sounding thoughtful and expertly crafted. Its a journey that has seen Jarmey experiment sonically within the realms of House, Ambient, D’n’B, Jungle, Breaktbeat, Electro, techno and so on and so forth, and within all of these musical spaces Jarmey has always found a balance and a rhythm which sounds and feels so exciting to the ears and to the heart. His releases speak for themselves, a continual build-up and release exercise that has seen his sound grow and prosper into new and bold realms, with Wing Theory, X-Kalay, Holding Hands, Dansu Discs, and the like all calling themselves homes of Jarmey’s music. His work also as Ocean Stirs and as a member of Mother of Pearls (alongside Birmingham-based producer Ed Hodge) only adds further to his sonic mystique and depth, and as a place to walk back into there is plenty to delve deep within and linger for a while.

‘Swing Through Spaces’ is an apt title for his latest effort, building upon his fluid explorations of genres and musical in-betweens as a new representation of his ever-evolving musical narrative. The overall feel of the record has a real concise notion to it, simmering around the undergrowth with plenty of hypnotic low-end frequencies but with a constant emergence into the upper echelons of melody and tone. ‘Portal’ and ‘Fuse’, which get things started, both display a swinging rhythmic outlay with cascading key sequences that merge and blend so beautifully, with a keen eye evidently placed upon how one segment moves into the next. ‘Dusk’ and ‘Deep Space’ provide the record’s downtime moments, but in quite different ways. ‘Dusk’ is a pure, breezy meander through the summertime, with the bass line carrying the beat atop which sits a bird song melody of sorts with inspired vocal work, creating a head nodder for the ages. ‘Deep Speed’ however is a mind bender, as the arpeggios are set free within a cavernous space that only expands further as you begin to focus on the notes being played out.

The tracks ‘Negative’, which features Kitty Noble, and ‘Stay Hidden’, take things away into choppy, ever-shifting spaces. ‘Negative’ is a real gem, with that D’n’B rhythm providing the perfect foil for ever-shifting melodic patterns to swing in and out of view. It has that very clear reference point to the 90s era of D’n’B, where headspace drifting was most encouraged, and with Noble’s vocal work there is so much to connect with on this track. ‘Stay Hidden’ is ever so slightly different, with an inherent focus on looping segments and short but sweet vocal samples, this one rolls with a different intent – but it’s just as significant.

What great record wouldn’t be complete without a couple of remixes, and here the talents of Synkro and Son of Philips are employed to work out ‘Negative’ and ‘Deep Speed’ respectively. Negative is taken deeper than before, with the kicks occupying the space with flickering of breaks allowed to keep things moving onwards. Noble’s vocals are given a different kind of space in which to shine, as the horns, keys, and the like are spaced out to provide an incredible experience. Finally, the ‘Deeper Mix’ by Son of Philips creates a trance-like rethinking of ‘Deep Speed’, and it’s the final piece of the puzzle with this real statement of intent – a glorious slice of melodic bliss that makes this record feel like it could continue to go places, even after the final note has played out.

Tom Jarmey has achieved a fair amount throughout his career to date it must be said, and on ‘Swing Through Spaces’ there is a feeling as if a lot more is there to be written. A record that points to the future as much as the past, but in the here and now it speaks volumes, providing plenty of room to dive in and enjoy its bountiful feelings and tones, all wrapped up in an atmosphere of exploration that continually pushes outwards. A stellar release, and Oath couldn’t be more proud to present it. Press play, and drift away. More

Repress!

Music From Memory is excited to announce a special compilation that they’ve been working on for some time now; MFM053 – VA – Heisei No Oto – Japanese Left-field Pop From The CD Age (1989-1996). Compiled by long-time friends of the label, Eiji Taniguchi and Norio Sato, Heisei No Oto delves into a world of music released almost exclusively on CD and brings together a fascinating selection of discoveries from a little known and overlooked part of Japan’s musical history.

The last ten or so years have seen a global wave of interest in Japanese music encompassing ambient, jazz, new wave and pop records from the 1980s, some of which is increasingly considered the most innovative and visionary music of that time. Although some music from this period, in the form of ‘City Pop’ or ‘rare groove’ records, had been coveted by collectors and DJs for a number of years, most Japanese music from the time was little known outside and often even within Japan.

Sometime around the mid 2000s, two Osaka record store owners, Eiji Taniguchi of Revelation Time and Norio Sato of Rare Groove, along with a handful of deep Japanese diggers such as Chee Shimizu of Organic Music records in Tokyo, began to explore beyond the typical ‘grooves’ or ‘breaks’. Much like their counterparts in Europe and the US, they began delving into home-grown ambient, jazz, new wave and pop records, discovering visionary music, often driven by synthesizers or drum computers, that broke beyond the typical confines of their genres.

Spending tireless hours in local record stores and embarking on digging trips across the country, Eiji Taniguchi and Norio Sato, much like Chee Shimizu, have been at the forefront of unearthing and introducing many of the very Japanese records now loved and sought after around the world. Yet as YouTube algorithms and vinyl reissues would transport such music into the global consciousness and demand and therefore scarcity intensified for such records, so Eiji and Norio have recently begun to turn their attention to CDs.

The title of the compilation Heisei No Oto refers to the sound of the Heisei era, which began in 1989 and corresponds to the reign of Emperor Akihito until his abdication in 2019. Marking the culmination of one of the most rapid economic growths in Japanese history, 1989 also coincided with the music industry’s final shift away from vinyl in favour of CDs. And, although compact discs were first introduced seven years earlier it wasn’t until late into the ‘80s that, beyond dance music labels, CDs became the exclusive format for major and independent labels in Japan and throughout the world.

This however didn’t signal the end of the innovation in Japan. Many of those same musicians who have become known for their work in the ‘80s would continue to produce outstanding music well into the mid ‘90s, as greater innovation and advances in musical equipment allowed Japanese musicians and producers to refine and explore new sounds. While musicians such as the seminal Haruomi Hosono, whose productions feature on a number of tracks, would continue to push the boundaries of these new technologies, these technological advances also meant less established musicians were able to make use of increasingly affordable but state-of-the-art equipment.

Including music by Haruomi Hosono as well as Yasuaki Shimizu, Toshifumi Hinata and Ichiko Hashimoto who have become known and loved around the world in recent years, Hesei No Oto also features Japanese pop star Yosui Inoue, producers Jun Sato and Keisuke Kikuchi in aaddition to less established artists from the contemporary, jazz, new wave, pop and dance music scenes. Bringing together a selection of tracks that seem to define these specific genres and in fact move fluidly between a number of them, the music on the compilation is again underscored by experimentations with synthesizers and drum computers though with something of a gentle Pop sensibility. Reimagined here then under the encompassing term ‘Left-field Pop’, this is an exciting chapter in Japanese musical history that has only just begun to be fully explored.

VA - Heisei No Oto - Japanese Left-field Pop From The CD Age (1989-1996) is a 2xLP/2xCD that includes liner notes by Chee Shimizu and artwork by Hagihara Takuya and is released on February 28th. More

*2023 repress* Traveling extensively across Asia and Africa between 1974-1985 to study music, Roberto made many field recordings and collected many instruments on his travels which he would then combine with synthesizers and electronics back in Italy. BIG TIP!Music From Memory returns with their penultimate release of 2016, this time bringing together a compilation of works by the Italian composer and musician Roberto Musci. Whilst studying guitar and saxophone in his hometown of Milan, Musci developed a deep fascination for non-western music and set out to travel across India, Asia and Africa, which he would do extensively between 1974-1985. During his many journeys Roberto would become deeply embedded in each unique world of rhythms, scales and approaches to making and performing music. Throughout this period of travel he would make many field recordings as well as collect and study many traditional and indigenous instruments that he would then later combine with synthesizers and electronics on his return to Italy. Combining personal documents of music and sounds deeply connected to the history and cultures of those lands, with his own explorations and experiments with cutting edge sound technology Roberto Musci would develop through his music a very unique and at times wholly mystical space, where ancient and modern would evolve into a new musical language. As well as making his own music, during the 1980�s and 1990�s Roberto would also regularly broadcast radio shows of experimental and indigenous music on Italian radio stations such as Rai and Radio Popolare. Deeply connected to the arts he would also compose and perform numerous pieces of music for theatre, dance and performance art pieces as well as soundtracks for film and television. �Tower of Silence� brings together a double LP of material from Roberto Musci�s solo recordings commencing with the Loa of Music sessions from 1984 up until later very recent works. The compilation also includes a number of collaborative pieces, many performed and written in collaboration with Giovanni Venosa, such as material taken from their �Water Messages On Desert Sand�, which as an album was Grammy-nominated in in the UK in 1987. A unique and at times intensely mesmerising musical world �Tower of Silence� offers an introduction to the work of a unique and visionary artist. More