Surfing on the wave of 1980’s Nippon’s bubble of electronics and economics, fashion and the femme fatale, explosion of its pop culture and computerized technopop, and the world’s sudden fascination with everything Japan, a group of young studio musicians stemming from Tokyo’s downtown of Akihabara and Kanda came together for ad hoc recording sessions between 1982-1986. Their goal… produce the next domestic hit album, a travelogue of city pop inspired by the urban yet lonely sprawl of now globally admired Asia. Yet their vision of the concept album under the City Heights moniker never came to see the light due to the group’s sudden disbandment after the tragic loss of love.

Led by the guitarist come arranger-producer HASEGAWA Joe (Jô) and keyboardist KATSURAG Mariko, the City Heights sessions drew form Tokyo’s musical melting pot of early 1980s with a distinct blend of jazz, funk, boogie, spiced with a local touch of Nippon’s finest electronic instruments.

Now, restored, remastered and occasionally redubbed by Japanese music connoisseur Sten Saluveer aka MILDHANS, this second, highly anticipated volume will take you on a journey through the love-longing nights of Aoyama, to the festive matsuri bustle of Jô’s hometown of Kanda, the Jasmine dreaming of Taipei, and a quirky nod to a then legendary musical superhero. More

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

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

Tracklisting
A1 Frenk Dublin - Unseen World
A2 Frenk Dublin - The Creator
B1 Frenk Dublin - Pharaoh Dub
B2 Frenk Dublin - 4th Hour

Sales Note
ECHOLTD009: 12" EP 180g Gold / Blue marbled vinyl. 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

Tracklisting
A1 Veak - Jurney
A2 Veak - Internal Force
B1 Veak - Dig It
B2 Veak - Forward More

The second part of Sushitech's three-part vinyl-only series looking at the work of Dexter is another 12" doozy. The UK underground mainstay has been behind many cult and much sought-after records over the years and they all fuse obscure dub and acid tech house in smart ways. They were recorded between 1997-2004 and if you can find any OGs then you will be paying upwards of 100 quid for them. This slab has three driving but deep sounds carefully detailed with wispy pads and filtered vocals for perfect backroom deployment. More