City Pop

Following successful disco excavation from the Caribbean to South Africa, we booked a first class ticket to Narita to bring you the latest release, Tokyo Nights: Female J-Pop Boogie Funk: 1981 to 1988. This compilation presents 12 of the most memorable and sought-after songs of the era recorded by female artists. The music is a reflection of the unbridled optimism, technological achievement, excess and exuberance of Bubble-era Japan. More than catchy melodies and funky baselines, these are reflections of a time when Japan was the center - and future - of the world.

Contemporary cuts, but with a vibe that resonates with the best modes of 70s mellow soul and AOR – an impeccable selection of tracks that we might have missed otherwise, pulled from a range of releases from around the globe! Some of these are artists that have more presence in the digital market than the physical one, others are maybe older acts that have continued to make great music underground – and together, the 19 tracks in this set deliver plenty of the promised sparkle throughout! Titles include "Fireplace" by Penthouse, "On The Very Low" by Ivan Ave, "Call It Home" by Ginger Root, "1/7 (10*9)" by Julia Wu, "Goddess" by Matt Johnson, "You'll Never Get To Heaven" by Workshy, "Lose June" by Randy Goodrum, "Whatcha Gonna Do For Me" by Young Gun Silver Fox, "Another One" by Mandoo, "BMPD" by Smooth Reunion, "Aim High" by 9m88, "Cauliflower" by Jak Lizard, and "Live Learn" by The California Honeydrops.

This summer, dive with us into the often-overlooked sea of late ‘70s/early ’80s Italian Soul, AOR and Disco. Compiled by journalist, producer and digger extraordinaire David Nerattini (with a little help from our own Pierpaolo De Sanctis), PAISA’ GOT SOUL is the smooth and near-danceable soundtrack to a decade that is somehow still with us. A time of gentle grooves, summer loves and sweet escapism – one beautifully captured by Claude Nori in his photographs of Italian beaches and summer holidays. Welcome to the mood of an era.