Somewhere Between: Mutant Pop, Electronic Minimalism & Shadow Sounds of Japan 1980-1988

01. Arrows & Eyes / 宮本典子
02. 光の糸 金の糸 / 小川美潮
03. Days-Man / 尾島由郎
04. Tira-Rin / ムクワジュ・アンサンブル
05. Weimar 22 / R.N.A. Organism
06. 夜間飛行 / 浅井直樹
07. 子猫とわたし / 長谷川孝水
08. 水の中のひみつ / Mammy
09. Hasu No Enishi / dip in the pool
10. Akatere / Wha Ha Ha
11. Sweet Sultan / D-Day
12. Dark Disco-Da-Da-Da-Da-Run / Perfect Mother
13. Area / Neo Museum
14. Wedding With God (A Nijinski) / Sonoko

Whereas Light in the Attic titled this installment in their Japan Archival Series to indicate where they feel it lands with their Pacific Breeze and Kankyō Ongaku compilations, Either Between or Far Afield might have been a more accurate (if more cumbersome) way of putting the rather assorted contents into context. None of these selections has the high-gloss pop appeal or commissioned utilitarian intent offered on the preceding compilations. Whether they were funded by major labels such as Epic and Nippon Columbia or originated on independent labels like the well-represented Vanity, each one is more exploratory and/or less commercial than any of its counterparts. This is evidenced most strongly by the bleak post-punk electronics of Perfect Mother, whose Dark Disco -- Da-Da-Da-Da-Run convulses like an outgrowth of Throbbing Gristle or Cabaret Voltaire (and was previously excavated by the Minimal Wave label). Starker still and more alien is an alternately thudding and twinkling cut from R.N.A.-Organism; a copy of the parent album was dispatched to BBC DJ John Peel, who was pleased enough to at least give it his typed index-card insert treatment and file it in his collection. The poppier inclusions from Noriko Miyamoto, Mishio Ogawa, and the great Dip in the Pool all have at least a more artful or slightly odder quality compared to the material on the Pacific Breeze sets. Prettiest and most enchanting of all is Sonokos Virginia Astley-like Wedding with God (A Nijinski), an Aksak Maboul production. Yoshio Ojimas Days-Man, among the tracks previously available only on cassette, is an electro-pop instrumental as warped and entrancing as anything from Yellow Magic Orchestra or that groups solo projects. Elsewhere, marimba minimalism fanatics get a stunning treat with Mkwaju Ensembles Tira-Rin, a dazzling piece of proto-techno with deliberate links to Africa. Lovers of left-field 80s music have much to enjoy and further explore here. ~ Andy Kellman