Culture of Soul with another funky trip. After successful sonic excursions to the Caribbean and South Africa, the Boston-based label has booked a first class flight to Narita to dive head first into the sounds of Japan. Tokyo Nights brings twelve of the most sought-after female-fronted boogie pop gems of the 80's together on one extra funky compilation. The sounds featured were created when Japan was on top of the world (the "Bubble-era") and take cues from American R&B and boogie of the time, but with a distinctive twist. Here the boogie is mixed with AOR, YMO style techno-pop, and synth-driven jazz fusion for a uniquely Japanese sound called "City Pop". Check the sound on Hitomi Tohyama's "Exotic Yokogao," Junko Ohashi's uptempo groover "Dancin'," Kaoru Akimoto's "Dress Down," Mariko Tone's "Broken Eyes," and Yumi Seino's "Sky Restaurant." Fans of fat synth basslines, DX-7 synth solos, heavy Linndrum programming, and liberal washes of digital reverb need to grab this ASAP. Comes in gatefold sleeve with informative liner notes, obi strip, and cover art by Robert Beatty. Recommended.

• gatefold sleeve
• obi strip
• music label: Cultures Of Soul Records 2017

reviewed by Konbini 02/2018