Various contemporary electronic artists from Japan pay tribute to the Yellow Magic Orchestra. Features Calm, Macho Robot and other superb cutting edge musicians.

dtf is an electronic music project by Makoto Katagiri who has been part of the electronic world since in late 90s with various projects such as Persistence, Regis, Makoto Katagari and others. Highly rated solo album.

New release from Sakamoto's Commmons label of the bossa nova duo, Naomi Fuse (vocals) and Goro Ito (guitar). Collaboration with avant garde jazz and club musician and producer Naruyoshi Kikuchi. From covers of Prefab Sprout and Hall & Oates to Antonio Carlos Jobim and original songs from Goro Ito and Kikuchi. Bossa Nova plus electronic sounds.

Gota Yashiki's guitar instrumental album of Hawaiian music with elements of surf music, resort music and healing music.

Tomoyo Harada is popular singer and actress, who in the 1980s was an idol singer. She is currently a member of the group Pupa, together with Yukihiro Takahashi of YMO fame. Eyja is an album of sophisticated pop/electronica, with guest artists including Haruomi Hosono and Taeko Onuki. Produced by Goro Ito and features music video of the song File as CD extra.

Nostalgic ambient electronic pop from Kyoto based five piece group of underground musicians.

New album from World Standard, led by Sohichiro Suzuki, three years in the making, focusing on music from South America, particularly Brazil and Argentina and cover of Portuguese singer Sara Tavares.

New release from Hosono's Daisyworld label. Mood music, lounge music, 2010 BGM. Hosono produces and selects songs played by Daisyworld artists, plus tracks by Bert Kaempfert, Percy Faith and their Orchestras.

The three female musicans of Minimums, playing marimbas and percussion, have become unexpectedly popular in Japan following their wonderful album of YMO covers. Carrying on in a similar vain, they cover theme songs from classic Studio Ghibli anime films. CD comes with special booklet with illustrations [scenary illustrations used for the actual films] drawn by Nizo Yamamoto, art director of Studio Gibli and right hand man of Hayao Miyazaki.

Remix album by Osaka native Berlin resident ambient, experimental, electronica, musician and producer. Released on Commmons, includes remixes of HASYMO, Sketch Show and Sakamoto tracks.

Shuta Hasunuma is a young electronica artist who on this album employs the help of several other musicians including Ishizuka Shuta, Ryosuke Saito, Taku Unami and others. Edgy pop electronica that features original songs and two covers, (tracks 2 and 10) of Sun Ra.

Another Commmons label release, this one a collaboation between the group Sotaisei Riron and Keiichiro Shibuya. Sotaisei Riron are an indie rock band who combine the whispish female vocals of Etsuko Yakushimaru, with electric guitar, bass and drums in a decidedly cool and Japanese style. Keiichiro Shibuya is a kind of electroacoustic artist, with a particular interest in the possibilities of sound technology, such as 3D digital sounds. High quality indie rock, kind of in the mould of Kahimi Karie.

Latest album by the acoustic unit featuring Kenichiro Isoda, (who is a 'sound designer' for Sega computer games) and Shoji Oshiro (on soprano and alto saxophones) Their last album 'Acoustic YMO' became a cult hit in Japan and this is a much awaited follow up. The album has two different 'sides' on a single CD. Side A is of bossa nova, reggae, pychedelic rock and Okinawan music featuring three singers and side B has instrumental songs with flavours of tango, jazz, world and classical music.

Formed in 1997, Minimums are three female musicians playing marimbas and percussion. In recent years they've become a popular live act. This is an album of cover versions of YMO tracks including Rydeen, Tompu, Technopolis, Kimi ni Mune Kyun, Ongaku, Chugoku Onna, Firecracker, Cosmic Surfin and Behind The Mask.

Audio CD plus 150 page book (Japanese text). Takagi Masakatsu is a leading visual artist who has presented video installations around the world, has worked with David Sylvian and many other artists. Featured on an Apple video to show how he uses his Mac computers to create his videos.

Volume 1 of archive compilation featuring some of the electromic musician's remixes and producer works.

Volume 2 of compilation of Rei Harakami remix and producer works. 1. Bee Rei Harakami Remix - Great 3 2. (Re-mixed by Rei Harakami) - Electrical Lovers 3. Ver.Rearranged By Rei Harakami 4. remixed by Rei Harakami - 5. - UA 6. U-Rei, Rei Harakami remix - Number Girl 7. - Asa Chang & Junrei 8. Oh Baby Plus - Great 3 9. - Chocolat 10. Chocolate Notes - Chocolat 11. Senaka - Asa-Chang & Junrei 12.

Ichiko Hashimoto is a jazz pianist who has played with top musicians such as Yosuke Yamashita and Kazumi Watanabe. She also has an interest in other styles including electronic music and was a tour guest member of YMO during the Technopolis 2000-20 tour. This is an album of electronic music

Guitarist Tatsuhiko Asano has gained an enviable reputation in the electronica / experimental world, mostly due to the critical acclaim of his UK released album, Genny Haniver, on the Geist label. He has also provided tracks and recorded for some of Japan's coolest electronica labels, such as Daisyworld, Transonic and MOOD/donut, joined David Sylvian's remix album, 'Blemish Remixes' and has been guitarist with different units such as Magical Power Mako, Pacific 231 and GPP. His rhythmic based guitar is at the same time, sensitive and melodious, creating a unique landscape mixing electronica, ambient and techno.

First new album for 4 years from World Standard and released by Daisyworld. World Standard is the project of Soichiro Suzuki, a long time collaborator of Haruomi Hosono, who released his first album in 1985. Cool, instrumental contemporary music. The music of World Standard was recently used on an advert for Innocent smoothies.

Remix album by Osaka native Berlin resident ambient, experimental, electronica, musician and producer. Released on Commmons, includes remixes of HASYMO, Sketch Show and Sakamoto tracks.

Masakatsu Takagi is a musician and visual artist who has presented video installations around the world. His music is an impressionist, haunting style of electronica that fits with the imagery of his visual art. He has made music videos for David Sylvian, has recorded for Daisyworld and been produced by Haruomi Hosono. Private/Public is a CD + book.

Currently resident in Berlin, Aoki Takamasu is one of Japan's best musicians operating in the experimental, ambient and electronica music worlds. Aoki is becoming known for expanding the possibilities of music created on computers, pursuing a variety of techniques of expression and driving grooves and rhtyhms. This is his first album for Ryuichi Sakamoto's Commmons label.

Gabby & Lopez is Shunji Mori (Natural Calamity) and guitarist Masayuki Ishi, plus various guest musicians. This album from 2006 has a mellow groove, with relaxed melodies and dreamy soundscapes.

Nobuyuki Nakajima is a pianist, composer, arranger and orchestrator. He has played with some of Japan's coolest artists including Port of Notes, Kama Aina, Calm and Naruyoshi Kikuchi. Solo, his music has some similarities to French impressionist composers such as Erik Satie or Debussy. This is his first solo album, which includes his original music and arrangements of compositions by Spanish composer Frederico Mompou, and bossa nova master Vinicius de Moraes. An impressive list of collaborating musicians include Kazumi Watanabe, Naruyoshi Kiukuchi, Moose Hill, Ren Takada, Takayoshi Matsunaga and Kama Aina. Piano is blended with guitar, bandoneon, sax, bass, into a kind of modern chamber music.

Second solo album from the superb pianist features another impressive list of guest musicians, adding to the general chamber music ambience. These include Ren Takada on guitar, Mikami Gonzalez (guitar), Naruyoshyi Kikuchi (sax) plus an ensemble on bandoneon, piano, bass, and a string section.

First album for five years from Miharu Koshi is her distinctive blend of electronica with waltz, polka, swing and other nostalgic rhythms and melodies. Miharu plays accordion, marimba, piano, celeste and glockenspiel.1. Valse Noire 2. Rubus Fruticosus 3. A La Piscine 4. Un Secret de Mon Frere 5. Chidori 6. Royal Apron 7. Felicite 8. Maree Haute 9. Jardin de Oublis 10. Petits Pieds 11. Frere et Soeur Contrefaits 12. La Paume Cachee.

Radiq is the main project of Yoshihiro Hanno, one of Japan's most creative artists' as a producer and composer, who has worked with Ryuichi Sakamoto, Arto Lindsay and many others. Previous Radiq albums were fairly electronic based compared to this offering, which is more acoustic sounding, but keeps the jazzy grooves, with elements of Afro, samba, dub and 60s soul among others. Overall fairly minimalist and definitely cool.

Yoshihiro Hanno is a much respected musician, including outside of Japan. His music combines elements of free jazz , electronica, hip hop and other styles into an original brand of avant-garde music. This fantastic new album features 10 new tracks of his electronica / jazz sound featuring seven singers including Haruomi Hosono, Miu Sakamoto, Yoshie Nakano from Ego Wrappin', Hanaregumi (Takashi Nagazumi) and Ikuko Harada (Clammbon).

A kind of world ambient pop recorded in Paris, Tokyo, New York, Santa Fe and Osaka. Guest musicians include Arto Lindsey, Joao La Barbara, Morton Feldman and John Cage. Has it's moments.

Anonymoss are four artists,Tomohiko Gondo (eufonium), Tetsuya Yamamoto (keyboards), Seigen Tokuzawa (cello) and Tomoko Kanda (vocals). They were one of the artists featured on the excellent Penguin Cafe Orchestra tribute album last year, and this time they cover YMO tunes on acoustic instruments and electronics with some guest musicians such as Masato Suzuki, Ren Takada, Hiroshi Takano, Asa-Chang and Soichiro Suzuki. 1. Behind 2. See-Through 3. Focus 4. Happy End 5. Wild Ambitions 6. Mass &. Kimi ni Mune Kyun 8. Nice Age 9. Cue 10. Gegou 11. Insomnia 12. Castalia 13. Epilogue

Collaboration album of Ryuichi Sakamoto together with San Francsico based guitarist and multimedia artist Christopher Willits. Willits uses a guitar with custom-made signal processing creating a mix of acoustic and electronic sounds, improvisation, rhythm and sound texture. Fascinating album of 7 tracks. 1. Toward Water 2. Umi 3. Sea Plains 4. Sentience 5. Chi-yu 6. Cold Heat 7. Ocean Sky Remains.

Ryuichi Sakamoto, Makoto Kubota, Cornelius, Kahimi Karie and others are the unlikely artists to cover some of the best know Japanese 'shoka' songs. Shoka are songs devised for musical education in Japanese elementary schools, many of which were derived from western folk songs. Following a flirtation with militaristic meaning in pre-war days, now shoka are thought of as being the symbol of what is good about Japanese values and customs. 10 tracks. 1.Haruo Minami + Cornelius - Aka-tombo 2.Kirinji - Hanyu no Yado 3.Ryuichi Sakamoto + Miki Nakatani - Chiisai Aki Mitsuketra 4.Sayuri Kume - Ryoshu 5.Morio Agata - Mori no Kobito 6.Taeko Onuki - Kono Michi 7.Kiseru - Kanariya 8.Aki Yashiro - Shojoji no Tanuki-bayashi 9.Ren Takada - Aka-tombo 10.Yan Tomita (Doopees) - Yagisan Yubin 11.Kahimi Kahri + Yoshihide Otomo - Karatachi no Hana

Volume 2 of the excellent 'Japanese Songs' series- famous lyrical songs and childrens songs performed by some of Japan's coolest electronic artists. 10 tracks including Yukihiro Takahashi / Shabon-dama, Kenji Endo / Koganemushi, Tomoyo Harada + Keiichi Suzuki / Amefuri Kumanoko, Mitsuko Koike + Tomoki Kanda / Yashi no Mi and Yuichi Ohata / Oborozukiyo.

Volume 3 of the popular series of Japanese childrens and lyrical songs surpervised by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Artists on this one include Moussir Kamayatsu and Keiichi Sogabe (Sunny Day Service).

Latest in the excellent series released on Ryuchi Sakamoto's Commmons label. This is an album of 11 winter themed children's and lyrical songs, that most people in Japan would know, but are performed in a totally original style by a stellar list of innovative musicians. Tracks include Aoi Tejima + Ryuichi Sakamoto / Yuki no Furu Machio, Nobuyasu Okabayashi / Toudaimori, Chocolate + Shimmy / Fuyu no Seiza, Inotomo + Piranians / Kogitsune, Takako Minekawa + Rei Harakami / Petika, Uri Nakayama / Takbi plus tracks by Haruomi Hosono, Chitose Hajime and others.

A tribute to the Penguin Cafe Orchestra by Japanese artists who were influenced by this unclassifiable British group. These include Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yukihiro Takahashi, Masakatsu Takagi, Kama Aina, Moose Hill, Takako Minekawa, plus The Other 4, Steve Jansen, and others.

Aurora is the guitar duo of Kaoru Inoue (Chari Chari) and DSK (Port of Notes). This is their first live album with guest tabla player UKO, recorded in a traditional Japanese house to a small audience. Relaxing, ambient club music. 1. Theme from Aurora 2. The Gate 3. Mon-Syu-In 4. Northern Lights 5. Mountain Trail 6. Sun & Wave 7. Aqua Dance 8. Kagerou 9. Plank Bridge 10. Subtle 11. Thought of Day.

After trips to Vietnam and Bangkok, Makoto Kubota and Blue Asia stop over in Morocco. In June 2005 Kubota went to the Festival D'Essaouria Gnaoua. There he met musicians who would record this album in November the same year; Maghrebs from Essaouria, Berbers from Agadir and Arabic musicians from Casablanca. These include a young maalem (master musician) Youssef Gnawa and one of the founders of the festival and musician Abdeslam Alikkane who both sing and play the gemburi (3 stringed percussive long necked lute). They are joined by musicians on qarqab (large metal castanets) and rubab (bowed lute). One of Kubota's main interests in recent years has been the music of Nordeste, Recife, Brazil, and in typical Kubota fashion, he combines the sounds of Morocco and Northeast Brazil in a completely new mix. The Brazilian guests include vocalist Erasto Vasconcelos on the opening track Mil Tambores while the dub version of the song features pandeiro and other Brazilian percussion by players featured on an album by Belgium's Think of One. Elsewhere are hypnotic sounding Moroccan trance tunes with atmospheric layers of keyboards, beats and samples from Makoto and the other Blue Asians.

Makoto Kubota and Blue Asia have produced another extraordinary album, this time centering on the music of Thailand. Many of the tracks have some morlam (northeasten) roots, with the chuggish, almost reggae like rhythms. There's plenty of phin (lute) khaen (mouth organ) and both male and female morlam singing. Blue Asia add keyboards and rhythm programming, but unlike the glossy or cheesy synths that blight some Thai albums, this backing is always sophicticated, cool, original and tasteful. Elsewhere some of the tracks have a more pan-Asian feel, with echoes of past recording locations of Vietnam or Bali. There are some great female singers; the fairly pop but definitely Thai, Apple. Lady Nan is more of a lukthung (Thai country) singer, while Chawiwan Damhuen is one of the greatest tradiitional morlam singers.Kubota has great fun with Dub Kornkaen, his dub production of morlam making perfect sense.Serves as a great album in its own right but also as a good introduction to the wonderful roots music of Thailand.

The latest project by the Japanese/Malay project is probably their best yet. Under the inspiring producer Makoto Kubota, Blue Asia went to Vietnam to record with local muisicians. They made some real discoveries, especially among the vocalists, who add new colour to well known Vietnamese tunes, and create some new mixtures, rooted in Vietnam but with the added brilliance of Kubota and co. Click Read About for the full story.

Blue Asia is the brain child of Japanese producer Makoto Kubota. He toured the world in the 1980s with his group the Sunset Gang, and the later the Sunsetz. He introduced Okinawan and Asian elements into his music, eventually becoming a full time producer, working with a variety of artists from Indonesia (Elvy Sukaesih, Detty Kurnia) to Madagascar (Njava). His co-conspiritors in Blue Asia are long time assistant Yoichi Ikeda and Malaysians Mac Chew and Jenny Chin, both Berklee graduates and top arrangers. Hotel Ibah is their first album featured around the gamelan music of Bali. As always with Kubota's projects, the is of the highest quality. Original, inspiring, a cool ambience of jegog bamboo gamelan, kecak chants, suling flutes, bells, chimes and more blended together with stylized electronic backing.

DVD with music by four Asian musicians produced and mixed by Makoto Kubota. Balinese and Sundanese gamelan expertly melded together by a master producer with some Turkish and Middle Eastern influences broadening the soundscape. More mellow than most things Kubota's done but this makes great late night listening and on headphones.The visuals are of scenes, images, festivals, and people of Bali, beatifully put together.

One of Kubota's long time dreams has been to work and record with Turkish musicians which he finally achieves here. A kind of jazzy Arabic groove, as always with Kubota, cleverly produced. Features on one track the equally clever Sabah Habas Mustapha.

Third album in Kubota's fascinating 'hotel' series, and after Bali and Turkey, this time focused on Hawaii. Featuring Yuki Yamauchi and Martin Pahinui, Kubota leaves his trademark sound and innovation as always.

Compilation of Blue Asia/Makoto Kubota's three superb 'Hotel' albums: Ibah (Bali) Istanbul (Turkey) and Waimea (Hawaii).

Makoto Kubota has arranged the takes from Sandii's album into a relaxing, ambient sound.

Solo album from Sachiko Kojima, the ex-Zelda and current Amana member. Kojima sings, plays various zithers and is accompanied by Indian and African instruments in a kind of swirling blanket of traditional sounds. All very hypnotic. Includes the song Nami, written by Donto.

New Age waffle? sort of. Bach pieces played on Japanese koto (harp) with dreamy synthesizers in the background.

Chopin nocturnes, preludes, waltzes, etudes, played on the koto (harp) with synthesizers in the background. Pleasant if you are in an elevator; as long as it doesn't get stuck.

1988 release of mostly trumpet and keyboards by Miyake, with synthesized sounds, bass, guitar, and occasional sax and drums. Currently enjoying some success in France, this is an accessible and original album that has stood the test of time. Some reggae, soul and Hawaiian influences make for a diverse album.

Progressive jazz from trumpet player. Too many guitars that sound they came from a Yes album, sub standard vocals and general self indulgence dominate the better bits.

A kind of world percussion album. All the usual over used ones (African)some under used ones, (Thai) in a house, techno, tribal crossover album. 10 tracks, really very nice.

At thirty four minutes and sub-titled , New Age Solo Guitar, this doesn't sound too promising. Nearest reference point is probably Michael Hedges or William Ackerman's albums for Windham Hill, but clearly this wasn't made as pure BGM but to be listened to. Just 19 years old, Tanimoto shows some great technique, plays some interesting material, and even tells you what tunings he played in if you're a guitar aficionado.

Remix album by Osaka native Berlin resident ambient, experimental, electronica, musician and producer. Released on Commmons, includes remixes of HASYMO, Sketch Show and Sakamoto tracks.

Ryuichi Sakamoto, Makoto Kubota, Cornelius, Kahimi Karie and others are the unlikely artists to cover some of the best know Japanese 'shoka' songs. Shoka are songs devised for musical education in Japanese elementary schools, many of which were derived from western folk songs. Following a flirtation with militaristic meaning in pre-war days, now shoka are thought of as being the symbol of what is good about Japanese values and customs. 10 tracks. 1.Haruo Minami + Cornelius - Aka-tombo 2.Kirinji - Hanyu no Yado 3.Ryuichi Sakamoto + Miki Nakatani - Chiisai Aki Mitsuketra 4.Sayuri Kume - Ryoshu 5.Morio Agata - Mori no Kobito 6.Taeko Onuki - Kono Michi 7.Kiseru - Kanariya 8.Aki Yashiro - Shojoji no Tanuki-bayashi 9.Ren Takada - Aka-tombo 10.Yan Tomita (Doopees) - Yagisan Yubin 11.Kahimi Kahri + Yoshihide Otomo - Karatachi no Hana

Makoto Kubota has arranged the takes from Sandii's album into a relaxing, ambient sound.

The sound of crickets, a pounding bass gong, the occasional bird call, the sound of thunder. You can't tap your foot to it, or sing along to it, just wonder how it is that 40 minutes of this makes not just pretty good background noise, but an inspiring listen.