First album for five years from the Kyoto based band, playing their own brand of music with elements of house, afro, ambient, rock, jazz and other styles. One of the most popular bands on the Japanese festiival circuit.

Nabowa are a jam band from Kyoto. Featuring guitar, violin, djembe and bass, they have won a lot of fans for their improvisational sets blending dub, jazz, rock and other sounds.

First release from the improv/latin/jazz/dub/electronica outfit on Kyoto's excellent Japonica label, specialising in jam band and improv. muisc. Have been played by Giles Peterson on his BBC Radio 1 show. 1. Intro 2. Flower 3. I Want You 4. Just After The Rain 5. Calypso On-seng 6. Espsp 7. 15 Count Dub 8. Flying Pan 9. Tempo Happy 10. Before Dawn 11. Sunrise

55 minute performance recorded in Norway in 2008 of Michiyo Yagi (koto), Peter Brotzmann (alto, tenor saxophones,tarogato) and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums). Improvised with moods ranging from plaintive to wild.

Second album from post rock/experimental/ electronic quartet based in Tokyo. Computers, guitars, satron (handmade noise machine) plus flute, keyboards and husky voiced singer. 12 tracks including Blue, Aki:ya:on, Love Letter, Sleeping Beauty, North Pole and Rocca.

Extraordinary collaboration between American guitarist Henry Kaiser and Kiku Day a shakuhachi player from Copenhagen of Japanese, Irish, Russian and American ancestry. Day plays the ji-nashi (natural bore) shakuhachi and studied under Atsuya Okuda in Japan, known for his improvisational playing of traditional tunes. This has put her in good stead to improvise with Henry Kaiser on an album that explores the clash of serene, meditative zen and the violent recklessness of kaiju (strange beast) represented by Godzilla and other strange creatures. 12 tracks. 1. Gojira Examines a Monk in Meditation 2. Anguiras Pacifies the Mind 3. Fairy Mothra's Preaching Sign 4. Gyaos Washes the Bowl 5. Dagora Calls His Own Master 6. Varan's Wheel 7. Gamera's Dog 8. This Mind is Not Pigmon 9. Ultraman Investigates 10. Jiger Twirls a Flower 11. A Philosopher Asks King Ghidorah 12. Tripping Over the Oxygen Destroyer.

Yann Tomita is known as the first professional steel drum player in Japan and as a pioneering electronic 'exotica' artist who organized the 'Audio Science Labo'. He has produced / arranged / remixed / composed for many top Japanese groups including Bo Gumbos, Boredoms, The Boom, Geisha Girls, Seiko Ito, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Kan Takagi, and also Martin Denny. While he has played steel drums for Ryuichi Sakamoto, Pizzicato Five, Snakeman Show, Ippudo, Jagatara, Fair Child, Salon Music and Rankin Taxi. The CD on this collection is 'Yann Tomita Works Compilation' while the DVD is a live show 'Yann Tomita, Doopees & Naives at Kamakura Myohonji' from 2006. CD is of 11 tracks including Forever Young - Naivess, C-Ya! - Yann Tomita, I'm in the rain - Kahimi Karie, C-Ya! - Memories of Tape Recorder - Yann Tomita, See Ya! #1 - Dr. Yann, Forever Yann - Yann Tomita. The DVD features Yann Tomita (seree modular system), Yumiko Ono (violin), Seiko Ito (tambura & voice), Kan Takagi (swarsangam & voice)

From the SWC label (Sound Wave Construction) comes a compilation album of Japanese electronic music. SWC is considered one of Japan's leading underground labels, and this album features some of their and other leading artists, both cutting edge and on the more pop and catchy side. Artists include Altz, De De Mouse, Traks Boys, Pepe California, Psychogem aka DJ Hiroaki, Harley & Quin, Yogurt & Koyasu Production, Cherryboy Function, Cos/Mes, Latin Quarter.

Fascinating CD that mixes sounds from the now defunct tram service that operated in Kita-Kyushu with incedental music. Includes the entertaining commentary of the driver, street sounds, taiko plus the theme tune, Chin Chin Goto Goto.

Isao Tomita (born 1932 in Tokyo) is one of Japan's and the world's greatest innovators and creators of electronic and synthesizer music, especially on the Moog synthesizer. Claire de Lune (as it was originally titled) later called Snowflakes are Dancing was his first album released in 1974, and is of his interpretations of Debussy's late-nineteenth century 'impressionist' tone poems and piano studies. Tomita and this album was nominated for four Grammy awards (unprecedented for a Japanese artist) and won a NARM award for best classical record. This is a 2007 newly re-released 'regular' (original) version of the album. 1. Snowflakes are Dancing (Children's Corner No. 4) 2. Reverie 3. Gardens in the Rain (Estampes No. 3) 4. Clair de Lune (Suite Bergamasque No. 3) 5. Arabesque No. 1 6.The Engulfed Cathedral (Preludes Book 1 No. 10) 7. Passepied (Suite Bergamasque No. 4) 8.The Girl with the Flaxen Hair (Preludes Book 1 No. 8) 9. Golliwog's Cakewalk (Children's Corner No. 6) 10. Footprints in the Snow (Preludes Book 1 No. 6)

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.

First soundtrack composed by Rei Harakami, also featuring the excellent group Qururli.

Yanokami is the duo of Akiko Yano and Rei Harakami. In 2007 they released the critically acclaimed album 'Yanokami' and this is the English language version. Akiko Yano's distinctive voice and electronic accompaniment. 11 tracks 1. Montauk 2. David-English version 3. Season of the End 4. Big Love 5. Too Good to Be True - English Version 6. You Showed Me 7. La La Means I Love You 8. Night Train Home - Yanokami Version 9. Full Bloom 10. Bara no Hana (Live Version) 11. Sayonara

Yanokami (Akiko Yano and Rei Harakami) first met in 2003, first played together in 2004 and started recording together the following year. This though is their first album as Yanokami. In case you don't know, Akiko Yano has been a leading songwriter/pianist/singer for over 30 years, as a solo musician, as a collaborator with Yellow Magic Orchestra and a host of western musicians from Pat Metheny to Thomas Dolby. Rei Harakami is an electronic musician, who has worked with UA, Coldcut and many others. Most of the 10 songs on this album were written and sung by Yano, with Harakami adding an electronic orchestration.

Excellent cyberspace collaboration album between Ryuichi Sakamoto (piano/laptop) and Christian Fennesz (guitar/laptop). Recorded between 2004-2006 through sound files sent between New York and Vienna they came together for the mix in New York. Blend of electronic improvisation with Satie like piano from Sakamoto. 11 tracks, challenging and innovative.

Brilliant new album featuring Ikue Asazaki, veteran traditional singer from Amami, and sitar player Daikichi Yoshida, a veteran of Japan's alternative music scene. Asazaki has one of those immediately arresting voices, that drips with character but often has been set against a new age accompaniment that hasn't always done her justice. Yoshida is probably best known for playing with improv band Psycho Baba, but has played with a host of other musicians including Alaya Vijana (Fuji Rock festival 2006) Keiji Haino, sax player Kazutoki Umezu and Sitar Tah! and has written songs for female singer UA. On this suprising album, Amami celebration songs meets Indian, Indonesian gamelan, Korean and other Asian elements in a decidely experimental, boisterous manner. Other musicians include Akira Sotoyama (drums), Arunangshu Chaudhury (tabla) U-zhaan (tabla) Urotsute Noyako (gamelan) Fuyuki Yamakawa (hoomi-throat singing, igil) Maya (harmonium) Indora (Korean pansori) and Tonchi (steel pan drums). Wild and rather wonderful.

File under it says 'Alternative Post Jazz Trancerock Psychedelic Progressive Hardcore'. As you may have guessed unclassifiable music featuring five extraordinary musicians from some of Japan's most innovative groups from the underground. Those musicians are Tatsuya Yoshida drummer from Ruins, Yuji Katsui, violin player from Rovo, Mitsuru Nasuno, bass from Schwarz (among others) , guitarist Natsuki Kido from many groups and projects and Seichi Yamamoto, guitarist with the Boredoms among many others. Add free improv, dub, Krautrock to those genres and you end up with a spacey, energizing, primal and rather wonderful album.

Recorded at the famous jazz venues in Tokyo, Pit Inn, Shinjuku, and Buddy in Ekota. Hard edged avant garde jazz mix of sax, bass, drums and organ

A two track album of solo drumming might have a hard time keeping the listener's attention. And it does in places, superficially, but listened to closely the sounds are constantly shifting and moving in a fascinating direction.

Ultra minimalist, ostensibly a duet of trombone and guitar over 70 minutes on CD 1, followed by outdoor noises and occasional doodling on CD 2. Japanese / Austrian collaboration recorded in Tokyo and Vienna.

Japan's electronic music genius, Otomo (turntables, guitar) collaborates with Korean percussion player Park Je Chun and pianist Mi Yeon, together with a loose community of other musicians including Japanese shamisen player Yumiko Tanaka. Improvisational pieces featuring six very different musicians, that is constantly absorbing and challenging. Recorded in Seoul with additional recording and overdubbing in Tokyo. Comes with English liner notes.

Recorded live at Off Site Yoyogi, Tokyo, at various times between December 2001 and May 2002. Nakamaru plays no-input mixing board, with host of other musicians on percussion, acoustic guitar, cello, turntables, cassette recorders and others. Vol 1. featured shorter pieces, this time Nakamura explains he wanted to present longer pieces. Improvisational, experimental, intriguing.

From the leader of Shibusashirazu Orchestra. Music originally composed for the theatre, recorded between 1989 and 1996. Swirling keyboards, synthesizers, effects and guitars in original concoction, quite unclassifiable. Interesting, unique and recommended.

Rei Harakami plays a blend of techno, jazz and fusion. Since his first album for Sublime Records in 1998 he has worked as a producer with a variety of artists such as Akiko Yano, UA and Quruli. With elements of jazz-fusion and intricate breakbeats, this album pushes the borders of techno with delicate melodies and innovative production.

Rei Harakami is a pioneer of the Japanese techno and electronic scene. He has been widening his activities in recent years by producing UA, remixing Qururi and collaborating with Akiko Yano. Ten tracks including one that was covered by Haruomi Hosono.

Re-release of Rei Harakami's first album, originally released in 1998 and long unavailable. The re-release has an extra track to add to the eleven of the original.

Re-release of techno/electronic pioneer Rei Harakami's second album, originally released in 1999 that has unavailable for many years.This album has got a great reputation with many artists in Japan and overseas, and has long been a sought after album. The new version has the nine original tracks plus three unreleased ones.

Goth Trad has made a name for himself in Japan and overseas for his inventive playing of samplers, keyboards and self-made instruments. Producing industrial sounds supported by techno, hip hop, modern classical and noise, GOTH-TRAD has gained an enviable reputation from not only music people but also from dancers or fashion show producers. First album.

Goth Trad has become known for his performances based around improvisation, and performed at Japan's biggest outdoor techno music event "Metamorphose" and at "Batofar" in France. Brilliant second album is of hard hitting industrial experimental electronic music.

Fantastic book/magazine and CD from Improvised Music from Japan. 7 track CD features Toshimaru Nakamura, Haco, Tetuzi Akiyama, Taku Unami, Masahiko Okura, Radu Malfatti, Taku Sugimoto and others. The English / Japanese magazine includes interviews with Ami Yoshida, Toshimaru Nakamura, Sachiko M, Phew, Tetsu Saitoh and Nobuyoshi Ino, Daisuke Fuwa (Shibusashirazu) CD reviews written by Otomo Yoshihide, an article on the History of Japanese Free Jazz and much more besides.Great value and a starting point to learn more about this fascinating music scene in Japan.

55 minute performance recorded in Norway in 2008 of Michiyo Yagi (koto), Peter Brotzmann (alto, tenor saxophones,tarogato) and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums). Improvised with moods ranging from plaintive to wild.