Somewhere Between: Mutant Pop, Electronic Minimalism & Shadow Sounds of Japan 1980–1988, by Various Artists (Light In The Attic, 2021)
What, another 2LP compilation? Yup. Love ’em. They’re like the Whitman’s Samplers of music. This one is a companion piece to previous Japan Archival Series comps – 2019’s Grammy-nominated Kankyō Ongaku: Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980-1990 and its pair of Pacific Breeze comps focused on Japanese City Pop, AOR & boogie. The music here is not quite as ethereal as the former, but dreamier than the latter, with off-kilter rhythms and fuzzy electronics lending themselves to the proceedings.
Recommended for the more adventurous amongst you, along with the other Japan Archival Series comps LITA has issued (especially the first, 2017’s Even A Tree Can Shed Tears: Japanese Folk & Rock 1969-1973). All five are available direct from LITA’s website – Somewhere Between has additional pressings on clear or black vinyl coming in August – or at your better indie record stores. There is an “indie store only” variant of this on “Purple Cornetto” vinyl you might stumble upon.
In the meantime, you can sample eight of the album’s 14 tracks on Tidal below. Enjoy!
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