Japan Tea Lounge Dub

On we go thru time and the 'happy' Japanese music landscape, there's no YMO involvement here, but there's weeds driving Shoukichi Kina's anger of japanese hypocrasy which he has managed to bring to fruitition in his acclaimed 'rootsy' music . The guys from Audio Active sure make no bones about what rocks their world, Adrian Sherwood guides them thru the clouds of smoke. Meanwhile the Boom Boom Satelittes really burst on the scene with their first mini album topped up with a remix disk, no longer available and never released in Japan , 7 ignitions is a confident start of their succesfull music career. Pizzicato 5 ended as Pizzicato 2 but in the meantime they released a lot of music mostly unavailable in the rest of the world, this one however, with the nicely twisted title Happy End of the World did get a worldwide release and rightly so. I think Cornelius who in his Flipper days shared credit for starting up the Shibuya-kei scene together with the Pizzicato's clearly found his own way into musical hearts of the west.

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Shoukichi Kina - Peppermint Tea House (94)
Audio Active - Happy Happer (95 )
Pizzicato 5 - Happy End Of The World (97)
Cornelius - Fantasma / FM (97)
Boom Boom Satellites - 7 Ignitions (98)

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Shoukichi Kina - Peppermint Tea House  (94 flac 283mb)

The Pacific archipelago properly known as the Ryukyu Islands, of which Okinawa is one, have been subjected to waves of cultural influence but the people's culture is neither Japanese nor Chinese. Occupied by the Japanese until some of the bloodiest fighting of WWII in April--June '45, the islands then weathered American occupation until '69, and Okinawa is still a major military base for US forces.

For pure charisma, no other Okinawan musician, past or present can match Shokichi Kina. Over a thirty year career Kina has proven he's capable of writing not just some of Okinawa and Japan's most memorable music, but songs that can stand up to anything produced anywhere, in any genre, in the world.

Kina formed Champloose or Champluse '66 (meaning 'mixture') which melded traditional and foreign influences, he was in jail '72--4 for servicing a popular recreational activity among US servicemen on the local bases, marijuana. Champloose reunited ' 76, making a live debut album '77 for Philips. Blood Line ' 80 was a breakthrough, albeit in a limited by distribution way. The album was recorded in Hawaii, it brought Ry Cooder as a guest musician as well as Makoto Kubota, Haruomi Hosono and an uncredited Sandii to boost the group's sound. Matsuri and celebration live followed, Kina's 5th album Nirai Kanai and Earth Spirit 91 are all part of this best of Peppermint Tea House album. Kina's style ranges from 'okinawan blues , reggae to jazz and Ainu melodies, i ve included a nice piece on him by Ry Cooder.

His career however is also littered with long periods of musical inactivity, during which time his albums have consisted of mostly re-recordings and re-mixes of older material. Indeed he seems to have been in such a slump the latter half of the 90s, his recent albums not even coming close to the ones he released at the start of it. Kina has survived despite himself, his music suffering at the expense of his energies, being channeled elsewhere into various causes.



01 - Jing Jing (Firefly)
02 - Hana No Kajimaya (Flower Windmill)
03 - Celebration
04 - Mimichiri Bozu - Danju Kariyushi (Ear Cutting Samurai Monks - What a Wonderful Day)
05 - Don-Don Bushi (Don-Don Song)
06 - Zorba De Buddah
07 - Basha-gua Suncha (The Cart Puller)
08 - Crazy Kacharsee
09 - Subete No Hito No Kokoro Ni Hanna O (Flowers for Your Heart)
10 - Haisai Ojisan (Hey Man!)
11 - Eternally Ecstasy
12 - Iyunu-Pri
13 - I-Yah Hoy!
14 - Extra track!

Shoukichi Kina @ Base
Shoukichi Kina @ Amazon

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Audio Active - Happy Happer  (95 * 377mb )

Tokyo-based Audio Active, led by shinehead Masa, got together through a mutual appreciation of reggae. These guys, however, got further than playing Bob Marley covers, they were drawn towards dub and roots reggae, and later sometimes fusing it with hard techno beats and screaming guitars .Vocalist Masa and keyboardist / programmer 2DD, formed Audio Active with drummer Shigemoto Nanao and bassist Takeshi Akimoto in 1991, naming themselves after an album by Jamaican reggae star Dennis Bovell. Guitarist Kasai joined later after the departure of Akimoto from the collective.

Their big break came when Adrian Sherwood took the band under his wing in the 1992-3, producing some of their earliest recordings and releasing them in Britain via On-U Sound their first album "Tokyo Space Cowboys", with Bim Sherman guesting on the single "Free The Marijuana" .
Using a mix of programming and live instrumentation Audio Active create a dense, dub-inspired world of sound. References to outer space and time travel-interests fostered by sci-fi films and animated TV shows like Taimu Bokan abound in their English lyrics. But it's their love of the 'erb that is impossible to ignore and sets them apart on the Japanese music scene, where controversy is anathema.
In 95 Audio Active released Happy Happer (on u 77) again produced by Adrian Sherwood, in 96 with Laraaji they released "The Way Out Is The Way In" , "Apollo Choco" , "Return of the Red I" (99) , "Bong" (00) , "Spaced Dolls" (01) remixalbums and as far as i know their thusfar latest "Stoned Age" was released fall 04.



01 - Audio Active's Adventure In Time & Space (2:41)
02 - Happy Shopper (voc. Little Axe) (5:31)
03 - Mammoth Galactica (6:40)
04 - 24 Hours Explorations (5:47)
05 - Electric Bombardment (5:17)
06 - Hot Water (4:17)
07 - Jerked + Shocked (3:52)
08 - Frog In The Well (5:06)
09 - Dub Out Of The Well (3:26)
10 - Wah Wah Zoo Mars (5:19)
11 - Dub In An Abyss (4:33)
12 - The Adventure Is Still Going On (Adventure In Time & Space Pt.2) (3:51)

Audio Active @ Base
Audio Active @ Amazon

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Cornelius - Fantasma  (97 flac 327mb)

Cornelius (born Keigo Oyamada January 27, 1969 in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese recording artist and producer. Oyamada's first claim to fame was as a member of the pop duo, Flipper's Guitar, one of the key groups of the Tokyo Shibuya-kei scene. Following the disbandment of Flipper's Guitar in 1991, Oyamada donned the "Cornelius" moniker and embarked on a successful solo career. Release first solo album, “First Question Award” (94) followed by a remix album “96/69 “Cornelius Wakusei Kengaku”. In 98 he got his first international release with Fantasma, after the succesful release in Japan the previous year.

Fall 98, the remix album FM/CM came about, released in 99 in which year he would be seen at Glastonbury and Roskilde to name some. Being a true multimedia artist he released a movie "Eus" and another book “Cornelius Wakusei Kengaku”., more remix work and all that not withstanding in 2001 he released "Point" in Japan , a year later the rest of the world got to hear this masterpiece. In 2003 his second remix album “CM2”, “PM” a contest Pointmix added as bonus cd to the DVD “Five Point One” . In 2004 he got to join, tour with several former YMO member projects ( Human Audio Sponge (Sakamoto) and Sketch Show) In 2005 he worked on a second videoworks project this time for the opening of 21st Century Art Museum in Kanazawa. Last Fall Cornelius released "Sensous" his latest album, listen in at Cornelius @ MySpace

The music of Cornelius could be described as experimental and exploratory, and often incorporates dissonant elements alongside more familiar harmonically "pleasing" sounds. This tension, plus his practice of bringing in sounds and samples from mass culture, pure electronic tones, and sounds from nature ( Point) lead him to being sometimes categorized as an "acquired taste" hmmmm



01 - Mic Check (3:01)
02 - The Micro Disneycal World Tour (3:37)
03 - New Music Machine (3:52)
04 - Clash (5:37)
05 - Count Five Or Six (3:01)
06 - Magoo Opening (2:08)
07 - Star Fruits Surf Rider (5:47)
08 - Chapter 8 - Seashore And Horizon (3:25)
09 - Free Fall (4:06)
10 - 2010 (2:03)
11 - God Only Knows (7:39)
12 - Thank You For The Music (4:53)
13 - Fantasma (0:55)

Cornelius @ MySpace
Cornelius @ Base
Cornelius @ Amazon

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Pizzicato 5 - Happy End Of The World  (97 flac 418mb)

Pizzicato 5 was formed in 1984 by Konishi and fellow founding bandmates Keitarō Takanami, Akira Kamonomiya, Mamiko Sasaki, and Shigeo Miyata. Miyata left the group almost immediately but the four remaining members kept the name Pizzicato Five. in 1985 their first single, a 12-inch called "Audrey Hepburn Complex" landed them a record deal with Sony, 2 years later their first album, Couples, was released it flopped. Sony presured to find a new lead singer. Kamonomiya and Sasaki quit, Takao Tajima came and sang on their second album , Belissima! (1988.) Their next 2 albums,1989's On Her Majesty's Request and 1990's Soft Landing On The Moon, didnt reach the expectations, exit Sony

In 1991, Pizzicato Five signed with Triad Records. Takao Tajima left and Maki Nomiya joined as the third lead vocalist.
Following 3 EPs showcasing Nomiya's vocals, Pizzicato Five released This Year's Girl. Inspired by the advent of sampling , the group put together a sound which would help start the burgeoning Shibuya-kei scene. 1992 saw a change in direction as the clubby Sweet Pizzicato Five was released. The single Sweey Soul revue became a big hit on the back of an cosmetics advertising campaign. Pizzicato Five released the album Bossa Nova 2001, produced by fellow Shibuya-scenester Cornelius

Their first international release was a compilation from their previous work, "Made in the USA" (not) released in 94.Shortly before the release of the next album Overdose in the same year, Keitarō Takanami quit the band, leaving Konishi and Nomiya as the only remaining members. Another compilation, The Sound of Music was released in October 1995, this time featuring various tracks from the Maki-era albums.

In 1997 the band signed with a new label, Readymade Records, Tokyo, and released the commercially successful album Happy End of the World - the only album to appear unchanged in both Japan and the rest of the world. Released at the peak of Tokyo’s so-called Shibuya-kei scene the album is filled to the brim with the ultra cute, ultra stylish and ultra smooth vibe with a little tongue-in-cheek mixed in that makes the world created by this music so inviting for American hipsters and hipster wannabes. It also doesn’t hurt that the album is expertly crafted, with wide-ranging musical influences layered on top of some very infectious beats.

Pizzicato released The International Playboy & Playgirl Record in Japan in 98, a year later released as "Playboy & Playgirl".in the rest of the world with a slightly different track-listing 2001 saw the Japanese release of the album Çà et là du Japon and the announcement that the band was to break up, followed by a series of live events featuring guest performances by old members and two further "Big Hits and Jet Lags" albums - Pizzicato Five R.I.P. (1998-2001) and Singles (1993-2001).



01 - World Is Spinning At 45 RPM (4:40)
02 - The Earth Goes Around (2:55)
03 - Trailer Music (1:49)
04 - It’s A Beautiful Day (4:25)
05 - Love’s Prelude (2:17)
06 - Love’s Theme (4:16)
07 - My Baby Portable Player Sound (5:04)
08 - Mon Amour Tokyo (4:55)
09 - Collision And Improvisation (4:35)
10 - Porno 3003 (9:51)
.........I. Music For Sofa
.........II. Galaxy One
.........III. It’s All Too Beautiful...
11 - Arigatô, We Love You (5:14)
12 - Ma Vie, L’été De Vie (5:03)
13 - Happy Ending (4:52)

Pizzicato 5 @ Amazon

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Boom Boom Satellites - 7 Ignitions  (98 flac  503mb)

Integrating electronica, rock, and jazz elements, Boom Boom Satellites are one of Japan's most experimental and acclaimed bands. Michiyuki Kawashima (vocals, guitar, lyricist) and Masayuki Nakano (bass, drums, DJ) formed Boom Boom Satellites while attending college in Tokyo, taking their name from a Sigue Sigue Sputnik song. With exciting and challenging albums, and live shows. While their music can be mostly coined as big beat or nu skool breaks, and they are heavily influenced by jazz, they are famous for using a lot of electric guitars and the final product often has a strong rock or punk flavor. Their first single release in Europe triggered rave reviews from magazines such as Melody Maker who compared their debut impact to the Chemical Brothers and Prodigy. In 1998 they released 7 ignitions on the belgian dance label RS, they travelled across Europe performing at 6 major rock festivals and following a European tour with Underworld they triumphantly returned to Japan to release their first official full album ‘OUTLOUD’ in October of the same year.

They then moved their base of live performance to the US and joined Moby in a 3 month tour around the states and subsequently receive remix requests from many artists such as Garbage and Josh Wink.This success was followed with the energetic releases of albums ‘UMBRA’ and ‘PHOTON’.

Boom Boom Satellites who worked on the soundtrack for the main scene from the film ‘Yamakashi’ directed by Luc Besson. Their unique live performances are renowned for the overwhelming energy and spiritual space they create and taking part on the soundtrack of the much talked about anime film ‘Appleseed’ written by Masamune Shiro has taken them to new heights in 2004.
In 2005 ‘FULL OF ELEVATING PLEASURES’ was released with a gospel rock ‘n roll , unveiling a new chapter in the history of Boom Boom Satellites. Their latest "On" was released last year .



01 - 4 A Moment Of Silence
02 - Joyride
03 - The Countless Past To Be Hidden (Original)
04 - Bike Ride To The Moon
05 - Low Blow
06 - The Wonderful Wizard Of Dub
07 - Dub Me Crazy

08 - 4 A Moment Of Silence (Trapezoid mix - Meat Beat Manifesto)
09 - Dub Me Crazy Ver. 02 (Optical Remix)
10 - Dub Me Crazy Ver. 02 (Depth Charge Remix)
11 - The Wonderful Wizard Of Dub (Dons Of Quixote Remix)

Boom Boom Satellites @ Base
Boom Boom Satellites @ Amazon

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* All downloads are in * ogg-7 (224k) or ^ ogg-9(320k), artwork is included , if in need get the nifty ogg encoder/decoder here !