Lawson Entertainment Japan Vinilo y CD

Review: Boo is a solo Japanese boogie vocalist who was largely active in the noughties; his most eminent album 'Post Soulman' was released in two volumes, and did thrilling justice to Boo's soulful vocals and faux-Philadelphia street beatstyle. Now rereleased as a single (originally one of the tracks from the album), 'BOOGIE DRIVE 678' gets a good look back on. With a busy mix and lyrics reflecting on the butterflies one feels when encountering someone who makes us feel "high inside", this reissue also comes with the venerable steel pan mix on the B.

Review: Acclaimed DJ, singer, remixer and songwriter DJ KAWASAKI is a beat maker who does it all from broken beat and nu jazz to hip hop and deep house. Bridge Into The Future: Recreated Tracks finds him cooking up his own newly constructed takes on a range of classic source tunes. It makes for a broad and brilliant collection. 'I'm So On Your Mind' (feat Rasiyah - DJ Kawasaki Recreated Disco mix) is a gloriously sunny sound with louche breakbeats at its core, and the Diana Ross classic 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' (feat N'Dea Davenport - DJ Kawasaki Recreated Latin Disco mix) becomes a salsa tinged and gloriously steamy anthem.

Review: DJ Ryow aka Smooth Current is a Japanese DJ and producer known for his hip-hop and r&b remixes. 'Re:Strain Of Stairs', as the title suggests, reinterprets the song 'Strain Of Stairs' by Japanese rock band The Pillows on the A-side, bringing a loose-hipped drum workout to the ordeal. On the B, meanwhile, Ryow goes all out on a new original featuring Kim Hill, 'Ain't Even Like Me', a song which first debuted online a least four years ago - it's an impressively-made production in contemporary r&b, with exquisite harmonies from Hill.

Review: Deep house on a 7" is a rather rather thing but this 45rpm certainly is worth your while. It is the first we have heard from Jazztronik, all producer and keysman Ryota Nozaki, since his Universal Language album last year. He has been at this now for 24 years and brings all that know how to these two jams. 'Evoke' is a lively broken beat workout with squelchy bass and improvised jazz keys that are restless and energizing with rich leads. 'Beat Hopper' (The 3rd Session) appears on the flip with more innovative keys and party-pumping broken beats. A tasteful duo for sure.

Review: To celebrate 30 years since their band first formed in 1991, Japan's pioneering Mondo Grosso has assembled a greatest hits collection that comes across two compilations, each on four sides of vinyl. Included are many of the biggest moments as well as new remixes and new mixes of key tunes, with a fresh remaster by the bands main man Shinichi Osawa himself. He was responsible for deciding which of the band's many tracks made the cut too so you can be sure it is as authentic as they come.

Review: Japan's pioneering Mondo Grosso has assembled a collection of all this greatest hits for this special new two part collection. It takes in some new remixes, new mixes and re-edits and the whole thing has been newly remastered by Shinichi Osawa himself. Also included is a Japanese version of 'Everything Needs Love' with freshly record vocals. This is big room, soulful house music with plenty of Latin and jazz influences and some wild vocals. This tells the story of the last 30 years of this fine band and reminds us just what made them so popular.

Review: The collection titled 'exQuisxx' is a creation of POiSON GiRL FRiEND's own music, and is comprised of pieces from three different works: 'Shyness,' 'Mr. Polyglot Remix,' and 'Love Me,' all released by Nippon Columbia between 1993 and 1994. The title 'exQuisxx'is a coined term that merges the French word "exquis", signifying something delightful and lovely, with 'xx' denoting a kiss. That in mind, we hear a reissued incarnation of the artist's best works here, which have resurfaced after a newfound popularity sparked by her recent acknowledgement by British singer-songwriter Arlo Parks. Ambient trip-hop; French pop; wavering glitch and electro experiments. Not one to be missed at all.