Review: Renowned DJ and selector MURO is a Jedi-level compiler and this new collection of his delves into Victor's extensive archives to spotlight a world of Japanese jazz, fusion and AOR. It take sin plenty of internationally known names like Yasuko Agawa on the sunset sounds of 'L.A. Night', Sadistics who offers the more psyched out guitar leans of 'On the Seashore', Yuji Ohno's neo-Balaeric bliss-out 'The Dawn of Seychells' and Hiroshi Fukumura's soul soothing Ry Ayres-style melodies on 'White Clouds.' These are luxurious sounds and timeless tracks with MURO's signature funky perspective making this a brillaint choice for brighter, warmer days.
Li Li Hua & Yan Hua - "A Thousand Birds Facing The Phoenix" (3:12)
Zhou Xuan - "Age Of Bloom" (2:50)
Bai Guang - "Waiting For Your Return" (3:30)
Wu Yingyin - "The Moonlight Sends My Lovesickness Across A Thousand Miles" (2:21)
Wang Renmei - "Song Of The Fishermen" (2:44)
Yao Lee & Yao Min - "Congratulations, Congratulations" (2:23)
Bai Hong - "Suzhou Nocturne" (3:11)
Zhou Xuan & Han Langen - "Mahjong Classic" (2:35)
Yao Lee - "Lovesick Tears" (3:05)
Gong Qiuxia - "The Girl By The Autumn Water" (2:40)
Yuan Meiyun - "The Most Beautiful Boy" (2:38)
Zhou Xuan & Yan Hua - "New Life Of Love" (3:03)
Yao Lee & Yao Min - "Oh Susan" (3:15)
Du Jie - "Chinese New Year Song" (3:32)
Zhang Jing, Zhou Xuan & Li Mingjian - "Bells" (3:00)
Qu Yunyun - "Simple Life" (2:48)
Liu Qi - "Tired Of Dancing" (2:59)
Bai Guang - "Expectation" (3:09)
Review: We bloody love the Death Is Not The End label. It's the sort of outlet that vinyl lovers fawn over because it only deals in fascinating sounds from lesser-known musical worlds. Enter this latest project: Shidaiqu, meaning "songs of the era," emerged in 1920s Shanghai as a fusion of Western pop, jazz, blues and Hollywood soundtracks with traditional Chinese elements. This hybrid genre shaped a golden age of Chinese popular music and film during the pre-Communist interwar period. This record anthologises shidaiqu's evolution, from Li Jinhui's pioneering 1927 song 'Drizzle' sung by his daughter Li Minghui to polished 1930s-40s works by the Seven Great Singing Stars, including Zhou Xuan and Bai Guang. A wonderful trip into the unknown.
Klaus Back & Tini Beier - "Submerged Cultures" (2:38)
Silvia Sommer - "Tinguely" (1:58)
Review: Zyklus shows his compiler's class and deep knowledge here as he dives into the world of library and archive music with a distinctive edge. These sounds all come from the Arcadai vaults and take in some magnificently obscure and intriguing 1980's electronica. All the tracks are short sketches but are packed with evocative imagery, raw machine energy and gnarly basslines. There are also eerie ambient pieces, heavy industrial percussion and are playful radiophonics that make for a unique listen and will help you colour your sets and radio shows with great little vignettes.
Review: Marc Mac's Def Radio marks the return of the Visioneers project and another superb fusion of live instrumentation with hip-hop's signature swing. True to Visioneers' style, the album reimagines classics or crafts new songs and often rebuilds them around central samples. Unlike the rigid swing of sample placement, Def Radio boasts grooves that feel naturally drummed in which brings a nice organic touch. Lead track 'The Look of Love' shines with its minimalist three-note motif and relaxed rhythm while standout tracks like 'Layin' Low, Gettin' High' and 'Cuban Candy Sticks' further elevate this collection which is a soulful exploration of the dual live and sampled essence of hip-hop.
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