秋本奈緒美 Naomi Akimoto
Portrait

Wewantsounds is delighted to announce the release of Yukihiro Takahashi's debut solo album 'Saravah!'. One of the key Japanese albums of the 70s, it was released in 1978 at a key time when, following his tenure with Sadistic Mika Band, Yukihiro Takahashi had just joined the nascent line up of Yellow Magic Orchestra. A sophisticated mix of Disco Funk, synth Pop, Ambient, French Exotica and Bossa Nova, the album has the stylish feel of a night out clubbing in Paris circa 1978. It is the missing link between the City Pop scene of the late 70s and the synth sound of YMO which was about to revolutionise the world. Newly remastered by renowned engineer Mitsuo Koike, the LP features original artwork with photos by Masayoshi Sukita (David Bowie's Heroes), a 4-page insert and a new Introduction by Benjamin Barouh (Saravah Records).One of the key Japanese albums of the 70s, 'Saravah!' was released in 1978 at a key time when, following his tenure with Sadistic Mika Band, Yukihiro Takahashi had just joined Yellow Magic Orchestra. A sophisticated mix of Disco Funk, synth Pop, Ambient, French Exotica and Bossa Nova, the album has the stylish feel of a night out clubbing in Paris circa 1978. It is the missing link between the City Pop scene of the late 70s and the synth sound of YMO which was about to revolutionise the world. Newly remastered by renowned engineer Mitsuo Koike.

Active as a professional DJ in Japan since the late eighties, DJ Yoshizawa Dynamite is also a renowned remixer, compiler and producer. An avid record collector and an expert of the Wamono style, Yoshizawa published the Wamono A to Z records guide book in 2015 which instantly sold-out. The book unveiled a myriad of beautiful and rare records from a highly prolific, but still then unknown, Japanese groove scene. After many years working as a record buyer for several stores, DJ Chintam opened his own Blow Up shop in 2018 in Tokyo's Shibuya district. A member of the Dayjam Crew and a specialist of soul, funk, rare groove and disco music, Chintam is also an expert of the home-brewed Wamono grooves. He supervised and wrote the Wamono A to Z records guide book together with Yoshizawa. For this third chapter of the acclaimed Wamono series, Yoshizawa and Chintam unheart some of the best and rarest light mellow funk tunes and disco boogie bangers produced in Japan between 1978 and 1988. Put the needle on the record, turn up the volume and dig right now into the Wamono sound - the cream of the Japanese jazz, funk, soul, rare groove and disco music developed throughout the years since the end of the sixties in Japan!

Introducing "Hello!", the debut album of Naomi Kawashima, an actress celebrated for her idol-like presence. Originally released in 1982, this album showcases her versatile talent and absolutely charming persona.Side A features captivating covers of iconic tracks like Yumi Arai's "Rouge no Dengon" and Saori Minami's "Irozuku Machi," among others. Side B includes original songs, highlighted by the single "Itoshi no Mandolino," making up a total of 9 tracks. The album is masterfully produced by Eriko Shima and Akira Inoue, ensuring a delightful listening experience.

✺ Pressed on Blue Vinyl✺ First ever vinyl reissue of the 1983 Japanese City Pop Classic✺ Newly Remastered for Vinyl✺ LP Includes Huge 24’’x 24’’ Fold Out Poster✺ First of three in the Piper reissue seriesLed by guitarist/vocalist Keisuke Yamamoto, Piper was formed in Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. A move to Tokyo was followed by the release of their first single on Yupiteru Records, thanks to original guitarist Yuji Suzuki who had became an A&R man for the label. Citing British bands like Wishbone Ash and Camel as influences, Yamamoto and Piper nevertheless conjured up classic American sounds on Piper’s recordings, utilizing unusual recording techniques and new technologies like Linn drums to effortlessly blend styles of funk, soul and fusion and simultaneously evoking summer vibes, autumnal breezes, and wintery shimmer.Summer Breeze is Piper’s second album, originally released in 1984 on Yupiteru. Inspired by the sounds of Masayoshi Takanaka and Tatsuro Yamashita, as well as the concept of “BGM” (background music) championed by YMO, Summer Breeze was a conscious about face from their debut to create a new signature sound and become masters of summery resort vibes. Its smooth sounds belie the bevy of experimentation utilized on the recording, from vocoders and drum programming to recording guitars direct through the board. Even the iconic cover art, with the surfer wearing an impossibly short crop top, is deceiving in its simplicity – it was one of the most expensive jackets produced by the label at the time, due to its use of special spot colors and custom handlettering. The original album featured the marketing copy “Good Weather! Good Sounds!” which perfectly encapsulates the sounds contained on the album.Summer Breeze de Piper

Second LP of the founding member of french electronic duo Il Est Vilaine : synth-pop, balearic, featuring Nico Motte from Antinote on synthetizersProducers like Simon Says are rare these days. Imagine a kid born in the first parisian rave era, who played guitar during the week, the head in the sky with diamonds and raving around Paris on saturday night. Leather boots and Techno, with attitude. These school of hard knocks was helpful for Simon : more than twenty years after the beginning of his electronic journey, he's still able to play an edgy techno-set or some tunes to make the girls dance on the floor. Knives or flowers, heavy rhythms and tropical kisses... Between groovy oddballs records released on Dialect Recordings and his Il Est Vilaine side-project duo, Simon can talk to everyone.His first album, " Epoca Blu ", 10 tracks as introspective as much solar, sing in different languages by several voices (Manthos Kaloumenos who recite the words of a famous greek poet on " Taxidi ", Sofia Fanego on " Une Nuit ", Natalia Modenova who say a Ukrainian text from Myhailo Kotsiubynsky on " Intermezzo " or his partner from Il Est Vilaine on " Djinn Tonic ") present a consistent project with a positive melancholy and bittersweet vision of love.The intimate's project assembled in a studio will not be presented in live. Music will be the link between the audience and the artist.