Piper
Lovers Logic

YUMA HARA, a rare talent who combines the DNA of Quincy Jones, Roy Ayers, and others in the "jazz x soul x funk" style with the fresh sense of a 20-something and outstanding performance skills, is now releasing his second album in analog format! This is a masterpiece of true multi-talents who not only composes, arranges, produces, but also plays most of the instruments by himself!

✺ 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

Happy to see the 'Doing It In Lagos' compilation from 2016 on Soundway being repressed. It's one of the few comps out there that put together so many amazing boogie tracks hailing from Nigeria. Nowadays it's really tough to find good condition copies of the original records, and if you do it will cost you a lot of cash too. This 3 LP with 7 inch bonus takes ((arguably) the standout tracks from the LP's and to create this 20 track opus. It's safe to say that it has a great bang for buck ratio if you like that infectious boogie sound infused with catchy synths, bumpin' basslines and often killer drumcomputer programming.If you are new to these sounds it's a perfect intro into the works by these very talented musicians that had a high output during the end of 70's and 80's, we encourage you to dive deeper into material from the hands of for example Jake Sollo, Dizzy K. Falola, Tony Okoroji, Odion Iruoje, Nkono Teles. You will find many more names along the way..Compliments for Uchenna Ikonne who co-compiled this and accompanied the release with liner notes.

✺ Limited edition.✺ Originally released in 1978.✺ Pressed on black vinyl.✺ Newly remastered.The Flying Mimi Band, fronted by Izumi Kobayashi, has gained renewed recognition in the city pop scene in recent years, along with acclaim for her later collaborations with Masayoshi Takanashi and the music for the anime "Urusei Yatsura." This LP reissue features the band's funky and groovy second and final album, originally released in October 1978.