Hitomi "Penny" Tohyama
SEXY ROBOT edit & backing tracks EP

Wewantsounds is delighted to announce the release of "TOUCH," a selection of sought-after tracks produced by Yuji Ohno, one of the most revered producers and arrangers on the Nippon music scene. His blend of Jazz, Space Funk and Disco have long been highly sought-after by DJs around the world and we've been given unique access to the Nippon Columbia vaults and to Mr. Ohno himself to come with a versatile selection from his 70s body of work, all bearing his uniquely recognisable sound. The set includes works with singers Nanako Sato, Hatsumi Shibata and Ken Tanaka alongside tracks from his cult anime soundtracks for "Lupin III" and "Captain Future." Approved by Yuji Ohno himself, "Touch" was remastered in Tokyo by Nippon Columbia and features liner notes by Nick Luscombe in conversation with the maestro and artwork by Optigram's Manuel Sepulveda.Born in Atami in 1941, Yuji Ohno started learning the piano at a young age and formed his own band during his teenage years, getting into Jazz in the process. After high school, he entered the prestigious Keio University in Tokyo and played in the revered university big band alongside two other pianists, Masahiko Sato and Hirosama Suzuki, who would have an illustrious career in their own right. After University, Ohno became a professional musician and started playing with the new wave of Japanese Jazz musicians forming his own trio and recording with the likes of Hideo Shiraki, Terumasa Hino and Masahiko Togashi from 1967 onwards.At the turn of the 60s, Ohno started to veer away from the Jazz scene as he realised, as told to Nick Luscombe that "the jazz music being played by the Japanese at the time was only chasing the cutting edge, and was ignoring the roots and origins of jazz." Ohno therefore shifted his efforts to film and TV and also to producing artists for various Japanese labels, becoming one of the most in-demand composers, arrangers and producers in Japan. This is when Ohno developed his unique sound across a wide variety of styles. More than anything else, he got renowned for his anime soundtracks, particularly with the Lupin III series - represented here by the superbly funky "Silhouette" - which made his fame in JapanWhether it's jazz, funk, disco or Pop, the "Ohno Sound" is unmissable both in terms of melodies and arrangements, on a par with those of such legends as Quincy Jones and Michel Legrand. Ohno's melodies are sophisticated yet accessible and there's a great sense of space in his productions especially when it comes to slow-burning grooves as heard on "Kirameku Inner Space" from the cult anime soundtrack "Captain Future" or "The Soaring Seagull" from the sought-after 1975 album "Electro Keyboard Orchestra." This album was recorded with seven fellow musicians including Kentaro Haneda and Ohno's old friend, Masahiko Sato and using twenty Korg synths to create a unique blend of futuristic jazz funk. "The Soaring Seagull" could be the perfect embodiment of Ohno's signature sound when it comes to instrumentals. The producer was however equally at ease with producing lush disco extravaganzas such as "Subterranean Futari Botchi" by Nanako Sato or "I Wish You Love" by Hatsumi Shibata, a revamp of Charles Trenet classic, both colourful and glitzy.Ohno's versatility is on display here with a couple of jazz vocal tracks, "Speak Low" by Ann Young accompanied by the Yuji Ohno Trio and Mieko Hirota's fast and furious "I Want to Be Happy" while he also excelled at crafting gorgeous mellow songs such as Ken Tanaka's "Lilac-gai No Aki" and Hatsumi Shibata's "Mouichido Kikasete" closing the selection on a perfect note. "Touch" is just a tiny selection from Yuji Ohno's immense body of work and it will hopefully open the ears of Japanese music lovers to one of the most important musician, producer and arrangers of his generation.

✺ Originally released in 1983.✺ Pressed on clear pink vinyl.✺ A fusion of 80’s New York sound and Japanese AOR.We are excited to present the official reissue of Hitomi “Penny” Tohyama’s legendary records “Sexy Robot”, which received an incredible amount of accolades in ‘80s Japan ! Tohyama’s 5th release “SEXY ROBOT” was first released in 1983, and quickly set into motion the tide of Beacon Sound which would come later. This record is a gem that incorporates the sound of New York in the 80s, and remains an important part of Japanese AOR.

✺ Originally released in 1983✺ Only album ever released by Megumi Saito and Yoko Hashimoto✺ Includes groovy singles such as “Kowareta Wiper” and “Lucky Strike Man”The only album by Megumi Saito and Yoko Hashimoto, released in 1983. Together with prominent musicians, Kazuo Shiina, who was active as a regular member of Tatsuro Yamashita’s band, Hiromasa Suzuki, who was active across genres, Hiroshi Shinkawa, who later worked on Omega Tribe and others, participated as an arrangement team, and you can hear an urban sound full of city feeling. Includes 10 songs including “Kowareta Wiper”, the only single with a comfortable mellow disco groove, and “Lucky Strike Man” with a reggae taste.

✺ Originally released in 1987✺ Pressed on clear blue vinyl✺ Cut from the original master tapesKatsumi Horii PROJECT’s debut album, “HOT IS COOL,” originally released in 1987, returns in a stunning reissue on clear blue vinyl !Katsumi Horii, a celebrated composer, arranger, and professor at Tokyo College of Music, has made a significant impact with his works across TV, animation, commercials, film scores, and stage productions. His notable credits include the beloved “Doraemon” movie series (1999-2005) and music for NHK’s drama series. For this debut album of his fusion project, Horii collaborated with top-tier musicians, embracing the late 1980s urban fusion style, rich in synthesizers and programmed rhythms.The project began with a collaborative vision alongside the esteemed illustrator Hideto Suzuki. This reissue has been meticulously produced, cut from high-spec sound data digitally converted to 96KHz/24bit from the original master tapes. Manufactured as a limited edition at Sony Music’s factory in Japan, this release is sure to captivate new and old fans alike. Originally released on March 21, 1987, the album features performances by Katsumi Horii (keyboards), Hiroyuki Namba (keyboards), Yoshihiro Naruse (bass), Hirokuni Korekata (guitar), Nobuo Kurata (keyboards), Susumu Kazuhara (flugelhorn), Hidefumi Toki (saxophone), Masato Kawase (percussion), and more.Keep in mind that the product photo is a mock-up and the album itself is currently in production. The color of the album may vary slightly from the visualization. There is a high probability that the album will have obi.

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.