Japanese “mutant pop” and “shadow sounds” collected in new Light in the Attic compilation

Ambient, electronica, and minimal gems from the eighties.

Light In The Attic is releasing a new compilation, called Somewhere Between: Mutant Pop, Electronic Minimalism & Shadow Sounds of Japan 1980–1988, on 2xLP this January.

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The tracks were created “during Japan’s soaring bubble economy of the 1980s, an era in which aesthetic visions and consumerism merged,” shares LITA. “Music echoed the nation’s prosperity and with financial abundance, came the luxury to dream.”

“Thanks to the idyllic economic climate and innovations in domestically manufactured music gear, creators on the edges were empowered to focus on satisfying their artistic visions in the open headspace of home studios.”

“These tracks exist in a space of transition when the major label grip on the Japanese recording market began to give way to the escalation of independents

Across its 14-tracks, Somewhere Between spans ambient, pop, underground electronica, minimal, and so-called “shadow sounds”, with music from Mkwaju Ensemble, Naoki Asai, Noriko Miyamoto, and more.

It follows LITA’s release of Hiroshi Yoshimura’s GREEN – one of our favourite reissues of 2020.

Pre-order Somewhere Between: Mutant Pop, Electronic Minimalism & Shadow Sounds of Japan 1980–1988 here in advance of its 22nd January release, check out the artwork and tracklist below.

Tracklist:

1. Noriko Miyamoto – Arrows & Eyes
2. Mishio Ogawa  – Hikari No Ito Kin No Ito
3. Yoshio Ojima – Days Man
4. Mkwaju Ensemble – Tira-Rin
5. R.N.A-ORGANISM – WEIMAR 22
6. Naoki Asai – Yakan Hikou
7. Takami Hasegawa – Koneko To Watashi
8. Mammy – Mizu No Naka No Himitsu
9. Dip in the Pool – Hasu No Enishi
10. Wha Ha Ha – Akatere
11. D-Day – Sweet Sultan
12. Perfect Mother – Dark Disco-Da·Da·Da·Da·Run
13. Neo Museum – Area
14. Sonoko – Wedding With God (À Nijinski)