Artist: Shakkazombie
Title: Shakkattack
Publisher: Natural
Catalog #: NATURAL-203
Price: Y1280
Release: 95.8.25
Genre: Hip Hop
Total Time: 29:13
Track Listing:
1. SHAKKATTACK - (feat. Kuro-Ovi)
2. SHAKKATTACK - (Tsutchie Mix)
3. Mugen no Space
4. SHAKKATTACK (Instrumental)
5. Mugen no Space (Instrumental)
6. SHAKKATTACK (Kubota's Groove)
Goodies: Standard jewelbox with foldout with lyrics.
Comments:
This disk features two tracks and multiple remixes by Shakkazombie,
a new powerhouse rap group who're bound to make waves in the local
scene supported particularly by the crazy abstract lyrics and style
provided primarily by their 100+ kg. frontman Osumi. The production
is nicely provided via support from Kimidori member Kubota and Illicit
Tsuboi (who's sure had his share of activity lately).
Grade: A-
<ben@ludens.co.jp>
Artist: Yotsukaidou Nature
Title: Yotsukaidou Nature
Publisher: Vortex
Catalog #: PHCL-12004
Price: Y1200
Release: 95.8.25
Genre: Hip Hop
Total Time: 13:04
Track Listing:
1. Ano Shuugouchi
2. Hirari
3. Masshiro
4. Ashita Asatte
Goodies: Slim Jewelbox with foldout with lyrics and photos.
Comments:
Yotsukaidou Nature have been active on the rim of the Japanese scene
for several years now, much of their activity linked to the LB Nation,
a group of rap groups who've come up together and includes illustrious
members such as Dassen Trio, Tokyo's Number One Soul Set and Scha Dara
Parr. This, their first published work is a mellowly produced and
features the distinctive, slightly off-center style of member Mike Akira.
The group is in good form, but just a little unchallenging, and lyricly
not _particularly_ advanced.
Grade: B+
<ben@ludens.co.jp>
Artist: Small Circle of Friends
Title: Quiet Neighbors
Publisher: Brownswood
Catalog #: PHCL-8702
Price: Y1500
Release: 95.8.25
Genre: Hip Hop, Acid Jazz, Alternative
Total Time: 21:13
Track Listing:
1. Fancy Free
2. Yume no Naka de
3. Ka-nibaru
4. A Quiet Sound
Goodies: Slim jewelbox with foldout with lyrics.
Comments:
Pretty hip alternative rap styles from the UFO produced Small
Circle of Friends. This group made a decent first appearance
on the UFO-produced "Multidirections" compilation and followed
up with a smooth first maxi-single. This second maxi-single
is a nice successive step up showing off the impressive, though
rather light-headed and plainly delivered lyricism, and flowing
production of this rather promising group.
Grade: A-
<ben@ludens.co.jp>
Artist: Naohirock & Suzuki Smooth
Title: Everybody Loves Sunshine
Publisher: Natural
Catalog #: NATURAL-201
Price: Y1280
Release: 95.8.25
Genre: Hip Hop
Total Time: 28:15
Track Listing:
1. Everybody Loves Sunshine
2. Everybody Loves Sunshine (King 3K Surfmix)
3. Keep Rock On
4. Everybody Loves Sunshine / Instrumental
5. Everybody Loves Sunshine / Instrumental (King 3K Surfmix)
6. Keep Rock On / Instrumental
Goodies: Standard jewelbox with foldout with lyrics.
Comments:
LB Nation members Naohirock and Suzuki Smooth are the lucky ones
in today's rap boom. They've got connections, and decent production,
but rather limited lyrical ability. Its enough to get them an
independent record deal within the current rap boom, and therefore
may be the first forewarning of an upcoming glut in the market. More
specifically, bland lyrics, delivered off rhythm, with a tad too much
badly pronounced English Rap slang thrown in on top are classic downfalls
in Japanese Rap of several years ago, and these boys are still tripping
themselves in classic style. If the production wasn't as smooth as it
is, and the presence of King SK (Dassen Trio) on track 2, this disk
would arleady be resting comfortably in the circular file. I'll
give them the benefit of the doubt for their tastes, but its going
to be a miracle to see these two get to a point where they can compete
in the soon-to-become-competetive Japanese Rap scene.
Grade: C+
<ben@ludens.co.jp>
Artist: Fujiwara Hiroshi
Title: in Dub Conference
Publisher: Victor
Catalog #: VICP-23118
Price: Y2300
Release: 95.6.21
Genre: Ambient, Dub, Trip Hop
Total Time: 30:56
Track Listing:
1. UNIVERSAL DUB
2. NATURAL BORN DUB
3. ICE FROM THE SKY DUB
4. CRYSTAL DUB
5. HARD BOILED DUB
6. FIVE X DUB
Goodies: Environmental sleeve with insert.
Comments:
Dub project by Fujiwara and Asamoto Hirofumi. Soundscapes built up
around a piano performance that sounds like it came out of a 1970's
film about a Massachusetts boarding school rowing team. By track two,
the dubby rhythms begin lilting in for one odd combination of sounds
which blend strangely well together. Latter tracks bring in a chinese
violin for another oddly effective dub combination (and yet fatter
rhythms to back it up). Despite this, a large portion of this album
is these instruments solo, regardless titles which declare dub. When
this album is effective, its a mind-blower, however in remaining
moments it frankly lags hard.
Grade: B+
<ben@ludens.co.jp>
Artist: El Malo
Title: Fools e.p.
Publisher: Toys Factory
Catalog #: TFCC-88058
Price: Y1800
Release: 95.4.1
Genre: Funk, Pop, Acid Jazz, Rock, Techno
Total Time: 27:27
Track Listing:
1. LAUGHTER
2. PEACE TRAIN
3. FOOLS
4. DRIVE
Goodies: Environmental box with lyrics insert and sticker.
Comments:
El Malo established themselves as a serious force to be reckoned with
in the Japanese Acid Jazz scene in 1992 and shocked their fans with
a notably wordier album with "Worst International Jetset" at the end
of 1994. The inevetable conclusion was a move away from the club
label Bellissima into the hands of parent label Toys Factory, and
an apparent acceptance of their desire to achieve rock star status.
They still doing some of the most interesting pop music in the world, but
their detractors are calling them sellouts these days, and while I thought
their older sound was superior to the direction they're taking recently,
I quite like their new works as well, which again, are splendid pop/rock
tunes unlike anything being done elsewhere, as usual, mixing multiple
influences from Rock and Blues to Funk, Dub and Hip Hop, and unlike some
similar attempts at such blends, they know exactly what they're doing.
This e.p., which predates their third album "III" due for release in the
beginning of September, is a prime example of their "new" genius. Their
old flavor makes a brief cameo on a crazy bonus track tacked onto the end of
track 4. Lyrics in Japanese.
Grade: A-
<ben@ludens.co.jp>
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