You can't mention Japanese Techno Pop without mentioning Yellow Magic Orchestra who managed to link pop, dance music and Far Eastern folklore during the late 1970s which then >>>>> became synonymous with Techno Pop in Japan.
So what with the now omnipresent J-pop and the indepth explorations of all things J-Jazz from BBE (see review HERE) and increasing interest in all things JPN, it's time to dig deeper and at Rush Hour, they couldn't pick anyone better than the duo of Dubby (owner of the legendary record shop Ondas in Tokyo, was one of the first to make Japanese music available to the outside world) along with Antal (co-founder of the Amsterdam-based, Rush Hour Records).
We know the minds at Rush Hour can what they say about judging bookwonder from Ron Trent's 'Lift Off' (see review HERE) to Planet People (see review HERE) to much further afield with link ups with Japan's Jazzy Sports but this mere 7 track compilaton is the first in a series of planned compilations.
"Techno Kayo?", I hear you say. Well, well bringing kayōkyoku style up-to-date with a mix of pop and the new 'futuristic sounds' of synths and drum machines (that we're literally on their Japanese doorsteps; Roland, Korg, Yamaha) and the influence of the European cousin's like Kraftwerk, Yellow Magic Orchestra's main members, Haruomi Hosono (bass), Yukihiro Takahashi (drums) and Ryuichi Sakamoto (keyboards) could see/hear the future.
But could they have seen that Hosono would be the most influencial of the trio (as well as having a solo career that included albums known as the "Tropical Trilogy") or that Tomita's studio assistant (remembering 'Snowflakes Are Dancing') would also be leading figure? Luckily there's additional notes by Ken Hidaki who can distinguish 3 types of Techno Kayo! You may be an expert yourself, but Dubby and DJ Antal and they kick off with an obscure track, 'Happy Times' by The Peters; repetitive and joyous.
Kuniko Yamada's 'Tetsugaku Shiyo (Viens Philosopher)' picks up on some spoken word/rap whilst Kazuo Ohtani's 'Last Battle' is clearly from the turntable / computer game/OST crossover connection a la Miami Vice/Tom Tom Club?
Put all this into a synergy pot, and the ping chef says 'Microwave' (the "manufactured pop singer" Kyoko Koizumi) and the High Speed Bullet, Targets' 'City Train'.
Like every other nation (under a groove), Japans top producers were absorbing all the new waves from around the world, disco, ska, reggae, soul, hip-hop, funk, synth-pop such that Hikashu's "experimental", 'Melonno Nakano Hitsuji' stands out like a sore thumb and fits in like Bowie/Eno/Byrne doing something world.
Think my favourite, at the moment, is TPO featuring Linda (Masters) with 'Rock The Hour' - big 80s hair and synth bounce that's close to a Mrs Fripp/Sam Fox mix - who is Linda Masters and where is she now?
We know quite a bit about Tokyo (you'll recall our Nic Luscombe's involvement in 'City Music Tokyo' (see review HERE) but this is outside of our J-Jazz Kissa Bar musicology snob DJ booth. Vinyl and CDs come with obligatory OBI strip and expect more in the world of proto-techno, electro-pop to expand you're studies.
And where does Ken Matsudaira fit in with this?
BUY LINKS: 2 x LP (pressed at 45RPM) and CD
Vinyl: rushhour.nl/vinyl
Artwork from Johann Kauth (Stenze Quo)
Artist: Various Artists
Title: Techno Kayo: Japanese Techno Pop 1981-1989 Vol. 1 (Compiled by Dubby & Antal)
Release date: 26th September, 2025
Label : Rush Hour
Catalog Number : RH-STORE JPN 13
Format: Vinyl / CD
