HABIT OF SEX

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For some reason - I went ahead and started another blog! It will be pretty similar to this one - putting up tracks from rare & obscure Japanese records, though the focus will lay more exclusively on Japanese pop/power pop/new wave/idol/mod revival/mild stuff etc. This blog will still be updated, as irregularly as ever, but will now feature mostly synth/goth/industrial/experimental stuff. Ie. all the pop shit will be featured on this new blog henceforth. In case you're feeling so inclined, please do feel free to follow at:

POPCON23RD.TUMBLR.COM

Let yourself go and embrace the wonders of Japanese private press pop bullshit! You won't regret it! Or maybe you will! Who knows? Who cares!

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IX IX - Chinaware (from the "Freedom/Chinaware" single, Moon Records, 198?) Somewhere in the wasteland between new wave, minimal synth and new romantic lies this track by IX IX - a synth-based trio, active for a short while during the tail end of the 80:s (this single is probably from 1989, though I'm not 100% positive). Don't know so much about the band. They released three singles (including this one) on the Moon Records label; a relatively big one, releasing stuff by TATSURO YAMASHITA and 44 MAGNUM and others. Strangely enough, considering they probably pressed a bunch of this, the IX IX stuff and the "Freedom/Chinaware" single in particular can be kind of tricky to track down, even they can usually be had quite cheaply once you find 'em. In addition, I've had a couple of these and all have had some writing/stickers on the sleeve and/or labels ...maybe I've just been unlucky, or maybe much of the press run went to radio stations, from whose archives they are slowly sippering out. Just speculating here, if anybody knows - feel free to educate!

Edit: Seems like they put out a CD in 1990!

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BIRTHDAY - ラプソディー (from the "ラプソディー / ナロディー" 7", Studio Gang Connection, 198?) This stuff sounds pretty goth to me, but maybe it's not goth enough? Tried to post this two times on a Facebook group dedicated to japanese goth & post-punk and had it instantly removed both times. Anyhow, I can see how this is a bit too wimpy to be trve bat-shitting gawth or post-punk ...however, it definitely tangents on both those genres. Honestly, it took a while for me to warm to this, but it's a grower. Starts out driven by the bass and slowly evolves into some sort of a decaf goth jam. B-side is similar but with a female vocalist. Of course, unless I'm missing some insert or something (though I've only ever seen two of these around, neither which featured insert(s)), there is no information about the band whatsoever. Back side of the sleeve is just blank and the labels only feature the label logo (which is a drawing of a 2-tone style rude boy character). Supposing this was release by the band itself, but I'm not 100% sure about that. Information about any other released on Studio Gang Connection would be mostly appreciated.

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BLOOD TITTER - Blood Titter (from the "Blood Titter" 7", Office Party Produce, 198?) One of the last records acquired during 2016, this is a weird one. Starting of pretty normally with a slow plucked guitar introduction leading into some standard eighties rock sound. Nothing too exciting yet, but around the 30 second mark, things start to take a turn for the more or less inexplicable. The general composition and execution of the song is, again, pretty normal and straightforward - but it's the little flourishes and idiosyncraties that puts this into the weird side of record collecting. Part for part, the midi instrumentation and spastic jazz runs wouldn't be that far out - but combined and coupled with the really quite beautifully drawn cover and some other oddly mismatched attributes ("Office Party Produce"? "Blood Titter"??), it all comes out pretty headscratching. But yeah, in conclusion, this is some stupid shit & I love it!

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DEFORMER - Oyayubi (from the "デフォルメ" EP, 1983, Joy Records) Monotonous sequencer-driven minimal synth by DEFORMER, released on the bands own imprint Joy Records. Hoplessly obscure band, even though Katsui Yuji from ROVO, DEMI SEMI QUAVER etc. were a member. Very nice EP overall, the other tracks being more mellow and floatational post-punky drum machine jams; however - this track (not written in Japanese on the record btw) is sort of the standout one. Mostly just a randomized yet catchy synth sequence looping around and around with some drums coming and going, with sporadic bursts of guitar and somnambulistic vocals peeking their head around the corner at times. ADBALOONS used to work in a similar manner - mashing some random notes into a sequencer and then building the track around the more or less musical pattern. I included this track in the mix I made for the awesome Knekelhuis dudes just about a year ago. Check it out here for similar weird & obscure Japanese post-punk/minimal synth/experimental stuff.

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Selling off some selected raerz ...might add more stuff later: https://www.discogs.com/seller/nattliga_toner/profile BEATA BEATRIX - Post-TOMO AKIKAWABAYA project. Promo only CD. 2nd known copy? Sound samples availiable here: https://youtu.be/Ivv414AVXA8 大貫妙子 - Carnaval 7" - Ultra rare white label promo version w/ photocopied sleeve. Different cat# than standard edition. Only ever seen this copy. SOLD! V/A - 菫未来派少年展覧会 第二集 7" flexi - Awesome & pretty much impossible to find flexi, with connections to MORIO AGATA & HANIWA-CHAN. SOLD!

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SELF SATISFACTION - 幸せのエキス (from V/A - "Ha｢naji* 鼻血" CD, 1992, 鼻血レーベル/Paradise) Taken from the very obscure & rare CD compilation "Ha｢naji* 鼻血", this is, to my knowledge, the sole recorded song by SELF SATISFACTION. Featured alongside equally obscure goth & punk bands (the most "famous" ones being long running goth bands ADAM-SITES & GREGOR SAMSA), this track stands out for being at being perhaps the most straight forward one and yet the most difficult to pin down genre wise. Starting out with a drum machine rhythm almost identical to P-MODEL's debut single; it lands somewhere in a no mans land between synth pop & early visual kei. One of the two labels behind this compilation, 鼻血レーベル (Hanaji Records), also released the (in)famous 地獄まんじゅう flexi, and indeed - one of the bands featured (BLOOD THIRSTY) features members from 地獄まんじゅ. Also included is HC punk band MUSHROOM which may or may not be the same band as MOSHROOM from the utterly bizarre "Great R & R Mazinger" compilation flexi.

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JE T'AIME - Fall In Love ~君を見つめて~ (from the "Love Song For You" LP, Not On Label, 198?) One of my favorite finds during this past year is this, to my knowledge, previously unknown self-released mini-album by the mysterious duo JE T'AIME, of which a few deadstock copies surfaced during the beginning of 2016. Totally home made synth-pop, wandering in and out of harmonically odd terrains, with barely audible vocals that sounds like they've been recorded in a basement; this record was naturally self-released by the band. All 6 tracks on it are great! Kind of hard to pick a favorite song from it, but opening track "Fall In Love" does stand out due to it's peculiar sort of catchiness and heartfullness. I included another track, "Love Song For You" on the mix I made for Krossfingers which was posted here previously.

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D.R.Y. PROJECT - A Pompful of Horses (from the "Bizarre Tastes" EP, 1986, LLE/Di-Stance) Hard hitting punky minimal synth smasher from D.R.Y. PROJECTS 2nd release, the "Bizarre Tastes" EP. Similarly minimalistic and rhythm focused as their debut "Shock Obserber" on cult label LLE, their later output saw the band refining their sound without losing any of the aggressiveness. Both EP:s are, and have been for quite some time now, very sought after by collectors. Two cassette releases exists as well, but I have never seen either one for sale ever. D.R.Y. PROJECT was preceeded by the equally excellent band 一体全体, which was featured on the mix I made for the awesome Knekelhuis crew. Check it out!

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THE MOON - Super Light Song (from the "Red Cent" CD, 1991, Office Odds) The opening and, if such a term can be applied, best track from the remarkably stupid and shambolic first and only (to my knowledge) release by THE MOON. Existing somewhere between heavy metal and early visual kei, THE MOON barely manages to to keep this more or less incoherent mishmash of a song from bursting at the seams with the least marginal possible. So much to love here; the overtly lengthy intro of someone plugging in a guitar cable, the admittedly shredding riff, the ham-fisted drumming and, last but not least, the very curious bass "solo" near the end. The whole CD is of a similar calibre, but I have to warn you that it is pretty headache-inducing unless consumed in smaller pieces.

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EIYO BOYS - Asia In Japan - You Know? (from the "Asia In Japan" flexi, 1981, Dark Side Records) Now this is what I call industrial! Just a few random dudes mucking about with some analogue synthesizers in their parents bedroom, making a hell of a formless lengthy racket, accompanied by various shrieks and shouts as well as a trumpet (or saxophone?) going through a delay pedal. Relatively common and affordable release, yet sadly a bit overlooked …not in the least by myself, who held out on grabbing a copy for the longest time based on the pretty awful post-punk rendition of the Batman theme present on the bands second flexi (also self-released via their own label; Dark Side Records). Really glad I finally wised up and grabbed this thin red plastic sheet full of abstract noise for myself. You should do so too.

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SYNCHROID - Ri · Ku · I · Do (from V/A - "Amateur Square IV", Ambience Records, 1987) Something totally obscure this time. This track comes from a compilation on the mysterious Ambience Records, who seems to have been a very minor independent label - possibly only active during 1987 and releasing stuff in a wide variety of genres. SYNCHROID seems to have been a duo, putting out this sole track of synthesizer shenanigans alongside equally unknown bands (operating in everything from heavy metal to power pop to rock ssw to more experimental stuff) on this compilation. As far as I know, neither of the bands ever put out anything more. I'm not even sure the three previous parts of the "Amateur Square" series even exist. At least no copies of them seems to have fallen into the hands of any known collectors.

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DENDÖ MARIONETTE - Frozen Edge (from their s/t square 7" flexi, QP. Records, 1981) Not unique to this blog, and quite possibly something you've heard before... nevertheless, in my mind the opening track on DENDÖ MARIONETTES first and only flexi is perhaps the finest synth-punk tracks to come out of all of Japan in the 1980:s; with it's super-processed guitars, crispy & ferocious drum machine and unintelligible lyrics. Apart from the awesome music, being released as a square 7" flexi in an oversized sleeve doesn't exactly decrease it's status as a very desireable artefact. This was put out in 1981 on independent label QP. Records who, apart from this masterpiece, put out the mediocre KEWPIE BOX flexi and not so much more to my knowledge.

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PARADE - Monologue (from "Monologue"/"Reiner in the Dark" 7", Fun House Records, 198?) Absolutely top notch synth-driven Japanese Tokyo Rockers-ish new wave. Of utmost rarity, I'm kinda glad it only took me around seven years or so to track down a copy. Both sides are absolutely fantastic, but I do think "Monologue" is the slightly more standout track. Similar to stuff like FLESH and maybe early (1st flexi) EXCENTRIQUE NOIZ. Hope you'll enjoy!

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I was very kindly invited by the great folks over att Krossfingers.com to put together a mix for their podcast series. Just short of two hours of more or less obscure Japanse synth/new wave/experimental/weirdness etc. Check it out!

TRACKLIST 01. TPO - Hoshimaru アッ! ('84) 02. 比企理恵 - 想像力少女 ('80) 03. ビックリ・エレクトリック・カンパニー - おふろのかぞえうた ('80) 04. 大貫妙子 - Carnaval ('80) 05. 鈴木功一 - Senti-Metallic Boy ('8?) 06. SHINOBU – Ceramic Love ('84) 07. APPARE MUSIC SHOW - Fat Man ('8?) 08. アドバルーンズ - 眠りの屋根 ('87) 09. 憂柔不断 - Distraction ('85) 10. 七不思議 - 人, 人, 人 ('80) 11. インプル加工 - 駱駝 ('84) 12. インプル加工 - 背後('82) 13. KAMIKAZE - Inertia ('80) 14. FROST - Unicorn ('84) 15. キャッチ・フレーゼ - ヴィーナスのLove Letter ('81) 16. LOVERS - カリフォルニアパラダイス ('80) 17. IKUO - Highway Illumination ('8?) 18. JE T'AIME - Love Song For You ('8?) 19. モモ - プロローグ・大地の詩 / フェスタ・フェリカの夢 ('85) 20. POPSONG'S FACTORY - My Pops ('81) 21. NOVELA - I'm Dandy ('80) 22. LISZT - Feeling Magic ('8?) 23. AH! CHAN ZOO - Love For You ('84) 24. DO IT OURSELVES - 香港功夫 ('80) 25. KARMA - シチリアの月 ('88)

LISTEN HERE

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For those of you in the Stockholm area, I will be DJ:ing together with Karl Kais at Under Bron this Saturday (6/2), from ~23 PM to 04 AM. Everybody welcome!

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THE RECORD COLLECTING YEAR OF 2015 IN REVIEW This mix is a selection of my favorite record finds made during the past year. Originally compiled as a christmas present for a few select (albeit uninterested) friends and co-workers, I've finally decided to let this monstrosity loose for all to see. Some of these are old time wants that was finally scored during 2015, others are new acquantainces. Some rare, some common, some expensive, some cheap; with all sorts of genres represented. Centered around the 80:s and late 70:s as well as my own shitty taste, of course. I hope you'll enjoy!! As always, a million thanks to monster collectors and all around best dudes AJPN & Kaotic-san for hipping me up to more than a few of these and for always providing inspiration! TRACKLIST 01. アロワナ - アイシテンダネ！ ('81) 02. THE BEATS - 今夜だけ Be With You ('82) 03. FILMS - Girl ('8?) 04. FEVER - デジタラブ ('80) 05. 比企理恵 - 想像力少女 ('80) 06. モモ - 空に会おうよ ('85) 07. ビックリ・エレクトリック・カンパニー - おふろのかぞえうた ('80) 08. DENDÖ MARIONETTE - Frozen Edge ('81) 09. 風速40米 - 抱いて, 抱いて, 抱いて ('82?) 10. 十万馬力 - Speed Game ('8?) 11. TAKAO & THE VIEW - Suzi ('82) 12. ロミオ - それはないよ子猫ちゃん ('79) 13. ノラ - 忘れかけた愛の言葉 ('73) 14. ギャートルズ - カタカタ片想い ('77) 15. BROWN SUGAR - Birthday ('81) 16. I - ひとりぼっち ('81) 17. ジェムストーン - Sentimental Angel ('87) 18. フルーティー - You're My Summer Dream ('84) 19. RIVER CHILD - Go A Way ('84) 20. MERSEY BEAT - Rebellion To Town ('88)

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