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ALFA 9

Various Artists

ALFA/YEN Records 1980-1987: Techno Pop And Other Electronic Adventures In Tokyo (LITA Exclusive)

    Recording technology was completely revolutionized in the 80s by the multitrack recorder, with the popularity of 24-channel SSL consoles sweeping the world. Japanese pop music created during this wave of digital improvement is now recognized worldwide as ""City Pop."" Techno Pop was another offshoot born of the same revolution.

    Precise, computer-controlled beats produced by groups like Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) introduced a different type of sound to the masses. By now, these works have been brought into the international limelight and continue to be a major influence on today's music.

    At the center of Tokyo’s Techno Pop scene was ALFA/YEN Records. The label left behind an impressive body of work, but much of it wasn't made widely available... until now!

    This new, definitive compilation focuses on the music archives of the YEN Records catalog, available for the first time exclusively at Light in the Attic. This is a true celebration of Japan's Techno Pop scene of the 80s, reissued with the intent that future generations, internationally, will be able to discover, enjoy, and appreciate ALFA/YEN and its significant contributions to the sonic landscape of the 80s and beyond.


    TRACK LISTING

    1. SEOUL MUSIC - YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA
    2. ZOOT KOOK - SANDII
    3. Sakisaka To Momonai No Gokigen Ikaga One Two Three - You An’ Me Orgasmus Orchestra
    4. Drip Dry Eyes - Yukihiro Takahashi
    5. SUKI-SUKI-DAISUKI - Jun Togawa
    6. Parallelisme - Miharu Koshi
    7. Bikkuri Party No Theme - Haruomi Hosono & Yukihiro Takahashi
    8. Sakasa Kenjin Eagas - Apogee & Perigee
    9. Yumemiru Yakusoku - Haruomi Hosono
    10. ROCK - Hajime Tachibana
    11. Riot In Lagos - Ryuichi Sakamoto
    12. Radarman - Jun Togawa
    13. Platonic - Haruomi Hosono
    14. BEAT THE RAP- Super Eccentric Theater
    15. Rap Phenomena - YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA
    16. LEXINGTON QUEEN - Ryuichi Sakamoto
    17. Chanel No #5 No On The Rock - Sheena
    18. Beach Girl - TESTPATTERN
    19. FLASHBACK - Yukihiro Takahashi
    20. Automne Dans Un Miroir - Tamao Koike
    21. Ascending - INTERIOR

    Alfa Mist

    Variables

      On Variables, his second release for ANTI-, Alfa achieves his most fully realised, expressive musical work to date, coupling his keen ear for looping, memorably emotive piano melodies with intuitive grooves and a free-flowing jazz improvisation. Since the release of his first full-length project Nocturne in 2015, Alfa has established himself as one of the UK’s most focused, in demand and distinct musical voices. He has worked with the likes of Jordan Rakei and Tom Misch. Artists look to him for his unique blend of intimate bedroom production and expansive jazz group orchestration, since Alfa is yet to be boxed into a specific genre. His music spans everything from hip-hop beat-making to producing for artists such as rapper Loyle Carner, composing neo-classical works for the London Contemporary Orchestra, and reworking tracks from composer Ólafur Arnald’s and pioneering jazz label Blue Note.

      The return to live shows has been a welcome one for Alfa and his fans, resulting in an extensive tour throughout UK and Europe. Including a sold-out headline show at the Barbican in London. Alfa Mist will be touring Europe, UK and North America in 2023 again. It is a balance between feeling and perfectionism that ultimately gives Alfa’s music its depth and capacity for repeated listening. It is also an ethos that has enabled his remarkable work-ethic to date. ‘I’ve never been a ‘one album every four years’ artist ‘ I want to put out new projects every year,’ he says. ‘Music is an extension of my life; it is the practice of creating.’

      TRACK LISTING

      1. Foreword
      2. Borderline
      3. Aged Eyes Feat. Kaya Thomas-Dyke
      4. Cycles
      5. The Gist
      6. Genda
      7. Apho Feat. Bongeziwe Mabandla
      8. Variables
      9. 4th Feb (Stay Awake)
      10. BC

      Alfa Mist

      On My Ones - 2022 Reissue

        With his new project 'On My Ones', Alfa Mist takes a personal journey into melody, composition, improvisation and his relationship with the piano. Striped back from his previous Jazz release, ‘On My Ones’ is filled with a beautiful melancholic sound throughout. Taking a step back from production and additional instrumentation, the self-taught pianist explores the instrument across six new tracks recorded at Fieldgate Studio in Cardiff.

        STAFF COMMENTS

        Millie says: Alfa Mist taking a slightly different path leading us to some stunning improvised, instrumental piano pieces. This collection of six tracks 'On My Ones' is honestly soothing for the soul.

        TRACK LISTING

        1. High Risk
        2. Sorry
        3. L4
        4. Newham Village
        5. Amigo
        6. Withered

        Alfa Mist is one of the driving forces behind a young and vibrant scene of UK musicians, who've taken on jazz as their musical narrative.

        The producer, self-taught pianist and rapper takes us on a sonic trip back to his beat-making past on the streets of East London, through the depth and musicality he discovered composing and playing jazz. 2017 saw the release of Alfa's breakthrough record, Antiphon and the 2019's album Structuralism were both self-released on his Sekito label.

        His latest endeavour, 2021's Bring Backs, sees Alfa taking on new challenges.The record marks his first release for the label Anti and is also the most detailed exploration of his upbringing in musical form.

        STAFF COMMENTS

        Barry says: though Antifon and Structuralism were undoubtedly skilled constructions and helped to bring Alfa Mist's music to the masses, 'Bring Backs' is by far the most cohesive and competent outing yet. Encompassing elements of jazz and soul as well as a beautiful thread of downbeat lounge and smooth hip-hop this is indeed a journey to be relished. Gorgeous stuff.

        TRACK LISTING

        1. Teki
        2. People (feat. Kaya Thomas-Dyke)
        3. Mind The Gap (feat. Lex Amor)
        4. Run Outs
        5. Last Card (Bumper Cars)

        1. Coasting
        2. Attune
        3. Once A Year
        4. Organic Rust

        Alfa Mist

        Antiphon - 2022 Repress

          Originally released in 2018, this gorgeous LP from Alfa Mist stands out as one of the finest jazz releases of the current generation.

          Alfa Mist is considered a frontrunner in the new London jazz movement. ‘Antiphon’ was created around a conversation with his brothers, Alfa blends melancholy Jazz harmony with alternative hip-hop and soul. Beautifully mellow and soulful, this album beams with effortless grace and adding another gem to the London Jazz scene.

          If you like Yussef Kamaal/ Kamaal Williams, Ezra Collective and Kamasi Washington this will be right up your street.

          STAFF COMMENTS

          Millie says: This is one of the most beautiful jazz albums of the year by far, an indication of that might be that this sold out before it could reach our shelves! Alfa Mist has created a wave of inspired nu-jazz broken beat, not one to be missed.

          TRACK LISTING

          Keep On
          Potential
          Errors
          Breathe
          7th October
          Kyoti
          Nucleus
          Brian

          Alfa 9

          My Sweet Movida

            Alfa 9 return with their third album My Sweet Movida. The Newcastle-under-Lyme based four piece are back with their Morricone-esque tinged cosmic country psych rock, that’s layered with vocal harmonies delivering what the band believe to be their strongest set of songs to date. This their first release since ‘Gone to Ground’, which made Vive le Rock and Sound of Confusion best of the year lists in 2013 and saw the band featured in various magazines including Classic Rock and Shindig.

            They were interviewed by Steve Lamacq for his ‘New Favourite Band’ feature at BBC 6 Music around the album release and El Morocco (taken from Gone To Ground) later hit the BBC 6 Music playlist for a month as the band performed live at the Liverpool Psych Fest. Of the band’s debut 'Then We Begin' Clash described this as “A fully realised and hugely ambitious debut which succeeds on every level” whilst Shindig said “one of the best albums of the last decade". The title track ‘Then We Begin’ and ‘Flasher’ from the album more recently surfaced in key sequences of the auto-behemoth that is The Grand Tour. A first taste from My Sweet Movida ‘Smile Dog’ received radio support from Gideon Coe and Guy Garvey as has title track ‘Movida’ at BBC 6 Music. 

            TRACK LISTING

            1 Smile Dog
            2 Movida
            3 Different Corner
            4 Rise
            5 When The Lights Go Out
            6 Cinema Of Thunder
            7 Darkest Sea
            8 When I Think Of You
            9 Coincidence Flies
            10 Do It Again
            11 Fly

            // CD2 + DL -

            1 Movida Theme
            2. Different Corner (stripped Version)
            3. Cinema Of Thunder (Stripped Version)
            4 When I Think Of You (Stripped Version)
            5. When The Lights Go Out (Stripped Version)
            6.Do It Again (Stripped Version)
            7. Fly (Stripped Version)
            8.Movida (Stripped Version)
            9.The Glow
            10.Visualise
            11.Want You Back
            12.100 Years 

            Alfa 9 'Gone To Ground' - their 2nd album, and follows their debut Then We Begin, recently described as “one of the best albums of the last decade” by Shindig! It’s hard to believe that it has been seven years ago since Newcastle-Under-Lyme’s finest were gaining high praise for their lusciously produced debut album Then We Begin. Clash called the record “a definitive debut and stunningly complete piece of music”, Classic Rock said it evoked “The Stones Roses [if they] had lived in Haight-Asbury...” whilst “‘For Your Bones”, said The Sun, “recalls The Who at their best”. Drowned In Sound boldly surmised “leaves you feeling like you've just been caught in the eye of a particularly forceful sonic storm”.

            Alfa 9 may have slowed down, but they didn’t go away. The band took things back to basics, focusing on three-four minute songs, great harmonies and losing the dirt from the guitars and the keyboards. Citing the ’60s and early ’70s folk and country-rock of The Byrds, in particular, Gene Clark, Gram Parsons and The Flying Burrito Brothers, the Paisley Underground bands of early ’80s LA and signature influence The Stone Roses Gone To Ground (which only took six months to record) channels the same love of the past as such contemporaries as The See See, Tame Impala, The Quarter After, Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Beachwood Sparks. “I guess the sort of stuff we were becoming influenced by was far more subtly produced, so it was a pretty natural move,” says Leon of the album’s more spacious production, marked by rich mid-60s harmonies, ringing 12 strings and naturally overdriven and fuzztone guitars. Gone To Ground deserves a place on the record shelf of anyone susceptible to organic jangle and fine melodies.

            TRACK LISTING

            1. El Morocco (2:52)
            2. Birling Gap (3:37)
            3. Seedless (3:35)
            4. Gone To Ground (4:23)
            5. Into The Light (2:57)
            6. Old Man Blues (3:42)
            7. Mad Song (3:44)
            8. Green Grass Grows (4:19)
            9. Petty Lies (4:24)
            10. Nothing Feels (3:02)
            11. The Castle (4:20)
            12. Ferry Song (3:35)

            Alfa 9

            Deadman

              Alfa 9 formed several years ago in Newcastle-Under-Lyme and signed to Blow Up last year, they are now set to bring their epic psychedelia to a nation-wide audience, through headline shows as well as support slots including The Coral, Edgar Jones (The Stairs), Sunshine Underground and Cosmic Rough Riders. "Deadman" follows up their "For Your Bones" debut and is a groove fuelled rocker full of chunky keyboard, nice harmonies and psyche-guitar riffs. Keep an eye on these guys. There debut album is due soon and they look set to be big news!


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