Japanese City Pop Playlist Curated by Toshi Kanazawa Now Available on Streaming Services

21.May.2021 | MUSIC

Japanese music journalist Toshi Kanazawa released Vol.6 of his ‘J-DIGS: Light Mellow City Essence’ music playlist series last Wednesday. It comes as the final installment to the series which began in July last year.

 

The 20-track playlist includes jazz fusion instruments, pop tunes by jazz singers, and others, all of which are compiled with urban city music vibes. The playlist is now available on major streaming and download services including Spotify.

Kanazawa’s J-DIGS project began as a way to promote the rich catalogue of Japanese record label Nippon Columbia which was established 110 years ago. The project now has its own YouTube channel, so if you love music from Japan, be sure to check it out below.

 

Additionally, a Chee Shimizu playlist taken from his 2013 book Obscure Sound is also available to listen to on music platforms with genres ranging from psychedelic to spiritual, experimental, cosmic, tropical, groovy, and more.

 

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    “The dope on dope and the Doopees”


    Yann Tomita is a man living on the edge. Known as Japan’s preeminent steelpan drum player, Yann’s music is a mix of Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks-era Beach Boys, musique concrete, 90’s lounge lizard acts, and the wacky inventions of Dr. NakaMats.
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    According to the band mythos, Doopees is comprised of friends Caroline Novac (reportedly portrayed by Buffalo Daughter’s Rumiko Ohno) and Suzi Kim. The album follows a loose narrative in which Doopees search for a cure for Caroline’s chronic sadness. Caroline, the younger of the two Doopees, cries her way through a rocky piano performance of Chopin’s Opus 28 No. 4. “Poor Caroline, playing Chopin and crying,” laments Suzi. “Why don’t those love songs leave me satisfied?” Caroline asks on “Love Songs (Love Is A Many Razor Bladed Thing).” Things start to get brighter when they meet Dr. Domestic and are sent on a bus trip through space and time. But where in time do the Doopees end up? The packaging of the album might give us a clue: the cover features a clock with no hands as if to say every time is Doopee Time.


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    Get yourself a copy of Matt Bennett’s debut album “Terminal Cases” — out now!

    ★Purchase your copy here: https://fanatic.lnk.to/MattBennett

    Matt Bennett

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