Music from Japan

7FO, an electronic musician/producer based in Osaka, has released numerous works on renowned labels such as Rvng Intl., Métron Records, and EM Records. In 2022, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, 7FO brought forth the album "蘭 - 茫天" through Conatala.
 Now…

*2023 stock* "On a summer-like evening of May 2012 in Milan, Italy, three master improvisers played together for the first time, and created music full of spontaneity and ethereal beauty at JapzItaly – Jazz Aid for Japanese Children. At a superficial…

Tip! Surface World is pleased to share David Lee Myers (aka Arcane Device) and Toshimaru Nakamura’s Elements, a remote collection written and assembled in tandem at the suggestion of the label. Sharing an idiosyncratic approach to feedback-based soun…

Live recordings of heavy weigh Japanese saxophone wizard Akira Sakata Europen tour in 2022. In Greece together with Giovanni di Domenico: piano, Giotis Damianidis: electric guitar, Petros Damianidis: double bass, Stephanos Chytiris: drums; in Italy w…

A documentation of prolific Japanese noise master Merzbow's double show at London's Cafe OTO in October 2016.

Tip! Noise Matrix unleashes material from the same sessions as noisembryo and counterpart 'hole' and selected recordings from the time period. Originally released as a bonus disc on the definitive ’Noisembryo' 2xcd edition  noise matrix absolutely ca…

Three musicians of different generations came together to form this unusual free jazz trio. Comprised of veteran musician Akira Sakata (alto sax, clarinet, narration), noted young drummer Raiga Hayashi, and Toshimaru Nakamura (no-input mixing board)—…

Yui Onodera and Takashi Kokubo are two visionary artists hailing from Japan, known for theirexceptional ability to create captivating and immersive sonic experiences. The compositionsseamlessly blend Yui Onodera's minimalist sensibilities with Takash…

*2023 stock* Alto sax/clarinet player Akira Sakata is a legend of Japan’s free jazz scene. Ken Ikeda is a musician who resided for many years in New York and London, and has been based in Tokyo since his return to Japan from the UK in 2020. In 2021, …

"If Surround can be listened to as music that’s as close to air itself, allowing us to enter each listener’s sound scenery, or as something that exists within a new perspective, expanding the middle ground between sound and music, and transforming it…

Matching expansive ambience with environmental sound, Chihei Hatakeyama’s new album continues Field Records’ exploration of Japan and the Netherlands' shared approach to water management. As with Sugai Ken’s 2020 album Tone River, a specific project …

This is a masterpiece album released in 1993 on Alchemy Records by Masonna, a solo project of Mazo Yamazaki who is acclaimed as one of the leading artists of Japanoise along with Merzbow and Emergency Staircase. It is finally being revived on vinyl! …

Not for the faint of heart! Predating both Sonic Youth and Swans’ debut albums by a year, Zourokuno Kibyou, initially released in 1982, quickly vaulted Kansai noise rockers Hijokaidan to indie music fame. Compiling their early, borderline grotesque, …

The Return of Sai Yoshiko! At first glance, the partnership between Jojo Hiroshige and Yoshiko Sai seems implausible. After all, what could the King of Noise and the mystical folk singer have in common? Released in 2001, and marking the first musical…

*2023 stock. 70 copies limited edition* Takahiro Mukai is a Japanese composer, born in Osaka and also now based in Osaka.

"More unearthed demo recordings by the Japanese psychedelic noise legends Les Rallizes Dénudés. Recorded in Azabu, Tokyo 1985." - Take It Acid Is. Vol. 2 of a two-volume set.

Freaked out lo-fi psychedelic noise recordings from 1972 and 1980 by the mythical Japanese psych rockers Les Rallizes Dénudés, including the 23 minute "Guitar Jam" filling the complete A-side, a sort of Stooges riff with Ramones like drumming ending …

** 2CDs housed in a gatefold wallet**  In 1991, Les Rallizes Denudes released three full-length albums on CD, the band’s first-ever recordings to be made available since their formation in Kyoto more than two decades prior. In 1993, the band appeared…

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Studio Songs! Popular titles that have been out of stock for a long time are being reissued at mid-price. The first title is the miraculous duo of Togashi and Takayanagi. Although the album is only 35 minutes and 5…

First ever vinyl pressing of Haruomi Hosono's full album N.D.E. Featuring Goh Hotoda, Yasuhiko Terada, Yasuaki Shimizu, Bill Laswell & François Kevorkian.  Ever since his days as a pioneer of Japanese electronic music in the 1970s, Haruomi Hosono has…