A quite famous (French) proverb says : beware of the sleeping water ! Well, although we came to slow down a bit our update schedule, we’re not sleeping at all ! Another couple of weeks and you’re gonna see what our soon to be opened record shop man has selected for you.
Our Single of the Week comes courtesy of Maxine Inniss and no doubt you should… appreciate her latest effort alongside NYC producers George Mena & Franke Estevez. On our going back 2 da roots process, we welcome Stevie Wonder’s 1982 classic ‘Do I Do’ as the openener to our brand new Vintage Choice’’ section. On our chat front, our sweet Céline has managed to have a conv with US producer/musician James Duncan best known for his collabs with artists such as Metro Area & Morgan Gueist. Meanwhile our regular (good) groove collectors Nik Weston and JMIrie deliver the latest fruits of their researches on their resopective columns…
NIPPON NIK CORNER
Recently came back from Japan at what must be one of the best times of the year to visit : Spring ! From mid May onwards till September, the weather is just too hot n humid for my liking... We had a great time with Calm, Bashico & Aflex Combo spinning at one party of mine in Kumamoto and then great gigs in Tokyo with amongst others Kei Kobayshi & Grooveman Spot. Look out for a Japan only compilation Nu Style that I've done for Tokyo label Nuro which is a selection of European artists featuring exclusive material/ versions from Bugz member Daz I Q (as Espionage), B.L.E.S.S, Beat Assailant, Robb Scott , Nutropic, Easy Life Natural & Phuturistix. Should be out in July.
Big love as ever to Masaya Fantasista & the whole Jazzy Sport crew plus everyone who made the effort to visit at the club parties we did or hook up. Masaya from Jazzy Sport (who incidently has his Breakthrough album out on Ki/oon now KSCL-828) plays at Onward International at 23 Orchard Street on 30th June alongside the Tokyo Stax Groove dancers. Email me
Fukuoka artist Ino Hidefumi has just put out another single....a version of Sparticus for Innocent Recordings. If you like rhodes, then Ino is your man ! Osaka Monorail recently put out a killer JB's style funk 7'', ‘Pick Up The Pieces part 1’. Recomended. As far as I'm concerned, It’s the best thing they've released so far. Other 12's to check are the Pete Philly & Perquisite 12 (with guest vocals from Talib Kweli with DJ Mitsu the Beats remix) . Pieter at the USA label tells me it’s exclusive to Japan till at least 2006 !
Biggest gossip of the moment is that a highly credible Japan producer/artist who incidently has just released an album on a certain UK based label with support from Louie Vega, Francois Kevorkian & Danny Krivit has just sold a million singles in 3 weeks under the guise of the artist Tongari Kids with an annoying & repetitive kids techno J Pop track called 'Megane'.The artist who hopes to keep his identity secret said to me in Tokyo it was just a joke really. And I'm kind of embarrased about it... Especially as we're getting all kinds of remix offers from various Japan labels ready to give large amounts of money to do reliftings on the same kind of tip for their artists. Thing is I normally sell 50,000 albums of my real stuff and to sell 20 times this amount on a single in 3 weeks is very bizarre...even in Japan !!!
Bakura (a Japan only project of broken beat artists Domu & Marin) are getting geared up to release a full length album on Village Again Records in early August to coincide with a full nationwide Japan tour with a 12'' on Osaka label Especial in late July.
Yukihiro Fukutomi who used to be signed to King Street in USA has an album Equality out on UK label Pantone mid summer with guest spots from Ernesto, Rich Medina, Lady Alma & Victor Davies.
Modaji has a brand new album out next month under the guise of Harvey Lindo featuring hip hop guests Maspyke & Count Bass D on Planet Groove whilst Joe Claussell, a regular visitor to these shores, recently released some Japan only & very limited 12''s on his Sacred Rhythm imprint which have caused the spiritual house massive getting frantic to get copies.One track 'Mafungo' is deep afro dancefloor heaven... You neeed this !!
The frantic 6 piece nu jazz act & Tokyo based Soil & Pimp who have been heavily championed from Radio 1's Gilles Peterson with ongoing weekly national airplay have sold 20,000 albums in the last few months in Japan. Gilles loves’ em so much that he's bringing them to London, not once but twice where they will perform at London's Cargo (August) & Fabric (November). Meanwhile global guests to visit in June include Thomas Prins, Timmy Regisford, Kirk Degiorgio, Victor Calderone, Simon Dunmore (Defected), Daniel Wang. Bugz in the Attic hadwicked gigs at Yellow....DJ's touring in July include Alexander Robotnick, Derrick May, Stacey Pullen, Adam Freeland, 4 Hero & Kaidi Tatham.
The World famous Fuji Rock Festival kicks off over 3 days 29/30/31 July and features amoungst others this year Coldplay, New Order, Dinosaur Jnr, Laurent Garnier, Fatboy Slim, Prefuse 73, Amp Fiddler, Soulive, Peanut Butter Wolf, Soil & Pimp, Mylo and even reggae legends Steel Pulse !
For all your Japanese only nu jazz & hipity hop 12'' needs & obsessions, email
Any Japan news email Nik Mukatsuku at
NIPPON NIK MUKATSUKU TOP 15 CHART
BREAKTHROUGH - THIS WAY FEAT MASPYKE - KI/OON
PETE PHILLY & PERQUISITE FEAT TALIB KWELI - HOPE (DJ MITSU THE BEATS ReMiX) - P VINE
DOMU - ALBUM SAMPLER - ESPECIAL
BUN - WHAT’S THE DEAL featuring PHIFE DAWG - PSYCHO TREE
INO HIDEFUMI - SPARTICUS - INNOCENT
VARIOUS - GEMS EP VOL 2- PLEASURE PRODUCTS
PROCUSSIONS - WHATS YOUR NAME - MICLIFE
JAZZTRONIK - MADRUGADA - ESPECIAL
LAVE - CLARA (DA LATA MIX) - MS ENTERTAINMENT
VOICE - MEDIOCRE - P VINE