Three film soundtracks from Morio Agata, including the animated film Red Elegy. CD

A very groovy album from 70s Japan – one that makes all the best use of the sexy vocal style of Kaoru Yumi, set to a warm mix of funky and easygoing backings! Yumi's as famous for her appearances on screen as she is on record – a role that was unified here through the scandalous album cover – which maybe gets at the way her music was marketed. Yet despite that crass approach, Kaoru's got a strong vocal style too – one that really fits well with the backings, no matter the style – just the right subtle sense of drama from the earlier generation, but refitted here for a nice 70s approach. Lyrics are in Japanese throughout – and titles include "Delta Queen", "Miami Beach Rumba", and "Taboo". LP, Vinyl record album

Soulful city pop from the end of the 70s – a record that features the unique vocal stylings of Ginji Ito next to these really groovy, surprisingly jazzy arrangements – which also include some work from Ryuichi Sakamoto! The instrumentation alone is worth the price of admission – with a great mix of percussion and tight drum work next to keyboards, guitar, and some great work on sax and flute from Kazuo Takahaski. Sakamoto plays keys, lyrics are in Japanese, and titles include "Sweet Daddy", "King Kong", "Deadly Drive", "I'm Telling You Now", and "Hobo's Lullaby". LP, Vinyl record album

A fictitious soundtrack inspired by the likes of Francois de Roubaix and Phil Spector! CD

A nicely expanded version of the great Ghibli Jazz concept – delivered here in a live setting that's maybe got even more brilliance than the studio albums! There's a dynamic sense of presentation right from the start, partly the sense of the concert space in the mix, partly the energy from the crowd – and if anything, these tunes are more groovers than the previous studio albums – and topped with really great vocals from Yuriko Kuwahara. Titles include "Tonari No Totoro", "Kaze No Toorimichi", "Mononokehime", "Itsumo Nandodemo", "Jinsei No Merry Go Round", and "Umi No Mieru Machi". LP, Vinyl record album