A slinky, soulful set from the Japanese scene of the early 80s – one of those records from a time when it really seemed that jazz fusion was informing some of the best records from singers overseas – and that's definitely the case here! There's a warm jazzy glow to the record that's wonderful – and Takako Mamiya sings with a style that's right up there with some of the most sophisticated American soul singers of the period – particularly that shift that happened in the late 70s with artists like Phyllis Hyman or Marlena Shaw – although the lyrics here are all in Japanese. Genji Sawai produced, and handled some of the arrangements – and titles include "Love Trip", "One More Night", "Mayonaka No Joke", "All Or Nothing", "Chinese Restaurant", and "Nagisa De Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

A set that's especially sexy, and especially jazzy too – as Jun Miyake works here with a whole host of American fusion players – a really great lineup who make the record soar! Jun's definitely in the more fusion-oriented side of his music here – blowing trumpet and flugelhorn, and handling keyboards too – with a shifting array of great sidemen who include Michael Brecker on tenor, David Sanborn on alto, Victor Bailey on bass, and Poogie Bell on drums – plus some especially nice work from guitarist Bobby Broom, who's very much in the mode of his best Arista records, and even sings a bit on one cut too! Titles include "JFK Express", "Becoming To You", "Wish", "June Night Love", "Twist To Open", "Crossing", and "Sea Born Mind". CD

One of the coolest projects so far from Grey October Sounds – a set that has all the crispy beats and laidback vibe of previous records, but which also focuses on themes from anime as well! There's plenty of tunes from the world of anime, but they're nicely changed up with the instrumentation and production of Grey October Sounds – done as hip hop-styled instrumentals, but still with the gentler currents that echo the originals – including plenty of piano lines that float with a very dreamy vibe over the beats of the tracks! The record has all the charms you could hope for – covering songs Bleach, Saint Seiya,, K-ON! Dragon Ball and more. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest projects so far from Grey October Sounds – a set that has all the crispy beats and laidback vibe of previous records, but which also focuses on themes from anime as well! There's plenty of tunes from the world of Studio Ghibli, but they're nicely changed up with the instrumentation and production of Grey October Sounds – done as hip hop-styled instrumentals, but still with the gentler currents that echo the originals – including plenty of piano lines that float with a very dreamy vibe over the beats of the tracks! The record has all the charms you could hope for – and is one of the best Ghibli reworks we've heard, out of what is fast becoming a pretty big genre. CD