Somewhere Between: Mutant Pop, Electronic Minimalism & Shadow Sounds of Japan 1980–1988 hovers vibe–wise between two distinct poles within Light In The Attic’s acclaimed Japan Archival Series—Kankyō Ongaku: Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980–1990 and Pacifc Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1976–1986.
Sonically, Somewhere Between mines the midpoint between Kankyō Ongaku’s sparkling atmospherics and Pacifc Breeze’s metropolitan boogie. The collection, much of it released for the !rst time outside Japan, encompasses ambient pop, underground electronics, liminal minimalism and shadow sounds—all descriptor semphasizing the hazy nature of the nebula. From the avant–minimalism of Mkwaju Ensemble, to the left!eld techno–pop of Noriko Miyamoto (featuring members of YMO), and highlights from the groundbreaking Osaka underground label Vanity Records, these are blurry constellations defying collective categorization.