Noh Mask: Oriented LP & Gaijin 7"

Because you've always wanted to hear a Belgian synthpop band's homage to Japan, I present Noh Mask to you. This was  a duo of Michel Silverstein and Jo Lemaire, who was in Belgian bands like The Names and Digital Dance. While an electronic concept album about Japanese culture could go quite wrong, these guys were obiously pros, as this album somehow effortlessly mixes synthpop, minimal electronics, and even a bit of industrial together with quite distict vocals. Almost every song is a winner here - New Horizons is a killer electropop song with a driving beat and bassline, Twilight in Tokyo is a bit industrial and dark, and the B side to the Giajin 7", Change of Roles, is a synthpop gem. Get this one; you will be pleasantly surprised!

Noh Mask: Oriented LP & Gaijin 7"

1984, Himalaya Records

LP tracks:

A1 Call From The Orient (4:51)

A2 Gaijin (4:35)

A3 Dancing With My Shadow (3:40)

A4 Maiko Girl (6:08)

B1 Empire Of The Signs (4:17)

B2 Twilight In Tokyo (5:59)

B3 New Horizons (6:32)

B4 Blossoming Port

B5 Dreams Of Youth (0:33)

7" tracks:

A Gaijin

B Change Of Roles

Click here to download these records!

POPSONG'S FACTORY 7"

Here is an obscure 7" from a Japanese band called Popsong's Factory. Not much is known about this record. I've seen it mentioned that it was released in 1981, but I have no proof that it actually was (no date anywhere on the record oof sleeves...) Both songs use synths and drum machines. Side A is an electropop song very much in the vein of the early Drinking Electricity singles (except sung in Japanese). Side B is a tripped-out minimal wave song with a simple, repetitive drumbeat, synth noises, dark-sounding sax melodies, and absolute vocoder overload. It takes a few listens to appreciate, but it's such a great art-damaged track that soon becomes endearing.

Here's the info:

Popsong's Factory
198?, Pillbox Records (PX 100000000)
A: My Pops
B: D'Ameja

Click here to download it.