Mukatsuku Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Mukatsuku looks to the legendary Japanese downtempo producer Calm here for a new, hand-numbered 7" in the form of his 'Quiet Music Under The Moon' sampler. It features two tunes taken from his masterful new album, the first being 'Oyasumi, Ohayo' where subtle synths ripple beneath Balearic leads. It's heartbroken ambient introspection for late-night star gazing. On the flip, 'Moon Shower' is more hopeful and optimistic, with mellifluous layers of synth shimmer like the sun off the Med. It's beautiful and cathartic with Calm's majestic synth craft front and centre.

Review: Formed in 1974 with bassist/vocalist Rick Cua, drummer Tommy Rozzano, keyboardist Larry Arlotta, and lead singer/percussionist Ricky Chisholm. Their name is an acronym for the founding member's last names. After five years on the live circuit, Crac's troupe of musicians created their one and only record and self-released it in 1980. Super smooth in its delivery, broad in its style and detailed with rich harmonies, soothing instrumentation and a yacht-meets-rare-groove sense of calm and warmth, it's been a cult release ever since fetching triple figures on auction sites... until now. Sitting somewhere between the classic sounds of the Doobie Brothers and the more contemporary sun-kissed charm of Paqua, there's a timelessness to this that will last another 40 years and beyond.

Review: Mukatsuku is back with another of their lovingly hand-numbered 180-gram vinyl 12" pressings and cast us back to 2001. That is when the cult Japanese outfit Kyoto Jazz Massive dropped their Spirit Of The Sun album on Compost Records and now more than two decades on it has been covered by Echoes Of A New Dawn Orchestra (aka international band members for Kyoto Jazz Massive). In this particular version, five members of Echoes Of A Dawn Orchestra also happen to be part of outfit Jeroboam who record for blazing Dutch label Space Grapes. It's a funky jazz flex with seductive horns and twanging bass riffs that make for an irresistible dancer. On the backside, you can enjoy an unreleased instrumental of the original.

Review: Mukatsuku are long-time friends with Norway's Espen Horne so it makes sense they have moved to issue a couple of instrumentals following on from the quickly sold out success of a limited 7" he dropped on Wah Wah 45's in late 2023. This hand-numbered 45 features 'Bakeren' which in vocal form was a big hit with Gilles Peterson and Craig Charles amongst others. On the flip is a version of Bergen Sunrays', here renamed 'Rory's Sunrays', and featuring some great organ work from London-based musician Rory More.