Time Capsule Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Niningashi's elusive 1974 debut Heavy Way emerged as a Japanese acid folk treasure that showcased Kazuhisa Okubo's musical prowess amidst his pharmaceutical studies. This album marked a pivotal moment in Okubo's life and Japanese society, blending pastoral nostalgia with urban allure. Immersed in Tokyo's acid folk scene, Okubo and his band craft a unique sound across nine tracks, from the Neil Young-esque 'Ameagari' to the whimsical 'Semai Boku No Heyade.' Despite subsequent success with bands like Neko and Kaze, Heavy Way remains shrouded in mystery, its soft allure drawing a dedicated online following. It has in part previously featured in Time Capsule's Nippon Acid Folk collection and is a prized relic of Japan's musical past that now gets a full reissue.

Review: Time Capsule exposes a few of the myriad pathways in Japan's 70s psychedelic soul wormhole, when a bountiful crop of music emerged from musicians inspired by homespun hero Haruomi Hosono's Happy End project, as well as the meandering ballads emerging from the dissolution of the 1960s protest movements. From the charming, Hosono-esque Francophile lounge funk of Hiroshi Kamayatsu's 'Have You Smoked Gauloise?' to the Tadashi Goino Group's strikingly sparse drum machine n' synth incantation 'Jikan Wo Koero Go Beyond Time', almost sounding like Goino is flanked by Vega and Rev at times, to the theatrical, almost duul-esque closing ballad 'Heya No Naka In The Room', the heads at Time Capsule assemble a compelling and kaleidoscopic anthology of forgotten Japanese gems.

Review: Expertly curated by Time Capsule, Nippon Acid Folk 1970-1980 offers an authentic trip through Japan's rich psychedelic folk scene. Across its eight standout tracks, the album showcases a diverse range of artists and styles, from dreamy acoustic ballads to experimental electronic compositions. Each song is a testament to the creativity and innovation of the era, blending traditional Japanese folk elements with psychedelic and avant-garde influences from around the wider musical world. The album's carefully curated selection means it plays out with a sense of story that provides a fascinating glimpse into a unique period of Japanese music history. This one then is a must-listen for enthusiasts of experimental folk and global psychedelia.

Review: The more erudite record digger will know that Japan has long since had a thriving ska, dub and reggae scene. This new entry in the Nippon series from London's Time Capsule label proves that - Tokyo Riddim 1976-1985 dives deep into its early days when J-reggae artists were looking to the likes of UB40 and The Police for inspiration rather than the Jamaican originators. And you can hear that here in this fine collection of backbeat gems which are playful, loose and catchy, with subtle hints of city-pop and new-wave sounds. These tracks have only been available in Japan before and are now sure to find a welcome new audience on European shores.

Review: Probably one of the most fascinating Japanese compilations to ever receive a release since 'Diggin' In The Carts', Time Capsule's 'Anime & Manga Synth Pop Soundtracks 1984-1990' takes a thorough look at the genre when it was well underway and in its heyday, charting just eight cuts of the sauciest lo-fi bangers for the cartoon style. Opener 'Honowo' is a proto-sinogrimey, synthpoppy slice of city pop for the period manga Yume No Ishibumi. Meanwhile, 'Utage' recalls Eurythmics or Talking Heads with a retro-classic, quantized groove. A great snapshot of Japanese music media from a time of upheaval.

Review: Angolan guitarist and musicologist Mario Rui Silva is under the microscope on this fantastic new reissue from Time Capsule. It is a retrospective of 80s recordings that take in myriad style including jazz, acoustic, Mexican cantina, swinging serenades and folky village sing alongs. The whole record is delightfully summery and airy, with feel good grooves and subtle funk styles all making it a perfect accompaniment to a lazy afternoon in the sun or an evening drinking with friends. While analogies can be found in Brazilian artists like Jorge Ben, Lo Borges, and Milton Nascimento, Rui Silva is in a world of his own as he worked to preserve traditional musics.

Review: Serginho Meriti is a forgotten great of Brazilian funk, who was largely active in the early 80s but had thus far been overlooked by the reissue hounds. That all changes now as Time Capsule jump on his classic 1981 album "Bons Momentos", which transmits to you across the ages in a beautiful cascade of limber Latin heat. The tracks are playful and joyous, not least when aping recognisable musical motifs on tracks like "Malandro Velho". The slower jams hold up too - throughout the honey-coated arrangements and Meriti's smooth croon take on an intoxicating quality that can't fail to leave you feeling good, whatever the weather.