Release-Highlights in April 2024 6 Items

An Italian disco classic produced by one of Italy's top disco pop entrepreneurs – Constantino Paolini – featuring the voice of Vesuvian actress and TV personality Patrizia Pellegrino. “Musica Spaziale” is a fast paced synthy disco number adorned with signorina Pellegrino's silky smooth vocals, featuring lusty cosmic nuanced lyrics that arguably invite the listener to some form of astral bliss in the company of the blond starlet. A classic amongst collectors and specialists of the genre, made available to your record collections once again without having to sell any of your kidneys. In addition, also an extended edit, that patiently slows down the tempo but also extends this cosmic climax on the dancefloor in a manner respectful to the original masterpiece, allowing the dancers to savor every moment of this celestial voyage without all the rush of the 7" version . Flip it and things get propelled in direction to some other acidic orbits with DJ Asshole's tripped out downtempo 8' intervention. Restored, remastered and featuring original “coloring book” style artwork from its original release date.

Recording technology was completely revolutionized in the 80s by the multitrack recorder, with the popularity of 24-channel SSL consoles sweeping the world. Japanese pop music created during this wave of digital improvement is now recognized worldwide as "City Pop." Techno Pop was another offshoot born of the same revolution. Precise, computer-controlled beats produced by groups like Yellow Magic Orchestra (ymo) introduced a different type of sound to the masses. By now, these works have been brought into the international limelight and continue to be a major influence on today's music.

At the center of Tokyo’s Techno Pop scene was Alfa/yen Records. The label left behind an impressive body of work, but much of it wasn't made widely available... until now! This new, definitive compilation focuses on the music archives of the YEN Records catalog, available for the first time exclusively at Light in the Attic. This is a true celebration of Japan's Techno Pop scene of the 80s, reissued with the intent that future generations, internationally, will be able to discover, enjoy, and appreciate Alfa/yen and its significant contributions to the sonic landscape of the 80s and beyond.

Alfa/yen

The label was established by Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in May 1982, within Alfa Records. For Haruomi Hosono, it was a long-awaited label driven by producers and artists, and for Yukihiro Takahashi, he enjoyed experimenting with his works at a private studio. The label continued to release high-quality works not just by YMO and related artists but also unique artists such as Hajime Tachibana and Jun Togawa, and cutting-edge bands such as Testpattern and Interior. Unfortunately, the label ended in May 1985, but its success led to a later boom in indie labels, and it continues to have a profound impact on Japanese music.

After a hiatus of almost 4 years Berlin-based label Avec Plaisir Records is finally back with their second outing: A stunning collection of six almost forgotten Progressive Rock oddities by the Austrian Band Crazy Temple.

Being mostly active in the late 70ies, the bunch of youngsters around the songwriting duo Günter Schiller and Herbert Bachinger only released one cassette „Heavy Birth“ as well as the sought-after 7-inch record „Homecomer“ in 1980 shortly before the band was scattered to the four winds. Their productions were recorded in the myth-enshrouded Ebensee Studio, were two members of the band were on the payroll.

Despite their fairly young age Crazy Temple established a very unique and authentic sound, carried by breezy synthesizers, meandering guitar-solos and the mature voice of Günter Schiller that seems heavily influenced by the favorite bands of their time. Being able to maintain a room in „Schloss Ebenzweier“ where already Franz Schubert was composing might have helped equally as the herbs the teens were smoking during countless hours of rehearsal.

The completion of the first long-player by Crazy Temple was originally planned for early 1981 - 43 years later the plan is put into action with the help of Avec Plaisir founders Sandra & Hendrik Stein. The record comes with six fully remastered original tracks recorded in 1980 complemented by three different takes on „Ev’rything’s Alright“ and „Homecomer“ by label-wright Sandra’s Alias Frinda di Lanco. The reproduction of Oto Atman’s etching „Die Träumerin von Eden“ as cover artwork adds zest to the authentic look of this release.