Thursday, June 25, 2026 • Vinyl Finds from Around the World
Hip Seagull
A 1978 Japanese jazz classic and one of trumpeter Terumasa Hino's most graceful genre-crossing works. It opens in dreamlike melody, Mikio Masuda layering Fender Rhodes textures across a five-minute build into flowing Jazz Funk, with a stacked lineup — Kosuke Mine, Motohiko Hino, Kimiko Kasai, even John Scofield on guitar. Reissued under Yusuke Ogawa's PROJECT Re:VINYL series.
Communication
Junko Yagami's first album after moving to MOON Records in 1985, reissued here on clear blue vinyl. Arranged by Shiro Sagisu, Ken Yajima and Masaaki Omura, it fuses '80s Black Contemporary, Electro Boogie and Reggae. The title track is hailed as a peak of Japanese Electro Boogie, while "Johannesburg" — later included on UK label Time Capsule's Tokyo Riddim compilation — carries an Electro Reggae flavor long chased by DJs and collectors.
Sky View
A fresh 1976 set from saxophonist Hidefumi Toki in a one-horn quartet format. The 12-minute title track unfurls his warm, expansive sax lines against Mikio Masuda's elegant keys, with Yoshio Ikeda and Steve Jackson in support. Tender and finely drawn, it captures the young Toki's charm — reissued under Yusuke Ogawa's PROJECT Re:VINYL.
Hazel Eyes
Sam Smith's fifth studio album, a heartfelt ode to New York. It captures vulnerability, artistic freedom and self-reflection with his signature delicacy, featuring the singles "My Guy," "To Be Free" and "Love Is A Stillness."
The Keeper
Marcus D's 2024 album draws on ancient Japanese myth and culture, weaving synths and a vast vinyl collection into something both familiar and new. Solid Boom Bap beats sit inside a distinctly "wa" soundscape, with guests Noveliss, Substantial, Gerson Zaragoza and Japanese scratch DJ Spin Master A-1. Essential for fans of his Lo-fi / Jazz Hip Hop signature.
龍神の夢
A 2018 instrumental Lo-fi album from Marcus D, inspired by Japanese myth and landscape — temples, streetscapes and nature rendered as a dreamlike "dragon-god" realm. Its 27 tracks blend jazz and ambient over warm SP-404 beats in the relaxed Nujabes lineage. Reissued as a pink-marble-and-pink 2LP, limited to 260 worldwide.
The Lone Wolf LP
Marcus D's early standout from 2015, reissued for its tenth anniversary. Built around his melancholic worldview, it gathers Japanese players — DJ OKAWARI, Nujabes protégé nitsua — alongside rappers Substantial, Blu and the masked crew MIDICRONICA (of Samurai Champloo fame). Remastered from the original mixes by veteran engineer Justin Weis via Ampex analog tape, limited to 300 hand-numbered copies.
Destiny
A solo work from Kyoto Jazz Massive's Shuya Okino under the theme "Jazz Meets Boogie," mixing covers and originals with his expert selector's touch. "Still In Love" was named Gilles Peterson's second-best single of 2010 on WORLD WIDE; this marks its first vinyl pressing, with guests including N'Dea Davenport, Navasha Daya and Diviniti.
Best Of Fujii Kaze 2020-2024
Fujii Kaze's first best-of, collecting signature songs like "Matsuri," "Kirari," "Shinunoga E-Wa" and "Michite Yuku." Licensed by Universal Japan and pressed exclusively in China; with no import route through Taiwan/HK/Macau, THT brought in this sole edition from the US, restocking in September.
TOKYOHUM
Rooted in hip-hop yet forever pushing new forms, DJ KRUSH delivers his 14th studio album. Built on the concept of "the pulse of the city," its ten tracks weave a soundscape of the modern metropolis, featuring Riko Dan (UK), MC Yallah (Kenya/Uganda) and Japan's ELIM. The cover is by B-boy sculptor Taku Obata. Issued on 2LP, CD and cassette, the latter two adding three instrumental tracks.
Buena Vista Social Club (30th Anniversary Edition)
One of the most iconic recordings of the 20th century — the Grammy-winning, eight-million-selling phenomenon — reissued for its 30th anniversary as a stunning Pearl Sunrise colored 2LP. Sourced from the carefully restored 2021 masters, with the full complement of precious bonus tracks.
Rising Son
Trumpeter Takuya Kuroda's signature album, back for what may be a final July restock. It gathers "Rising Son," "Afro Blues" and "Piri Piri" alongside a cover of Roy Ayers' "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" (with a Joe Armon-Jones remix), blending jazz, funk and soul into a warm groove.
Signature Collection Volume.1
A 30-years-in-waiting first best-of from Japanese dream-pop legends sugar plant, pressed on limited clear mint-green vinyl. Walls of sound surge quietly like waves and eddies beneath clear, weightless vocals, analog mastering lending unprecedented space and presence. Released by a Higashi-Azabu design studio in Tokyo, limited to 300 worldwide, collecting eight career highlights including "ten years," "rise" and "butterfly."
Tortoise
A founding text of post-rock, reissued in 2026. In 1994 this instrumental supergroup — cross-disciplinary players converging in Chicago around a minimalist aesthetic — released their legendary self-titled debut. Treating the studio as a compositional tool and "sixth member," recorded by John McEntire at Idful Studios, it set the template for the genre. Its collective experimentation and precise rhythms still feel vivid.
A 1978 rarity from Koichi Matsukaze, the saxophone master who helped lead Japan's avant-garde jazz wave, given a heavyweight reissue by BBE Music. The ALM original is so scarce it fetched astronomical prices second-hand. Matsukaze leads drummer Ryojiro Furusawa, bassist Tamio Kawabata and pianist Toshiyuki Daitoku through spiritual jazz and free improvisation; featured on the J Jazz: Deep Modern Jazz From Japan 1969-1984 compilation, with obi and liner notes.