Ensemble Pittoresque - For This is Past

1983; 10 tracks

Ensemble Pittoresque was a minimal/synthpop band that formed in 1977, a time when bands like Faust and Can bombarded the mainstream with completely entrancing electronic music. Ensemble Pittoresque's sound is utterly weird, full of strange samples and varying atmospheres, but the effect is the same - we are captivated by the inventiveness of this group. Sometimes we are in the world of Doctor Who, visiting the hauntology/library music of Belbury Poly, and others we glide into This Heat-era experimentalism. When the vocals appear, things become slightly more human (they sound a lot like David Bowie), but altogether this album puts forth track after track of brilliant synthpop.

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浜崎あゆみ (Ayumi Hamasaki) - A Complete: All Singles

2008; 3 discs

This greatest hits collaboration is the celebration of Ayumi Hamasaki's tenth anniversary with the Avex Trax record label. A Complete: All Singles is a collection of all the singles Hamasaki has released since 1998.

I'm relatively new to the entire genre of j-pop, or at least the work of solo j-pop artists, but most fans will recognize 浜崎あゆみ as a leader of j-pop music. Ayumi is an award-winning Japanese singer and former actress, as well as an international fashion icon. Her music is synth-y and full of life. I really, really enjoy this style of pop - sophisticated, fun, worthwhile. I listened to the entire 3 CDs and immediately wanted to listen again. I guess it's not for everyone, but I was after good j-pop and I definitely found it in the music of Ayumi Hamasaki.

Disc 1
Disc 2
Disc 3