Tokyo Funk Diva 1981-1988
Tracklist
While a celebrated and well-known voice in her native Japan throughout the 1980s, the work of Hitomi 'Penny' Tohyama is pretty much unknown elsewhere in the World. Hence this retrospective of her 'peak period' (1981-88) from Wewantsounds, curated by renowned Japanese music specialist Nick Luscombe. Rich in glossy, synth-heavy blends of boogie, funk, soul and city pop, it's a vibrant and kaleidoscopic collection that does a fantastic job in showcasing Tohyama's vocal skills. Highlights are plentiful, from the horn-enhanced, slap bass-sporting excellence of 'Brand New Day' and the NYC boogie style tactility of 'Love The Competition', to the mid-tempo swell of 'Instant Polaroid', driving dancefloor workout 'Call Me', and the dewy-eyed Zapp-goes-City Pop sweetness of 'Exotic Yokogao'.