Spectreview: Shinichiro Yokota – I Know You Like It

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Considering how closely Japanese and American culture have become intertwined since WWII, it’s amazing how many old records from both countries are constantly resurfacing and resonating with younger generations. You see it everywhere: from Ryu Fukui’s lost piano album Scenery to the modern appreciation for Haruomi Hosono and all of his projects (including ‘70s folk rock band Happy End and synth pop pioneers Yellow Magic Orchestra) to the breezy, transportive allure of city pop (was there a song with a more fervent cult following last year than Mariya Takeuchi’s “Plastic Love”?). Shinichiro Yokota is one half of Far East Recording, a label founded in 1988 that strived to bring European house to the islands but ended up inventing a distinctly Japanese version, one that’s light and airy and aesthetically reminiscent of Shibuya streets and highways stretched across oceans. Yokoto’s distinct style, a melange of thin high-frequency synths and rhythm fills, comes through clearly on I Know You Like It, a cheekily-titled release that will hopefully see him find a greater American audience. Really, so little has changed in his approach to house music that two closing tracks, composed back in 1992 during Far East’s heyday, fit naturally within this collection. It’s good to hear that he’s gotten even better at his craft since then, as many of these tracks rival his best. Part of its charm is the use of classic synths and modulators and building something that paradoxically sounds fresh. Early highlight “Tokyo 018” is the world’s catchiest ringtone, stylish and plastic, with a lovely flute line and a guest hook by longtime collaborator and Far East founder Soichi Terada. “Timeless” rocks a fashionable jazz progression in anticipation of the runway, while “Simoon” feels like a house ballad, or a theme song for a rom-com about robots, complete with vocoders and video game blips. It’s all ridiculously pleasant, and with any luck Yokota’s return to music making will yield vast legions of fans overseas.

Recommended for getting trapped in the Midnight Channel.