Skip to product information
1 of 1

Light in the Attic

Shinichi Omata - Boku Neko Platanus Vinyl Record

Shinichi Omata - Boku Neko Platanus Vinyl Record

Regular price $38.99 USD
Regular price Sale price $38.99 USD
Sale Sold out

 

“The latest reissue from chOOn!! is Shinichi Omata’s Boku・Neko・Platanus (Expanded Edition), the seventh release from the label that specializes in obscure, archival and forgotten releases.

A Japanese synth curio? A lost techno-pop classic? So might run the standard view of the electronic album Boku・Neko・Platanus, recorded in 1984 by Shinichi Omata. The facts point that way. The futuristic Platonische Liebe and Omata’s technodelic take on the traditional Greek folk track Omorfoula (here titled Egyptische Knabe) are timeless electro tracks with a radically simple pop concept and robotic flavour that closely echo Japan’s most recognisable exports from the era – sounds and styles which rose to international prominence immediately following the economic boom that was taking shape in contemporary Japanese culture.

But, focusing only on such fragments misses the greater charms of the album – an argument made more convincing by the inclusion in this expanded edition of an archive of unreleased material from the original recording period. The music spans an unusually broad and contrasting range of influences, exploring the possibilities of mood music, imaginary soundtracks and pop dissonance, while also borrowing widely from films and contemporary arts. How Omata transformed this vast range of influences into synth-pop is the real magic here.

The original cassette edition was released by the Tokyo-based Indian grocery store, Ganso Nakaya Mugendo, located in the Koenji district of the city. During the early 1980s, interest in experimental music began to grow among a small group of committed local music fans and musicians. Small independent shops started playing a pivotal role in this nascent scene. First, they imported many of the obscure rarities that were gradually being reissued or bootlegged in the West. Later, as some of the regular customers and employees formed their own groups, many shop owners started establishing their own labels. Even then, Boku・Neko・Platanus was issued in extremely limited numbers – so much so that it’s incredible it ever came to light at all. The album is perhaps best understood as an outsider one-off, adrift from place, style, market and audience.

Omata was already garnering a reputation as a formidable musician before the days of Boku・Neko・Platanus. An early follower of European classical, Latin and Western styles, he was an accomplished keyboardist and sitar player who formed close relationships with artists and musicians in the burgeoning Tokyo avant-garde scene of the early 1980s.

In Japan, Omata is largely known only to electronic music enthusiasts and connoisseurs as a member of the cult synth-pop outfit DEA, whose Metaphysical Pop was released in 1985 on LLE, a sub-label of Marquee Moon Records, itself an offshoot of the notable experimental music magazine of the same name. Yet he is the mastermind behind a daring techno-pop sound that has remained almost entirely hidden for nearly 40 years.

What we can hear across the expanded edition of Boku・Neko・Platanus is not only a highly skillful instrumentalist at the peak of his powers, but also a daring experimentalist, who employed emerging computer and synth technology in innovative ways, and revitalized old school music by adapting it into contemporary settings.

“This was the kind of music I had always wanted to try”, he recalls in our sleevenote interview. Omata’s angle was that he was writing modern music, informed by contemporary developments elsewhere but without the stiffness of the formal academic scene. It’s all pop as far as he’s concerned.

Available for the first time on vinyl, including over fifty minutes of unreleased music not featured on the original cassette release and produced in cooperation with Shinichi Omata for chOOn!!."

Shipping Policy

Vinyl records are almost always shipped in wide whiplash mailers with a cardboard insert and a sheet of bubble. Opened/Pre-owned records are tested before shipment to insure good quality. Small corner dings on the record jacket are not allowed for exchanges.

Cassette tapes & CD's are shipped in bubble mailers.

Hats, toys, and figures are shipped in boxes.

Clothing are shipped in poly mailers.

Returns & Exchanges

HiFi LoFi Return Policy:

At HiFi LoFi, we are committed to ensuring your satisfaction with every purchase. To maintain transparency and provide you with a smooth shopping experience, our return policy is designed to be straightforward.

Returns Accepted Only for Incorrect Items Shipped:

We understand that mistakes can happen, and in the rare instance that you receive the wrong item, we are happy to facilitate a return. Our return policy is specifically limited to cases where the item you receive is not the one you ordered.

How to Initiate a Return:

Contact Us Promptly: If you believe you have received the wrong item, please contact our customer service team within 7 days of receiving your order. You can reach us at hflf.online@gmail or call us at 206-695-2869.

Provide Necessary Information: To expedite the process, please provide your order number, a clear description of the item received, and the item you originally ordered.

Return Authorization: Once we have verified the error, we will issue a return authorization and provide instructions on how to return the incorrect item.

Return Shipping: We will cover the cost of return shipping for the incorrect item. Please follow the provided instructions for returning the item in its original condition and packaging.

Conditions for Returns:

Returns are only accepted for incorrect items shipped.
The item must be in its original condition, unopened, and with all original packaging.

View full details
  • Free Shipping

    When you spend $120 or more on vinyl records, CD's, VHS, & cassette tapes; you'll get free media mail shipping.