Dubby & Antal present – Techno Kayō Vol. 1: Japanese Techno Pop 1981–1989

Curated by Tokyo record shop owner Dubby and Rush Hour co-founder Antal, this new volume (and there is, supposedly more to come!) brings together a dancefloor-friendly selection of Japanese proto-techno, electro-pop and synthpop from the 1980s.

Pressed at 45RPM and available in vinyl and CD only, the release comes with an OBI strip and insert featuring liner notes.

The compilation traces the rise of techno kayō, a late-1970s Japanese genre that fused kayōkyoku pop traditions with futuristic synths and drum machines. Influenced by European pioneers like Kraftwerk yet unmistakably Japanese, the sound was pushed forward by artists such as Yellow Magic Orchestra, bridging nostalgia and modernity in a way that still resonates today.

As one of the first to introduce Japanese music to audiences abroad, Dubby has now joined forces with Antal to launch the opening chapter in what promises to be an ongoing series of compilations.

As with everything Rush Hour releases, this one is an absolute veritable gem. Hats off to Antal for the (as ever) fantastic A&R duties, and of course to Dubby for helping to breathe new life into these pop classics.

Buy/listen to the release here