RA MU’s Sole 1988 Album Gains Renewed Acclaim.
In the mid-1980s, during the golden age of Japanese idols, Momoko Kikuchi made a dramatic shift in her musical direction. Teaming up with a group backed by top-tier musicians including Yoshikazu Matsuura, a virtuoso honed in the fusion supergroup PRISM, and two powerful African American vocalists the RA MU released several singles before unveiling their one and only album. Now, this hidden gem is being reissued with its original obi strip and in a special pink vinyl edition.
Among the many Japanese boogie records from the '80s currently enjoying a resurgence both domestically and internationally, this album stands out for its exceptional quality and rarity. It features tracks like the digital funk masterpiece “Shonen ha Tenshi wo Korosu” (A5), and the midnight urban boogie “Tokyo Yabanjin” (B2), arranged by Hiroshi Shinkawa. Boldly incorporating the then-popular black contemporary (Bla-Con) sound, the album refines it into a sleek, brand-new style of kayokyoku (Japanese pop ballads).
The original pressing was released during the transitional period from vinyl to CD, making it a rare collector’s item. Now, the times have finally caught up with this long-overlooked masterpiece—enjoy the rediscovery.
