FEATURES

• The second edition of Korean AOR / City Pop compilation
• 1xLP pressed on Hot Pink Vinyl
• Featuring OBI Strip
• Newly illustrated artwork by Kwon Seo-young (tototatatu)
• 4-panel insert with extensive liner notes

DESCRIPTION

During the 1980s, Japan's economy experienced a bubble economy (バブル 景気), which created a sense of prosperity and leisure for the people. As a result, more and more people were drawn to city life, which brought about a new form of music called city pop. This urban-tinged music was created by artists such as Hosono Haruomi, Tatsuro Yamashita, and Mariya Takeuchi and was characterized by elements of Western soft rock, AOR, contemporary R&B, and funk. The city pop boom faded away with the collapse of the economic bubble, but it went on to influence the Shibuya-kei style that developed in the 1990s around Tokyo's Shibuya district.

Recently, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of city pop, to the point where it has become a central position in hipster culture. This resurgence can be attributed to the desire to experience and enjoy things from before one's own time, as well as the nostalgia of those who grew up during the 1980s.

The term "city pop" was more of a marketing slogan than a descriptor of a particular music style or genre, but it was rediscovered and redefined amid the "new-tro" vogue of the late 2000s. The appeal of city pop stems from the sensational and affective descriptors associated with the term itself, such as sophistication, relaxedness, comfort, freshness, dynamism, elegance, radiance, sweetness, as well as the splendor and romanticism associated with the city.

In addition to Japan, there is also a growing interest in Korean city pop, which is popular among a younger generation that did not grow up during the 1980s and 1990s.

Dong-A Records was a record label that played a significant role in the development of Korean pop music. The label's roster of artists included a diverse range of musicians who produced high-quality albums that were recorded meticulously. The label's heyday was during the mid-80s to the early-90s when gayo music in Korea had matured, and musicians were beginning to incorporate a range of influences from pop, rock, and jazz to create a unique sound that set them apart from previous generations of gayo acts. The 10 tracks on the compilation album "Our Town: Jazz Fusion, Funky Pop & Bossa Gayo Tracks from Dong-A Records" were selected by the DJ Tiger Disco, who has made a name for himself in the retro resurgence by specializing in funk/disco gayo from the 80s.

The Korean City Pop scene has also gained attention, with names like Yoon Soo-il Band or the City Boys, Lee Jae-min, Bom Yeoreum Gaeul Kyeoul (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter), Kim Hyun-Chul, Yoon Sang, Jang Pil-soon, Bitgwa Sogeum (Light & Salt), Yang Soo-Kyung, Nami, Lee Eun-ha, and Hye-Eunyi being mentioned as key figures in the genre. The music of these artists has a timeless quality that appeals to listeners of all ages, and their popularity continues to grow. The resurgence of city pop has also led to a renewed interest in other genres of music from the 80s and 90s, as listeners seek out new sounds and experiences.

Overall, the popularity of city pop can be seen as a reflection of our cultural fascination with the past, and our desire to connect with a time that we may not have experienced firsthand. Through music, we can transport ourselves to another era and immerse ourselves in its sounds, styles, and sensibilities.

TRACKLIST

1. BITGWA SOGEUM (LIGHT & SALT) 'The Fairy of Shampoo'
2. HAN SANG-WON 'Seoul, Soul, Soul'
3. YASHA ‘Snow-fighting Kids’
4. JEONG WON-YEONG 'Bygone Days'
5. KONA 'The End of Summer'
6. JANG PIL-SOON 'Before You Know It'
7. KIM HYUN-CHUL 'One Evening, On My Way Back from Hweng-gye'
8. SONG HONG-SUP 'When Tomorrow Comes'
9. LEE JUNG-SUN 'Dancing Child'
10. OH SEOK-JUN ‘Since You Left’

A1 빛과소금– 샴푸의 요정
A2 봄여름가을겨울– 잃어버린 자전거에 얽힌 지난 이야기
A3 한상원– Seoul, Soul, Soul
A4 정원영– 가버린 날들
A5 코나– 여름의 끝
B1 장필순– 어느새
B2 김현철– 횡계에서 돌아오는 저녁
B3 송홍섭– 내일이 다가오면
B4 이정선*– 춤추는 꼬마
B5 오석준– 그대 떠난 후

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