Heisei No Oto (Japanese Left-Field Pop From The CD Age, 1989–1996)
Heisei No Oto (Japanese Left-Field Pop From The CD Age, 1989–1996)
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A crystalline time capsule of Japan’s most overlooked musical era—Heisei No Oto is a deep dive into the CD-only years where ambient pop, jazzy electronics, and synth-splashed soul thrived just below the surface.
Compiled by Eiji Taniguchi (Revelation Time) and Norio Sato (Rare Groove), this 2LP collection for Music From Memory zooms in on a moment of rapid transformation: the dawn of the Heisei era, when Japan’s shift to CD formats unlocked a new kind of experimental freedom. Think synthesizer-heavy dream pop, lo-fi new age, moody lovers rock, outsider house, and mystic slow jams with just enough polish to glide, but enough weirdness to wobble.
These aren’t your algorithm-approved city pop anthems. Instead, you get lush B-side gems and private press oddities from legends like Haruomi Hosono and Yasuaki Shimizu, alongside emerging artists who melted ambient textures, jazz phrasing, traditional instrumentation, and pop structures into something beautifully in-between. Every track here exists in its own little world—refined by the CD era’s production tools, but driven by analog curiosity and a quietly radical spirit.
Includes liner notes by Chee Shimizu and full-sleeve artwork by Hagihara Takuya. For fans of Hosono, Toshifumi Hinata, early Yellow Magic Orchestra solo material, and anyone still chasing the ghosts of YouTube’s golden age of Japanese deep cuts.
Note: All orders ship from France. VAT not charged (TVA non applicable, article 293 B du CGI). Worldwide shipping available. Images shown are mock-ups — actual vinyl may differ slightly.
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The new U.S. executive order effective August 29, 2025 ends the de minimis duty-free exemption (under $800) for most goods. But—good news—this does not apply to music and informational media like vinyl, CDs, tapes, cassettes, posters, and more, which remain exempt thanks to longstanding U.S. law (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(3)).
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We ship all records with care using sturdy, reinforced cardboard mailers. Each order includes tracking, and delivery costs are based on your location and the number of records in your cart.
Shipping Rates & Delivery Options
Our shipping costs are calculated based on the weight of the package, which varies depending on the number of vinyl in your order. The number of vinyl listed in each shipping category below (e.g., 1-2 vinyl, 3-5 vinyl) is approximate, as the weight of each record can vary slightly. Rest assured, we strive to ensure that shipping costs are as accurate as possible based on your order's total weight.
You’ll receive tracking details as soon as your order ships. All delivery estimates are based on average transit times and may vary due to customs, holidays, staff vacation, or weather.
France
| Service | 1-2 vinyl | 3-5 vinyl | 6+ vinyl |
| Pickup Point | €4.00 | €4.90 | Free* |
| Economy Home Delivery | €7.90 | €9.50 | Free* |
| Standard Home Delivery | €10.07 | €12.18 | €13.67 |
*Free shipping applies on orders over €150 (approximately 6+ vinyl)
Europe - Zone 1
Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Spain
| Service | 1-2 vinyl | 3-5 vinyl | 6+ vinyl |
| Pickup Point | €5.00 | €5.50 | Free* |
| Tracked Home Delivery | €11.00 | €12.40 | Free* |
*Free shipping applies on orders over €150 (approximately 6+ vinyl)
Europe - Zone 2
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden
| 1-2 vinyl | 3-5 vinyl | 6-8 vinyl | 9-10 vinyl | 11+ vinyl |
| €11.00 | €13.20 | €15.40 | €17.05 | Free* |
*Free shipping applies on orders over €275 (approximately 11+ vinyl)
United Kingdom
| Service | 1-2 vinyl | 3-5 vinyl | 6+ vinyl |
| Pickup Point | €13.00 | €13.00 | €17.00 |
| Tracked Home Delivery | €18.00 | €18.00 | €21.00 |
Extended Europe Area
Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican City
| 1-2 vinyl | 3-5 vinyl | 6-8 vinyl | 9-10 vinyl | 11+ |
| €27.70 | €32.50 | €34.80 | €37.25 | €53.50 |
United States
| 1-2 vinyl | 3-5 vinyl | 6-8 vinyl | 9-10 vinyl | 11+ |
| €32.00 | €42.00 | €52.00 | €56.00 | €66.00 |
International
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand
| 1-2 vinyl | 3-5 vinyl | 6-8 vinyl | 9-10 LPs | 11+ LPs |
| €29.90 | €44.00 | €55.00 | €66.80 |
Contact us for shipping rate
|
Extended International
Africa, Central America, South America (except Brazil), China, India, Taiwan, Turkey, UAE, Vietnam, and the rest of Asia
| 1-2 vinyl | 3-5 vinyl | 6-8 vinyl | 9-10 LPs | 11+ LPs |
| €47.20 | €51.90 | €62.30 | €70.70 |
Contact us for shipping rate
|
Estimated Delivery Times
- France: 2–4 business days
- Europe/UK: 3–9 business days
- Rest of world: 5–15 business days depending on location
You’ll receive tracking details as soon as your order ships. All delivery estimates are based on average transit times and may vary due to customs, holidays, staff vacation, or weather.
Customs & Import Duties
For non-EU destinations, customs charges or import taxes may apply depending on your country’s regulations. These fees are the buyer’s responsibility and are not included in shipping costs.
If you have questions about shipping to your country or need a larger order quoted manually, feel free to contact us. We're happy to help.
Condition/Grading FAQ
We follow the Goldmine standard (S / M / NM / VG+ / VG / etc.) and grade both the vinyl and the sleeve separately when necessary. We visually inspect every record and play-grade whenever there’s doubt.
What do the grades mean?
- S (Sealed): The record is sealed and has never been played.
- M (Mint): The record is like new, with no visible light scratches or cracks. Sleeve is in pristine condition, like new.
- NM (Near Mint): Vinyl looks and plays almost like new. Cover is free of creases, ring wear and seam splits of any kind.
- VG+ (Very Good Plus: Vinyl has a few light marks, maybe some light background noise. Cover shows only very minor seam wear or a split.
- VG (Very Good); Vinyl has noticeable wear, but still plays through without skips. Cover shows signs of human handling (ring wear, creases, seam splitting, writing or markings from a price tag).
If necessary, more detailed condition notes are included on each product page.