180g

The camera goes slowly down a road. In the distance we see a cabin and walk in its direction. Through its window, a bonfire lights the place. We are gradually invited in. In the main room, there are scattered books, a guitar, a bottle of whiskey. The camera moves to the back door. Outside, there is a couple dressed in yesterday's clothes. We pass them by and head to the lake, seen in the background. As we approach its waters, we get lost in the vastness of our thoughts.

The scene described above is fictional and could figure in some production that flirts with noir, nouvelle vague or some other work that emphasizes the simple moments of life. It could also synthesize the universe of Moons, a project idealized by André Travassos which started as a personal project and became a band. Moons is now releasing its second album, “Thinking Out Loud”.

Lost somewhere between Nick Drake's melancholy, Bon Iver's lo-fi sound, Bob Dylan's classic folk, Wilco's sophisticated country arrangements, with a cool twist that echoes Mazzy Star, Moons unites all these influences and creates songs that dialogue with different art languages. A painting by Matisse? A Godard movie? David Lynch? Bukowski's literature? It all resonates in the band's chords.

With these references in their minds and hearts, André Travassos (voice, guitar and autoharp), Bernardo Bauer (voice and bass), Digo Leite (voice, harmonica, banjo and guitar), Felipe D'Angelo (voice, keyboard, piano and guitar), Jennifer Souza (voice and guitar), Tiago Eiras (drums and percussion) and Victor Magalhães (keyboard, piano and synths) conceived “Thinking Out Loud” in a very organic way and realised it with Leonardo Marques, who recorded, mixed, mastered and co-produced this work at his Ilha do Corvo Studio. – Bandcamp

"Many miss the mark with this kind of thing, but Naoito succeeds by running afro beat, spiritual jazz, and soul-funk through the lens of modern beat production - all executed with the lightest of touches. So sick!" - Light In The Attic

Former member of the Kingdom Afrocks band and one of the most talented artists of today’s Japanese music scene, drummer and multi-instrumentalist Naoito creates with “dotA” an explosive and unique mix of spiritual jazz and afro flavors. Sung in Japanese and English and bringing the very best musicians of Tokyo’s underground scene, “dotA” is released in Japan on the legendary Jazzy Sport imprint. 180g is proud to bring to the international audience this essential album of contemporary grooves straight from the far-east!

Manufactured and distributed by 180g under exclusive license from Jazzy Sport, Tokyo, Japan. – Bandcamp

Active as a professional DJ in Japan since the late eighties, DJ Yoshizawa Dynamite is also a renowned remixer, compiler and producer. An avid record collector and an expert of the Wamono style, Yoshizawa published the Wamono A to Z records guide book in 2015 which instantly sold-out. The book unveiled a myriad of beautiful and rare records from a highly prolific, but still then unknown, Japanese groove scene. 

After many years working as a record buyer for several stores, DJ Chintam opened his own Blow Up shop in 2018 in Tokyo’s Shibuya district. A member of the Dayjam Crew and a specialist of soul, funk, rare groove and disco music, Chintam is also an expert of the home-brewed Wamono grooves. He supervised and wrote the Wamono A to Z records guide book together with Yoshizawa. 

With this first volume of the Wamono series, our two DJs here guide you through some of the best and rarest jazz funk and rare groove tunes produced in Japan between 1968 and 1980. Put the needle on the record, turn up the volume and dig right now into the Wamono sound - the cream of the Japanese funk, soul, rare groove and disco music developed throughout the years since the end of the sixties in Japan! - Bandcamp