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Music From Memory releases final compilation album worked on by Jamie Tiller

Focusing on ambient house and techno music from Japan, the album comes exactly a year after the label head’s tragic passing

  • Words: Meena Sears
  • 17 October 2024
Music From Memory releases final compilation album worked on by Jamie Tiller

The final compilation album that the late Jamie Tiller worked on has been released by Music From Memory (the label co-owned by Tiller, Tako Reyenga and Abel Nagengast).

Released on October 15, ‘Virtual Dreams II: Ambient Explorations In The House & Techno Age, Japan 1993-1999’ comes exactly a year after the revered DJ passed away in a “tragic accident”.

It is the second edition of a series focussing on ambient house and techno music.

Read this next: Music from Memory founder Jamie Tiller has died

While the focus of part one fell on producers from Europe, part two focuses "on an incredibly fruitful period of early Japanese club culture - a time and place that produced so much music that" Tiller resonated with, according to the label's statement via Instagram.

“Researched and compiled over the course of four years, 'Virtual Dreams II' offers the listener a unique insight into this period, filtered and given context within Jamie’s impeccable taste and vision,” it continues.

"We know that Jamie was very proud of this project. His final gift to all listeners, ‘Virtual Dreams II’ builds on the beautiful legacy he leaves behind."

Read this next: Wu Zhuoling bridges her ambient roots with dancefloor energy in ‘Reverie (出神)’

Tiller curated the compilation alongside Japanese mastering engineer Eiji Taniguchi, who he had previously worked with on releases such as 'Heisei No Oto' and 'Dream Dolphin - Gaia'.

The album's notes explain that the series was intended to shine a light on “house and techno-adjacent music that helped redefine the definition of ambient music during the 1990s”.

While the rest of Europe experienced the acid house craze, it says, “listening techno” was more popular in Japan, giving birth to many quality labels such as Sublime Records, Transonic Records, Syzygy Records, Frogman Records, and Form@ Records.

Read this next: Sound constellations: how Tangerine Dream made ambient masterpiece ‘Raum’

“'Virtual Dreams II' features ambient, chill-out, and intelligent techno from these leading labels alongside other lesser-known but equally influential imprints, as well as ambient deviations from Japanese house producers. Much of the music featured has only ever been released on CD,” continues the liner.

Hailing from London, Tiller co-founded Music From Memory in 2013 while living in Amsterdam. He was a highly-respected record digger and curator with a flair for unearthing niche electronic gems.

While Music From Memory specialised in releasing music from the past, Tiller’s second label, Second Circle, established in 2014, provided an outlet for his own productions, alongside other like-minded artists who blurred the boundaries of genre.

Listen to 'Virtual Dreams II: Ambient Explorations In The House & Techno Age, Japan 1993-1999' here.

See album artwork and tracklist below

Tracklist

01. Dub Squad - Blown Fruit
02. Akio / Okihide - Phoenix At Desert
03. Palomatic - Flutter
04. Virgo - Prelude
05. Ambient 7 - Escape
06. Web - The Cycle Of Seasons
07. Yukihiro Fukutomi - 5 Blind Boys
08. Katsuya Hironaka - Pause
09. Riow Arai - 969
10. Modern Living - Snow Bird
11. Missing Project - Poisson D'Avril (Galaxy Dub)
12. Drawing Future Life - 1969
13. Buddhastick Transparent - Eras (666) (feat. Something In The Air) [Exclusive Digital Only Bonus]

Meena Sears is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Instagram

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