Tokyo Offshore Project ride again on expansive best-of collection

London-based label Mysticisms label follow-up on some inspired releases by unearthing a collection of tracks from Tokyo Offshore Project.

Tokyo Offshore project comprised of veteran UK producers Simon Lovejoy and Frankie Valentine alongside Japanese musician, Kiyoshi Myaura. The trio embarked upon a relatively short-lived project between 1990 and 1994, recording music via London and Tokyo and releasing three critically-acclaimed EPs along the way. The act were deeply embedded in early rave culture, with Frankie Valentine working London's underground party circuit from the late '70s, while Simon Lovejoy was resident DJ at Soho's The Brain Club, as well as co-producer of DJ Harvey's quasi-mythical Black Cock edit series.

'Running Thunder (Journeys To Hino Izuru Kuni 1990 – 1994)' features a selection of the outfit's best-loved tracks alongside previously unreleased material. Serving as a fascinating snapshot into the early '90s dance scenes in both London and Tokyo, the far-reaching music ranges in tone from introspective ambient to blissed-out Balearic beats, downtempo rave to golden age deep house. Highlights include the stirring Afro rhythms of 'Magalenha', the off-kilter swirls of 'Running Thunder', and the dense Shinjuku sleaze of 'Solitaire (Tokyo Love)'. Elsewhere, the evocative strings and melancholy tones of 'Children Of The Rain' provide a poignant moment of inward-facing reflection, while the driving chords and jerking rhythms of 'Aerotek' aim directly at nocturnal dancefloors.

The groundbreaking collection is presented on a vinyl double-pack, shining a light on this lesser-known corner of dance music history while raising awareness of Tokyo Offshore Project among an entirely new audience.

Tokyo Offshore Project 'Running Thunder (Journeys To Hino Izuru Kuni 1990 – 1994)' is out now, you can buy it here

Patrizio Cavaliere is Mixmag Asia's Music Editor. Follow him on Instagram