Virtual Dreams II: Ambient Explorations In The House & Techno Age, Japan 1993-1999 (Vinyl 2LP)

We love a niche compilation, and this sequel to Music From Memory's deep dive into the sweet spot when ambient music met club culture in the 1990s zooms in on the unique sound unfolding at the time in Japan. Compiled by Eiji Taniguchi and the late Jamie Tiller, Virtual Dreams II: Ambient Explorations In The House And Techno Age, Japan 1993-1999 highlights the output of prominent and lesser known labels like Sublime Records, Transonic Records, Syzygy Records, and more, with twelve tracks designed to be heard. - Flying Out

The next installment of MFM's popular multi-artist compilation Virtual Dreams: 'Virtual Dreams - Ambient Explorations In The House And Techno Age, Japan 1993-1999'. As with Part One, released in 2020, Virtual Dreams II shines a light on house and techno-adjacent music that helped redefine the definition of ambient music during the 1990s.

The focus of Part One heavily fell on music from techno and house producers in Europe, eagerly exploring new soundtracks for chill-out rooms and re-imagining the potential future of club culture from new perspectives. For Part Two, we narrow the lens to focus on a unique time and place, namely Japan between 1993-1999. Despite missing out on the 'Acid House Fever', club culture was beginning to take shape in Japan during the early '90s. In contrast to the rest of the world, where ambient techno / IDM emerged as a by-product or response to the scene, 'listening techno', as it is known in Japan, was a central pillar of the culture right from the start.

Virtual Dreams II aims to shine a light on this unique moment in time where the thread of ambient music weaved its way through the music of an emerging club culture. This period saw the birth of many great Japanese techno labels such as Sublime Records, Transonic Records, Syzygy Records, Frogman Records, and Form@ Records, following in the late '90s. 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.

Virtual Dreams II is compiled by Eiji Taniguchi and Jamie Tiller, who have worked closely together on previous Music From Memory releases such as 'Heisei No Oto' and 'Dream Dolphin - Gaia'. It is also the final project Jamie Tiller worked on before his tragic passing in 2023. Jamie had been researching, planning, and compiling this version of Virtual Dreams II even before the first chapter was released, believing that there were many great tracks in Japan that fit the concept of the series. Knowing how much love and energy he put into compiling it gives it an extra special place in our hearts.

Tracklist

1. Dub Squad - Blown Fruit
2. Akio / Okihide - Phoenix at Desert
3. Palomatic - Flutter
4. Virgo - Prelude
5. Ambient 7 - Escape
6. Web - The Cycle of Seasons
7. Yukihiro Fukutomi - 5 Blind Boys
8. Katsuya Hironaka - Pause
9. Riow Arai - 1969
10. Modern Living - Snow Bird
11. Missing Project - Poisson Davril Galaxy Dub
12. Drawing Future Life - 1969