Kenji Omura -- Sleep Song

 

The late musician-songwriter Kenji Omura（大村憲司）has had his presence on "Kayo Kyoku Plus" represented by some groovy City Pop/fusion from the 1970s and then synthpop in the 1980s.

Now, going further into the 1980s, Omura came up with this neat little synthesis of the genres in the opening track "Sleep Song" for his 1983 album "Gaijin Heaven"（外人天国）. The techno bleeps and blops are indeed present as if Yellow Magic Orchestra were helping out in the studio but "Sleep Song" is also propelled by Omura's jangly rasping guitar. At the same time, some of that City Pop groove rears its slick head often enough as well.

For a track called "Sleep Song", this is the type of tune that can be considered to be caffeine for the ears thanks to that combination of the City Pop groove and synthpop swing. Omura took care of the music and lyrics with YMO buddy and radio personality Peter Barakan also helping out on the lyrics. "Gaijin Heaven" was Omura's 4th and final original album.