Is it instructive to compare French (or Monacan) pop music ca. 1986 with its contemporary Japanese product? Probably. There’s always something to be learned. There is influence, although it’s not musical and i see it mostly one way: French to Japan. The romance of the place isn’t reciprocated, and what enchantment is is of the business herd, technopolis, future country Japan. But it’s always like that. That or some broad Orientalist, Japonisme, kimono dress-up fun. But the same could be said of the reverse, what little of it is there. Though not comprehensive, and there are many reasons for it (much more than i realise, i’m sure [patterns of consumption, etc.]) the French imprint on Japan is much larger and moew extensive than Japan’s on France. What do you think, Stéphanie de Monaco, Countesse de Polignac? Why can i find Japanese pressings of your records but no French pressings of Kawai Sonoko’s?
Adding Machine 