Listening: Kankyo Ongaku w/Fonetik

Environmental music, or kankyō ongaku, flourished in Japan primarily during the mid-1980s. Thanks to numerous reissues and curated compilations, it has also become a favorite among record collectors in the West. Drawing inspiration from Brian Eno's ambient experiments and Erik Satie's minimalism, while also embracing elements of new age, these functional compositions not only incorporate environmental sounds but were often created for specific spaces, settings, events, or even commercial products—serving as a sonic tribute to the golden age of Japanese corporate capitalism.

This Wednesday, Fonetik will be spinning a selection of these remarkable records. Come join us!