06. Missed Connections (Mark “Frosty” McNeill // Yukihiro Takahashi)

Episode notes

New Romantic: A subculture movement that originated in the UK in the 1970s and early 80s that focused on a more androgynous and glamorous style. Artists and bands like Boy George and Roxy Music popularized the look and feel of the New Romantic style.

Neuromantic: Yukihiro Takahashi’s 1981 solo album. A pun on New Romantic and a reference to Takahashi’s own neurosis.

Neuromantic may have all three members of Yellow Magic Orchestra, but this was Takahashi’s chance to showcase his incredible musicianship. He collaborated with Andy McKay and Phil Manzera of the aforementioned Roxy Music to create a masterpiece that wasn’t afraid to challenge the listener with its futuristic cyberpunk-esque sound.

DJ/Curator/Producer Mark “Frosty” McNeill joins us to talk about the European influence in Neuromantic, the process of creating the Pacific Breeze compilations, and how the boom of city pop has affected record labels and artists today.

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In this episode...

Christian Dueñas

Host

Yosuke Kitazawa

Host

Kevin Ferguson

Senior Producer

Richard Robey

Producer

Guests

Mark McNeill

About the show

Primer is a music podcast about translation and illumination. Host Christian Dueñas is joined by a different co-host each season to explore a genre of music from outside the English-speaking world. In its debut season, music writer Yosuke Kitazawa (PBS SoCal, Light in the Attic, Temporal Drift) joins Christian and special guests to explore Japanese City Pop. They celebrate the lives of its artists, explore the cultural and historical context of the songs, and reflect on the impact that music had on listeners everywhere – including personally, as fans. Primer invites both newcomers and crate diggers alike to find their next favorite album and learn more about the music they already love.

Podcast art by Geoff Tice.