Made in collaboration with singer-songwriter, musician and producer Toshiki Kadomatsu, Timely!! From Japanese singer-songwriter, Anri is classic early 80s joyful, exuberant, expertly crafted Japanese City Pop, assembled from soul, R’n’B, jazz funk and boogie licks and riffs. It exists in a particular production sweet spot which blended the newest digital studio equipment with analogue instruments, and Timely!! takes full advantage of digital multi-tracking, with songs absolutely packed to the brim with swinging brass, percolating disco rhythm sections and impressive orchestration, along with the clean tones of digital keys and chimes. It manages to integrate much of the drama and camp of disco into a Japanese pop album, and does so via some genuinely lovely, bitter-sweet melodies.

City pop was essentially the Japanese version of yacht rock, tasteful tunes for young urbane urban professionals. Hall and Oates never did theme songs for anime, though! Anri’s performance of the eponymous title track from Cat’s Eye was one of the first J-pop/Japanese animation crossovers. It leads off her sixth album, and it’s still a funky fun time — all horns and slap bass and dramatic echo effects on the vocals. The entirety of the record delivers big hooks and big hair, from the disco-flavored “I Can’t Stop the Loneliness” to the wistful “Windy Summer.” Future funk artists love sampling these delightful gems but nothing beats the originals for serious “watching the lights go by while night-driving” vibes.