LINGUA FRANCA 1 | VINYL RECORD (LP)
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LINGUA FRANCA 1 | VINYL RECORD (LP)
Product DESCRIPTION
Release Date: 10/19/2018
Ep-4, LP version; in heavy 350 gram sleeve. WRWTFWW Records present the official reissue of cult album Lingua Franca-1 (originally released in 1983) by groundbreaking Kyoto band Ep-4. Straight from the delirious minds of unconventional geniuses Kaoru Sato (who had previously released an album as R.N.A. Organism on legendary Osaka label Vanity Records) and Yuji "Banana" Kawashima, Lingua Franca-1 is a seamless voyage of spellbinding mutant funk grooves, joyful post-punk explorations, synth fantasies, sexy distortions, and fluid cool-no-sweat vocals. Constantly mutating in an almost biological way (similarly to Colored Music's self-titled album (1981)), always mysterious and seductive, sometimes reminiscing of a freaky cross between PiL, Liquid Liquid, David Bowie, and Yello, Ep-4's debut is hard to label, although "Debonair Wave" could be a legitimate way to describe this Japan's best-kept-secret of an album. Defying the rules wasn't limited to sonic experimentations for band leader Kaoru Sato. To promote Lingua Franca-1, he and his crew plastered gigantic (illegal) billboards all over Shibuya and Harajuku, announcing performances in four different cities on odd hours of the same day (May 5th, 1983). Other of his notable antics included originally sub-titling the album "Death to the Emperor Showa", causing a controversy (which led to censorship and a title-change), trying to release two albums on the same day without the concerned labels being aware of the plan or, in the R.N.A. Organism days, fooling Vanity Records into believing the demo he sent them came from a foreign band (it worked). Unique personality, unique music!
Shipping Policy
In Stock Items
Items marked as In Stock typically ship within 2–5 business days.
Once your order ships, you’ll receive tracking information by email.
Backordered Items
Some items may be available on Backorder if inventory is temporarily unavailable.
When purchasing a backordered item:
- Payment is collected at checkout
- Your order secures a place in the fulfillment queue
- Items are fulfilled in the order they are purchased
Most backorders are fulfilled within approximately 3–6 months, though timelines may occasionally be longer depending on supplier manufacturing, distributor allocations, repress schedules, or inventory availability.
Backordered items may ship separately from other items in your order.
You can monitor, manage, or cancel eligible unfulfilled backordered items anytime through your customer account portal.
Preorder Items
Preorder items are upcoming releases scheduled to ship on or around the official release date provided by the label or distributor.
Release dates may occasionally change due to manufacturing or supplier delays.
Preorder items follow the same fulfillment and account management process as backordered items.
Additional Fulfillment Information
Orders containing multiple inventory types may ship separately as items become available.
Estimated fulfillment timelines are provided as general estimates only and are not guaranteed.
When will I receive a tracking number?
We provide tracking for every order. Tracking will be available once your product is shipped. All of our products are shipped out of our warehouse in Westlake Village, CA. You can track your order through your account on our website, via any of the shipping confirmation emails we've sent you, or through the Shop App.
Can I cancel my order?
Customers may cancel eligible unfulfilled items at any time before they enter the shipping process directly through their customer account portal. Once an item has entered shipment processing or has shipped, it becomes subject to our standard Returns & Refund Policy.
Tracklist Preview
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Product DESCRIPTION
Release Date: 10/19/2018
Ep-4, LP version; in heavy 350 gram sleeve. WRWTFWW Records present the official reissue of cult album Lingua Franca-1 (originally released in 1983) by groundbreaking Kyoto band Ep-4. Straight from the delirious minds of unconventional geniuses Kaoru Sato (who had previously released an album as R.N.A. Organism on legendary Osaka label Vanity Records) and Yuji "Banana" Kawashima, Lingua Franca-1 is a seamless voyage of spellbinding mutant funk grooves, joyful post-punk explorations, synth fantasies, sexy distortions, and fluid cool-no-sweat vocals. Constantly mutating in an almost biological way (similarly to Colored Music's self-titled album (1981)), always mysterious and seductive, sometimes reminiscing of a freaky cross between PiL, Liquid Liquid, David Bowie, and Yello, Ep-4's debut is hard to label, although "Debonair Wave" could be a legitimate way to describe this Japan's best-kept-secret of an album. Defying the rules wasn't limited to sonic experimentations for band leader Kaoru Sato. To promote Lingua Franca-1, he and his crew plastered gigantic (illegal) billboards all over Shibuya and Harajuku, announcing performances in four different cities on odd hours of the same day (May 5th, 1983). Other of his notable antics included originally sub-titling the album "Death to the Emperor Showa", causing a controversy (which led to censorship and a title-change), trying to release two albums on the same day without the concerned labels being aware of the plan or, in the R.N.A. Organism days, fooling Vanity Records into believing the demo he sent them came from a foreign band (it worked). Unique personality, unique music!
Tracklist Preview
- N/A
Become A Member
Welcome to the Vinyl Vista Rewards Club — the ultimate experience for vinyl lovers!
Earn points, unlock exclusive perks, and get rewarded every time you shop. Whether you're here to grow your collection or enjoy the VIP treatment, our membership and loyalty programs make every spin more rewarding.
Collect points. Get discounts. Enjoy free shipping.
Join The ClubBonus Rewards Points:
Earn extra points on every purchase and redeem them for discounts, store credit, or exclusive vinyl releases.
Free Shipping & VIP Perks:
Members enjoy complimentary shipping, priority handling, and exclusive access to limited-edition drops, presales, and member-only discounts.
Monthly Vinyl Delivery (Optional):
Receive a hand-picked record each month curated by our experts — delivered straight to your doorstep.
Flexibility:
No long-term commitments. You can change plans, pause, or cancel anytime — and keep your earned points.
Shipping Policy
In Stock Items
Items marked as In Stock typically ship within 2–5 business days.
Once your order ships, you’ll receive tracking information by email.
Backordered Items
Some items may be available on Backorder if inventory is temporarily unavailable.
When purchasing a backordered item:
- Payment is collected at checkout
- Your order secures a place in the fulfillment queue
- Items are fulfilled in the order they are purchased
Most backorders are fulfilled within approximately 3–6 months, though timelines may occasionally be longer depending on supplier manufacturing, distributor allocations, repress schedules, or inventory availability.
Backordered items may ship separately from other items in your order.
You can monitor, manage, or cancel eligible unfulfilled backordered items anytime through your customer account portal.
Preorder Items
Preorder items are upcoming releases scheduled to ship on or around the official release date provided by the label or distributor.
Release dates may occasionally change due to manufacturing or supplier delays.
Preorder items follow the same fulfillment and account management process as backordered items.
Additional Fulfillment Information
Orders containing multiple inventory types may ship separately as items become available.
Estimated fulfillment timelines are provided as general estimates only and are not guaranteed.
When will I receive a tracking number?
We provide tracking for every order. Tracking will be available once your product is shipped. All of our products are shipped out of our warehouse in Westlake Village, CA. You can track your order through your account on our website, via any of the shipping confirmation emails we've sent you, or through the Shop App.
Can I cancel my order?
Customers may cancel eligible unfulfilled items at any time before they enter the shipping process directly through their customer account portal. Once an item has entered shipment processing or has shipped, it becomes subject to our standard Returns & Refund Policy.
