SNJO is the solo project of the producer half of Kyoto’s Toxxies, a quick-moving electro unit that’s been on a good roll. SF, however, isn’t a simple exercise in instrumental tracks. The four songs often feature vocals, usually in the form of SNJO’s manipulated voice, or via guest Yuna Nakabayashi on the jittery “One,” a…
This year has found Snail’s House pushing his sound in all sorts of directions, for better or for worse. The ever-prolific creator joined other electronic producers in Japan (or those abroad playing with Japanese imagery) in shying away from what has been described as a “kawaii” sound, best summed up as a busy overload of…
Trekkie Trax mostly hosts young artists emerging from the Japanese (and beyond) electronic scene, but they can pull in some veterans too. This release pairs long-running Japanese artist DJ Kentaro (a turntable champion) with younger Portuguese producer Holly for two songs, acting as a nice little connection between generations. “Jaran” finds them playing with restraint,…
recruit by the oto factory Funky synth-pop outfit have called on…errrr, recruited?…some friends to help them out on their new release via Ano(t)raks. And turns out guest singers and contributors help boos their music up a level. While not the first time they’ve called on others to jump on their loose-limbed neon grooves, this is…
The environment duo Lo-shi conjure up on their new album Moro-Q isn’t quite desolate, but the French-born pair’s music certainly captures a place that is empty and somewhat unnerving. That’s established right away, on foggy opener “Daniel Auteuil,” featuring warped voices shrouded by an electronic hiss, new elements emerging out gradually and adding to the…