#30 Haruno Filia Vocalid remains one of the most intriguing instruments available in the world today, and 2018 saw plenty of artists — many of them outside of Japan — use it in thrilling ways (check Kira’s The Introduction for one good example). Domestically, Haruno’s Filia stuck around in our minds the most this year,…
#40 Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Japamyu The world finally caught up to Yasutaka Nakata, and then Nakata himself tried to catch up with all the kids weaned on Capsule downloads. Looking at the J-pop producer’s year could lead someone down multiple paths, but the one I keep coming back to is how Nakata — always chasing…
Another 12 months down, and that means it is time to have some fun and go extra-long for year-end content. Japanese music generally felt either too focused on celebrating the fading days of the Heisei era or on crowning new J-pop superstars for the next generation — or giving us truly left-field viral hits like…
Just in time for Christmas 2018 comes one of the best gifts anyone could ask for. The ever-reclusive producer I-fls has descended down the digital chimney to deliver a set of holiday-appropriate numbers. Like most of I-fls’ music, these tracks consist of simple but aching melodies constructed from simple tools, often bursting open to reveal…
OK, time to start getting hyped for 2019! Spangle Call Lilli Line announced that they will release a new album in early January, and that comes only a few months before a 20th anniversary tour. “Mio” offers the first listen from that full-length, and finds the group crafting a slow-burning bouncer where there usual subdued…