I’m kind of not sure why most of these songs couldn’t have functioned as songs for Paellas, but I assume new quartet Pearl Center gives Matton (vocalist of the aforementioned Paellas) some freedom to do things a group now signed with Universal Music Japan might not be able to. The Near Dawn EP introduces the…
The jump from indie-pop to synth-soaked work isn’t that far, and Japan boasts a surplus of acts either exploring anorak-wrapped rock or nostalgia-evoking dance-pop. So why not dabble in both? Boy Objects finds Yuta Ozaki of Youthmemory teaming up with Masayuki Karaki to create cinema-sized synth-pop swelling with teenage emotion. Boy Objects the EP isn’t…
Trying to keep tabs on the Snail’s House universe can be a slightly complicated matter, as the artist behind the project also releases music under other aliases, and even that project features specific series dwelling on certain styles and moods (Alien Pop, Ordinary Songs). Love Magic works almost like a sampler of Snail’s House’s many…
Amino_CH’s “Pi11” popped up on YouTube a little over a week ago, and has been bouncing around in my head ever since it first appeared in the ol’ feed. The style this Tokyo artist embraces is becoming quite normal, at least among more online-centric musical communities. She raps, but also plucks elements from indie-pop, dance-pop…
The latest from Local Visions is another example where overthinking it would be a disservice to the album in question, even if it can be so fun. Omoya’s Dakede offers up six funk-leaning songs that just offer good vibes and a splash of nostalgia. The title track struts along until it reaches the hook, where…