Japanese group Ropes exists, because I’m staring at the packaging for their “Slow/Last Day” 7″ right now, but they try their best to make you think they don’t. Flake Records provides a small biography and samples of their work, yet the trail stops there. Even the physical release reveals little, the shots of the band done in monochrome and in a fuzzy way that lends the whole project a feeling of mystery. Whatever their game, Ropes’ music sounds similar to the mystery vibe given off by their image – the duo of “Slow” and “Last Day” are skeleton-thin, guitar and vocals with a few glockenspiel dustings on top. Simple and delicate stuff, haunting folk using space wisely to create lovely little songs. Listen to samples of both songs here.