New Her Ghost Friend: “Matataki”

Now more than ever, the dreamy escapism of J-pop duo Her Ghost Friend sure would come in handy. Three years after their last album, the duo are back with a new album, out tomorrow in Japan. “Matataki” is the first taste of it, and like the pair’s previous efforts, it’s a soft, string-accented pop number finding lead singer Shinobu Ono singing over DJ Obake’s musicbox-ready creation. The drums move at a skittery pace, but never pierce through the soft sounds dominating the music, nor overpower Ono’s voice. Rather, they gently push the song forward, so it never gets to caught up in its own head space. Glad to have them back. Listen above.