東京のデュオ、LLLLの新しいビデオ”Because Of My Eyes”は、まるで週末に夜遊びしているかのような光景。眩しいライトやビデオエフェクトは酔っぱらっているような気持ちにさせてくれます。全て白黒で撮影されていているこの作品では、街を散歩したりクラブで踊ったり、気づけば女性がこちらを眺めていたり。J-Popからの影響が強いものの、LLLLらしい少しダークな雰囲気で日本のパーティーライフを体験できます。ビデオは上から。
Nanba Shiho’s back in good form with her new single “Music.” It pretty much had nowhere to go but up following Shiho’s last single, a song about getting your hair cut set over some snore-inducing piano. “Music” returns to the more energetic pace of her earlier singles, this new number anchored by the forceful beat that switches up into different patters throughout the song but always remains attention grabbing. Unlike the still-excellent “Shoujo, Futatabi” from the start of 2012, the electronics aren’t as commanding, hanging out in the back of the mix to add a cushion to a song that is otherwise quite pounding. Shiho herself moves with the beat well, her chirpy voice adding a touch of sweetness to the whole number. Coupled with a good video…one not featuring Shiho at all…this is a nice return to form for a promising J-Pop personality.
Tofubeats doesn’t really bother introducing himself on Lost Decade, his first original album out on a major label. He’s been kicking around the Japanese music scene since 2006, grabbing attention for his indie-level beats and his work with mainstream J-Pop idol groups like Lyrical School (formerly sex-toy-sponsored Tengal6) and 9nine. Even though this will be…
Rapper-ish electro-pop-kinda group Suiyoubi No Campanella seem like the sort of music group that should be poised for a big mainstream breakout (recently signing to a major label helping fuel that vision), as they take a growing music trend (silliness and a lack of interest in genre borders mixed with honest emotion…see Tofubeats and Kyary…
[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-haZ2I6ywis”] So is this what it sounds like when the often glee-oozing Sebastian X tackle a ballad? Not quite…they aren’t Ayumi Hamasaki-ing it up for the song “Rose Garden, Baby Blue” from forthcoming full-length Futures (say that really fast). Yet the group’s standard-operating kitchen sink sound has been slowed a bit here, sparkling piano coupled…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN5B6VeOk4g&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Lullatone posted a hypnotic new video for “A Merry Go Round In The Park” off of last year’s superb Songs That Spin In Circles on their Facebook page. The clip’s assortment of spinning shapes matches the track’s circular nature and definitely a great late night viewing. The video for “A Merry Go Round In…
[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYfB2cXdJGg”] For a preview clocking in at under two-minutes, Schloder sure manage to wring a whole lot out of “Electro Words” in an extremely short amount of time. This jumps from Queen-aping stadium-rock (the vocals) to U2 life affirming guitar workouts to an overly giddy chorus you’d expect from any number of young Japanese-based indie…
[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMAhkUzQyxs”] The South By Southwest music festivities are coming to a close today, which means no more #sxsw tags and having to hear a lot less about Austin until the Longhorns start up college football. Puffyshoes made the long flight to Texas to play various sets to the masses, and a portion of one show…