Plenty of bedroom-based musicians do not deserve your time, but when a good one pops up, they are special. Japan’s introduced a lot of good ones into the musical conversation over the last year, and even more continue to pop up online. Out of the digital ether comes Juliana Paris, a project whose latest track…
Finally, Tokyo trio Jesse Ruins’ debut album will come out on May 21 via Lefse Records. In advance of the album A Film, the imprint has released a new song called “Laura Is Fading” from the group, which you can hear below. It’s more immediate than many of the songs Jesse Ruins has played before,…
Tokyo producer Taquwami just uploaded a new track to the Internet, which means I must accept not going to bed early to post it. I’m OK with this. “T Eyes” features the same vocal-chopping technique that dotted last year’s great Blurrywonder, but whereas that album especially emphasized the skittering, here the chopped singing is balanced…
Do the jubilant opening seconds of “Koto Bopping” serve to soundtrack the joy we (errrr, I guess I, but hopefully you too) feel knowing hip-hop-leaning, BenZel-bashing production duo Mioriyuri are back? Welp, the sun-breaking-through-sheets-of-ice sounds of the pair’s first new material since last year’s chilly Plastic Feather accomplishes that, and leads into a great beat…
Bedroom-whizz Shugo Tokumaru has released his first glimpse of the follow-up to 2010’s Port Entropy in the form of new single “Decorate.” For those expecting his whimsical, toy-instrument heavy music to morph into something new by now, prepare to be let down because “Decorate” is another solid example of his playroom pop. Tokumaru’s usual assortment of bells, woodwinds and acoustic guitar dominates this song, and at one point he even works in the sound of an alarm clock ringing off. Also intact – the same sense of wonder the majority of Tokumaru’s tracks possess. Listen above. You can buy the single in stores now, and if you do, you also will get the chance to hear Tokumaru’s take on The Buggles’ MTV-launching “Video Killed The Radio Star.” I don’t know what the single version sounds like, but watch Shugo deliver a cutesy live cover below.
Digital noises shouldn’t sound this alive. Tokyo group Candles resides in the same space occupied by fellow Japanese artists like EeL, Nuxx and √thumm – electronic-swamped outfits not quite as sugary as Perfume, but more than just dancefloor fodder too. They are groups that see both dance music and pop as forms of emotional release,…
I wasn’t expecting anything special when I strolled on over to Osaka trio Saritote’s web page. I just wanted to check them out as they are playing at a show tonight featuring √thumm and Lady Flash. Harmless research, ya know? Anyway, the first two tracks I listened to failed to leave much of an impression…
The news hook is that Spangle Call Lilli Line have a new album, Ghost Is Dead, out on November 11. The intrigue is in the inclusion of Mitsume singer Moto Kawabe on the song “Feel Uneasy,” the first taste of the full-length since July’s “Azure.” Given Spangle Call Lilli Line’s long-running existence, it feels like…
No disrespect to Tokyo – it truly is the beating heart of Japan full of great attractions, solid nightlife and pretty much 80 percent of the bands featured around here. I used to be cold towards the city, but my icy heart has melted to the point I kind of really like Tokyo! It’s a…
Today Slate features a slideshow feature on Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara, coinciding with an exhibit of his art opening up in New York (link in the pic above). If that name doesn’t sound familiar, I’m sure the you’ve stumbled across the style (especially if you’re reading a blog about Japanese music). The slideshow mostly focuses…
Producer Makiko Aizen’s “Untitled 7” pricks away at the listener, but knows that you need to mix in some soft beauty to make it worth it. The main sound coming through in this just-under-three-minute-long song is a sharp synthesizer line raising in intensity over the course of “Untitled 7.” It isn’t harsh or anything, but…