Look, I’m watching the second half of this Japan-Colombia World Cup game and it is stupid stressful, here is a new song from Osaka’s Soleil Soleil, it’s good. Back to sitting all scrunched up like seeing if Japan can score two goals….
American imprint Squiggle Dot just released three albums from a trio (or, maybe 2.5, as one is a split with another artist outside the country) of Japanese artists, each hitting on different pleasure centers. Boogie Idol’s Mall Pop Hits is a great place to lead off, the Tokyo producer’s crystalline synthesizers and BGM-ready beats intertwining…
Sorta Vaporwave/sorta City Pop/all fantastic idol unit Especia have a new album out in May, Gusto. The first taste of that full-length is “Foolish,” which you can listen to on Tumblr via a link below. This one is packed with horns courtesy of producer Schtein&Longer, the whole thing moving at a laid back pace but…
I wasn’t aware what a Dollfie Dream was before trying to figure out what the title of this song courtesy of Setagaya-based producer 02i3 was about. Turns out it is a doll, and lots of people love unboxing them on YouTube. How they relate to this hyper-bright synth workout, I’m not sure, so let’s just…
Remember a few years back, when sampling Aaliyah’s vocals was in style? It could result in some pretty cliche stuff, but it had its moments for sure (though…the bad stuff…yikes). Producer Paperkraft rolls the dice on the approach on the opening track to his new Feel EP, and comes out looking alright…he samples “Rock The…
In case you forgot, here’s your weekly reminder that Puffyshoe’s Something Gold deserves your attention. To sum up my super long review in one sentence – it’s an excellent collection of fuzzed-out garage rock with a beating heart underneath. Summed it up in less than a 1000 words this time. For those converted to the…
The past year saw plenty of worthwhile releases from Japanese artists, from the sort of stuff highlighted at major music stores in Japan to free albums posted on Bandcamp with little fanfare. Yet all 30 albums on this list were special to us here at Make Believe Melodies in some way or another – whether…