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Play The Game: Fogpak 15 Featuring Chocoholic, Gigandect And Many More

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A friend and I had a long talk today about what’s going on in indie Japanese music…well, and J-pop…and came to the conclusion things are pretty strange. Mainstream artists are letting all sorts of ideas into their songs, and the underground seems just as much all over the place. Yet one place we agreed was good at highlighting bubbling artists was the Fogpak series of compilations. And what timing, they just dropped the 15th installment the other day.

The latest Fogpak takes on the theme “game” and…well, maybe it doesn’t offer a handy narrative for where Japanese electronic is right now, but it does spotlight a lot of burgeoning names. A few familiar ones…at least around these parts…pop up, highlighted by Chocoholic’s game-appropriate whirlwind with U.S. artist FoxyPanda “Super FX,” while chiptune producer Gigandect closes out the comp with the sentimental banger “Disconnected,” a sweet end to a set featuring a lot of manic moments before it. A few things can be drawn from Fogpak 15, such as how massive Tomggg’s cuddly pop sound has been on younger producers (see Yuigot’s twinkly “Magic Magic”) while harder-hitting styles still dominate. Shouts out Chanbe’s “Hack & Slash” for seemingly taking cues from Taquwami’s Moyas EP for one of this Fogpak’s most intriguing cuts, while Tobato slashes up a Perfume song on his contribution. As ever, the real thrill with this collection is jumping in and finding your favorite. Get it here, or listen below.

Be A Sportsman: Fogpak 14 Featuring Loopcoda, Toyomu And More

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The themes for Japanese electronic compilation series Fogpak have been getting a bit simpler as of late, moving from like “Twilight Tengu” and “Blurred Gold” to number 14’s simple premise of “sports.” Nice and open ended, and as someone who splurged on NBA League Pass this year, a welcome addition to what has been the country’s best independent electronic series for a while now. This is a showcase of energetic electronic sounds — and not quite a SoundCloud-ready representations of the Denver Broncos linebacker corps, though some sports elements sneak in.

Some familiar names return, ranging from Kyoto’s Toyomu on the woozy “Hira Swim” to Loopcoda, who creates a bouncy bit of electro-pop where his usual array of Vocaloid voices get sliced up extra thin into syllables, spacing them out between samples of…tennis players? Chanbe recalls Giraffage with helium-soaked vocal twists, while Yasuha. closes the collection on a downbeat note with the slow-burning “Loser,” a reflective conclusion to a mostly thumping affair. And, of course, Fogpak continues highlighting non-Japanese producers too, here including a bouncy bit of bouncy R&B by U.S. artist Sakehands and the spacious bubble-popper “Kawaii Sneakers” by Rick Sakura. Get it here, or listen below.

New FOGPAK Featuring Loopcoda, DJ Obake, Chanbe And More

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The FOGPAK series of compilations always offer a great intro to rising electronic producers in Japan (and recently, abroad). They also tend to be overwhelming, packed with songs and producers, often breezing past two dozen in total. Yet the size of the latest FOGPAK, the 13th in the series, sees a nice drop to 11 songs total, without a drop in quality. It starts off with a nice summer number via Loopcoda’s “Jellyfish Drop,” which uses (Vocaloid I’m pretty sure, but I’ve been off before) vocal samples and big bubbly synths to create a warm number that sets this one off on a bright note. DJ Obake follows it up with one of the hardest-hitting numbers he’s ever done (complete with Mactalk), while from there we get a woozy bouncer from Chanbe and an appearance from poemcore artist owtn. It even ends with a rap number via NO.A, a nice reminder of how all-over-the-place FOGPAK can be. Get it here, or listen below.

Fogpak #12 Has Arrived, Featuring Soleil Soleil, Amunoa, Yasuha And Many More

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A dozen compilations strong now, the Fogpak series still manages to be the best introduction to young electronic producers in Japan (and, as of late, beyond). Fogpak #12 starts off especially hot, kicking off with the sad stylings of Inazawa’s Yasuha’s “Missing You,” which mines similar sonic techniques as Seiho and Parkgolf (Fogpak alums, natch) but instead of building hyperactive floor fillers, creates a mournful rumbler, where the familiar drop-of-water sample now sounds like a tear falling into a lake. Chanbe — who appeared on the last comp — brings the mood back up with the tipsy “Confetti,” and then Attic Note keeps it going strong with a woozy contribution.

Which, hey that’s the other thing — beyond just being a good place to find some new SoundCloud follows, the Fogpak series tends to bring out the best in these creators. Soleil Soleil doesn’t need to prove anything else, considering he released one of 2015’s best albums thus far, but his “Killing Me Tonight” works as a subdued mover, one highlighting the emotional turmoil usually found at the center of his works. Similarly, Amunoa has impressed with releases through Trekkie Trax…but he gets a bit dreamier on “Izumi,” showing a slightly different side to the project. As usual, dive in and find your own favorites. Get it here, or listen below.

Fogpak #11 Is Out, Featuring…A Lot Of New Names!

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This is the first Fogpak release where I only recognize one of the names contributing to the sometimes compilation of young electronic producers…and that comes via Australia’s Super Magic Hats, who contributes the melancholic “Shinagawa.” That, though, is fitting for Fogpak, which at its best serves as an intro to burgeoning young talent from Japan (and, more recently, around the globe). The eleventh installment gets off to a fast start…and hints that newer names (or at least recently discovered ones) are taking cues from some of the earliest contributors to the series. Amunoa (OK, the first a is a triangle, but c’mon) takes cues from Taquwami’s jittery approach to sped-up vocal samples…except by upping the intensity by brushing them with elements of Jersey Club. Producer Aichimu also messes around with pitched-up vocals, but letting them trip over one another (which is probably more Taquwami-ish). Or how about Tokyo’s Ky7ie who delivers a kicky electro song backed by J-pop-ready vocals? Like all Fogpak releases, just dive in and start finding what you love. Listen below, too.