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 it certainly hits the ears pretty hard, especially in latter parts of the song. But lurking underneath is a far more faded and ultimately beautiful melody. The tension between the two makes this one a winner. Listen above.
New Cairophenomenons: “Tiger, Tiger”
It would be a bit too precious to say Tokyo’s Cairophenomenons carry the torch of early 2010s Japanese indie-rock, though they probably are as close as anyone is going to get to the vibe of Hotel Mexico in 2018. But they really do nail a certain Setagaya-ward-basement feel that is becoming a bit more rare as bands shift towards City Pop-lite, or more twee grounds, or like noise. “Tiger, Tiger” is a breezy number with enough rev ups (see: right after the hooks) to not be blown over by one’s breath. It’s just the right mix of earnest and muscular, and the end result is comforting if not a little too familiar. Listen above.
Ruckus: Little Dead Girl’s My Boyfriend Is EchoBoy
Watching younger electronic producers who have been kicking around Japan’s community for the last couple of years come up to something a touch bigger is always nice — especially when the music that comes out of it offers something exciting alongside the status boost. Little Dead Girl has hopped around several Tokyo events, and has been releasing a steady string of promising — if not totally there yet — singles over the last year. My Boyfriend Is EchoBoy, though, finds her nailing a balance between good times and tension. It’s all over the opening title track, a number jumping out with island-flavored percussion and light vocal samples before ramping the intensity up via a flurry of synthesizer, moving from beachside to tilt-a-whirl. Listen to that one above. Even better though is “Copy Me,” a strobing dance number delivering dizzying melodies throughout, always feeling close to collapse but holding it together. This scrambled feeling is the best kind of unnerving fun. Listen below.
Tomggg Teams Up With Ehiorobo For “Feel Ya”
Tomggg has been laying down playroom-appropriate electronic music for most of this decade, proving influential enough to be an early cornerstone of “kawaii bass” and inspiring many after. But nothing wrong with mixing things up either, and Tomggg welcomes a new voice into his twinkly world on “Feel Ya,” a collaboration with American artist Ehiorobo. They add a new energy to Tomggg’s sonic palette, bouncing all over the familiar sounds and giving it a sense of unpredictability. It carries over to Tomggg themselves, too. Just check the stretch when the song speeds up and takes on a more wild bounce, eventually merging just right with the cuddlier stuff. Listen above.
New Homecomings: “Hull Down”
Homecomings’ Whale Living is a seaside stroll, the Kyoto outfit’s most reflective and generally laid-back album to date. Despite the tempo slowing down, the structure fits them well, seeing as they create short stories about everyday life and the often-melancholy emotions filling the time. “Hull Down” is a solid snapshot of the album as a whole, moving at a brisk walk (critically, Homecomings never get too slow…I don’t think ballads would suit them, and they always make sure the pace is enough to not fall into that category) and fitting in lots of details that reveal themselves over time. And the singing comes through most clearly, adding all the color needed. Listen above.