I’m not sure anyone can be truly nostalgic for a time that was about three years ago, but 2015 was the year I reminisced frequently about albums. Specifically, the commitment it took to go out and buy CDs back in the far-off time of 2010 (a point when physical releases remained the only way to…
The burgeoning trend of “women, rapping!” in Japan has, as it starts creeping over to the mainstream via compilation CDs and special festivals, has so far focused on the more energetic and off-beat artists, with a healthy does of “idol rap” units who might very well be trying to ditch the lesser trend from that…
Fukuoka’s premier melancholy rap-pop artist Izumi Makura has great choice in producers. In the past…and on her just released third album…she’s worked with artists such as Fragment, Olive Oil, Sugar’s Campaign and more. Her choosing to work with jittery juke producer Foodman…now that’s an inspired choice, and the scatterbrained track he comes up with for…
Look, I don’t want to take anything away from Izumi Makuro. She sounds just fine here, rapping in a relaxed way that sounds effortless and certainly isn’t as, shall we say, acquired as other pop-rap outfits in Japan. If anything, it is easily compared to Her Ghost Friend, except with a more hip-hop bend. It’s…