Make Believe Melodies Logo

Tag Archives: seiho

New Seiho: “Double Bed”

Posted on by

Seiho just wrapped up a tour of Japan with LuckyMe artist Obey City, and in support of that tour/because why not take the opportunity to do so the pair released a four-track album called Shochu Sounds. You should get the whole thing over here, but for now let’s focus specifically on the Osaka producer’s “Double Bed.” It finds Seiho in his element – fragmented sounds organized into a lockstep song, each new element zooming in…even if just for a second…and knocking you back a little bit. It’s hyper in a way that doesn’t feel hyper at all, everything standing out but hitting at just the right time. Listen to it at Pitchfork.

Seiho Provides Production For Rapper Klooz’s New Song “Find You”

Posted on by

This isn’t the first time Osaka’s spacey Seiho has produced a track for a hip-hop artist…he also worked with insufferable rap unit LUVRAW & BTB on a track that is best forgotten to time. The end result is a lot better when he teams up with rapper Klooz for “Find You.” Seiho is way less busy this time around, creating a laid-back bouncer for the verses and a distinctly Seiho-like creation for the chorus, which is a series of pitch-shifted yelps falling down like dominoes. It is the same sonic approach found on most of his solo work – see this year’s fantastic Abstraktsex – and serves as a nice signature for him. Yet young rapper Klooz is the real reason this works so much better than Seiho’s other forays into hip-hop production…mainly because he doesn’t swath his voice in annoying talkbox fuzz and just does his thing straightforward, moving between a semi-lecherous smooth talk and a more pop-smart sing-a-long voice. Watch the video above.

Fogpak #7 Is Massive, Features Kai Takahashi, PARKGOLF, Mioriyuri And 45 Other Artists

Posted on by

The Fogpak compilations, albums collecting songs from independent electronic artists all across Japan, have been getting a lot longer with each new installment in the series. The sixth edition featured 33 tracks, and that already felt like a challenge to get through. Now comes the seventh in the series which ups the ante with 48 songs from 48 different artists. Like the sixth edition, this is not anything resembling a traditional album, and to listen through this all in one sitting would be foolish. The sheer size of Fogpak #7 guarantees that their will be songs on it not really worth listening to. Again, treat Fogpak not as an album, but as an introduction to Japan’s underground electronic scene.

So even though there are certainly skippable moments here, Fogpak #7 also has some really strong moments. A lot of them come from names that have been impressing for quite some time now, like Sapporo’s PARKGOLF, whose “Demenigis” is a jittery number that would have fit in nicely on his recently released Cat Walk album. Hip-hop leaning duo Mioriyuri return with their first work in some time, with the luxurious “Katsumi,” while the dude responsible for these compilations, PNDR PSLY, messes around with a bunch of vocal samples on his “Heart Swapp.” Other familiar names doing what they do well include Kai Takahashi, Ryuei Kotoge and Seiho (though Hokkaido artist DJ YEN beats the Osaka producer at his hyperactive game here, with his “Check! Check! Check!”). From there, how about some new names, or at least less prominent ones. Attic Note provides the comp’s dreamiest number with “With Wonder,” built off colorful synths and some obscured vocals. Liquid.Sunshine offers up some Rustie-esque electro, while BigVirgin serves up maybe the most sensual cut here. Dive in and find your favorite now. Get the thing here.

New Music Round-Up: Seiho, Madegg, Magical Mistakes, yyioy, Cosmosman And may.e

Posted on by

Go away for one weekend, and suddenly the Internet is full of great new music from Japan. First up, a new track from Osaka’s Seiho, who is having another great year. “Wet Asphalt” is actually one of his more linked-up tracks in quite a while – his music usually sounds like it’s snapping and popping into place, everything hitting at just the right time. This one features a pretty sturdy beat for Seiho to mess around with vocals.

Let’s stick in Kansai and check in with Kyoto wonderkid Madegg. This week, he’s showing off his ability to craft delicate long-playing songs with “Summer Snow/U Know (Slow Ver.)” It’s a well-constructed song going through several segments, Madegg making it never feel too long.

And last, Magical Mistakes, who contributed a track to Portland collective Blankstairs’ first compilation. It’s a suffocating track…those buzzy synths!…but also one tempered by some prettier notes.

Stepping away from INNIT…yyioy caught our ears last week with his head-rattling remix of Ariana Grande’s “The Way.” Well, he’s at it again with new song “We Can Do It Anywhere,” which might be a topsy-turvy remix of 112’s 1999 song “Anywhere.” It definitely lifts the titular phrase from that one…and it’s rad.

Meanwhile, if you want some electronic music that’s a bit more dramatic…and has some neat digi-voices…check out “Splash Garden” from Kobe’s Cosmosman.

And last…something that isn’t electronic at all. It’s a new song from may.e, who just keeps releasing these haunting songs featuring nothing but her voice and guitar playing. “Souvenir” is all in Japanese, but the way she subtly layers her voice results in some entrancing sounds.

New Seiho: “Change Before You Have To”

Posted on by

Seiho just put out a (fantastic) full-length album…but here he is, already releasing new material into the wilds of the Internet. Dude is prolific. Anyway, ignore me and just dive right into “Chang Before You Have To,” which you can download for free by clicking the photo above. Otherwise, listen to the minimal, pitch-shifted wonder below.