Western media coverage of the Japanese music scene in 2010 seems to be following a very recession-friendly pattern – stick to what people know. So that means something like “Boris, Boredoms plus associated acts, maybe check in on Shugo and Afriampo if we have space.” Can’t really blame them – there is so much music…
DJ unit/fanzine makers Twee Grrrls Club know how to throw a indie-pop-tastic party. Trust me, I sorta went to one. The good-times outfit, which counts HNC and Miila (together known as Love And Hates) will release a compilation album titled Grrrls Talk on October 6. They’ve got a good tracklist in place – expect to…
The piano isn’t the only instrument Osaka duo Sayutony’s rely on – the vocals and sudden drum beat erupting midway through “In Your Heart” give that ballad its punch – but it is the central tool to their whimsical little songs. Indie-pop standout “Dog Skip” follows the jaunty piano’s lead for four minutes, rarely straying…
Love And Hates released so much new material near the end of 2009 I thought I’d never be able to keep up. Then January rolled along and as we tore off the first page from our new “Dilbert-A-Day” calendars, and the twee-core rap duo suddenly became surprisingly mute. A few songs made their way online…
Let’s get technical for a second – “indie pop” should refer to a very specific type of sound. It’s the sub-genre overflowing with “jangly” guitars and a general “sunny” theme. It’s still pretty vague, but not nearly as “twee.” Twee is a state of being, almost a choice…indie pop doesn’t necessarily need to be twee,…