Let’s hope this trend continues – J-Rock bands backed by relatively well-known labels creating music that also takes plenty of inspiration from the world of dance music. Last year, Sakanaction released what has thus far been the definitive album of this electro-rock wave…and, while we are tossing around hyperbole, the best J-Rock album of the…
Before last year’s 8Eight8, Kaela Kimura’s strength was absorbing popular sounds (ranging from Perfume’s techno-pop to whatever the fuck you call Mika’s music) and turning them into singles that managed to not be straight rip-offs, Kimura usually balanced on the right side of the fence. Yet then came 8Eight8, an album where Kimura certainly still…
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/40973377 w=500&h=375] Here in Japan, today isn’t just an ordinary Friday full of people grinning and bearing one more day of work so they can get to the sweet, sweet weekend. Next week is Golden Week, a time of the year featuring three national holidays, meaning a lot of vacation time for a lot…
Two weeks ago, a day before I moved to Tokyo and began a new job with a new transit route and new ways of falling into routine, I traveled to a seaside town near Kobe. I came for a concert, one I expected to be held somewhere near the city’s downtown, an idea that drifted…
“Spring Of Life,” Perfume’s 20th single and first for Universal Music Japan, sold 49,448 copies on the day of its debut, giving the techno-pop trio their highest first-day sales ever. The song also saw digital release in 50 countries, and coinciding with “Spring Of Life’s” release, Universal gave Perfume their very own label, Perfume Records….