Tag: japan

Shintaro Sakamoto Shares Is There a Place For You There

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We realize that a lot of cool lists will probably run this week, but at the moment, I’m just starting to look forward to what’s coming out early next year, like the forthcoming Shintaro Sakamoto LP. This tune seems to be a calling to finding your own place in the world, or at least the one that fits each individual person, but its crafted in this spiritual psychedelia that usually accompanies Sakamoto’s craft. There’s this sort of mysterious bend in the guitar notes, akin to what we’d get on typical psychedelic flair, but in that, the tune ends up sort of spinning as these little flutes or woodwind cousins burrow into the song’s consciousness. It’s the best sort of trip, and look for Yoo-hoo on January 23rd via Zelone Records.

Pleased to Meet You: Frog Fortress

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When you press play on the Frog Fortress single below, the single is intent upon shredding your ears, dropping in these huge hardcore/metal riffs and a furious pace that smashes in your ears. You’re rioting, turning the volume up as you slam-dance across your living room, and the suddenly, you’re not; the track completely switches modes, and drops in one of the most charming moments you’re likely to hear today…if you’re into little pop trinkets in your listening habits. If this track and the songs on the Demo EP are anything to go by, the Japanese based project has a whole lot more to offer!

Qubinoix Share Everyday is Sunday

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Today seems as good a day as any to throw some noisy pop from Japan right your way, and thus I’m here with Qubinoix. The tune below is the B-side from their forthcoming Girls Are Alright 7″, which is being handled by Brooklyn label Living Waters. The founding members of the band have decades of experience crafting the shoegaze scene in Japan, and when they go at it hear, they’re melding influences of metal, shoegaze, alternative…really its an amalgam of pop music that hits just the right notes with Ichimaki’s vocals. Those vocal notes have this brightness to them that sort of shines through the dense cavernous music they’ve created, ensuring you get the sweetness balanced perfectly. You’ll be able to grab a copy of the 7″ tomorrow for Bandcamp Friday!

 

Yasu Cub Shares Elevator Video

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Those of us looking for sounds that would be traditionally described as slow-core might want to check out Japans Yasu Cub. They’ve just released their Elevator EP, and the title track gets the video treatment, featuring the falling snows of Tokyo. Aside from the pacing, there’s some really nuanced moments that really hit me smack in the face as I was listening through, like the crispness of the guitars that ring out carefully. I loved how the song seemed to also circle back on itself in spots, with layers lapping over one another ornately, allowing the song to feel like its bending and coiling up…held together by the heavy vocal notes in the center of the mix. If you’re digging, then be sure to check out the whole Elevator EP.

Mesh Key Records to Release Inu’s Don’t Eat Food

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I’m really glad that streaming and Bandcamp have enabled folks to unearth gems and build a brand new audience, such as Mesh Key Records. The label, based in NYC, specializes in bringing to light underground Japanese artists, like late 70s/early 80s act Inu. The label will be releasing Don’t Eat Food, which originally appeared in 1981; it’s crazy to hear how locked in the band were to what was going on in American college scenes, despite the lack of Internet and other sharing services. I love the frantic vocals of the opening track here; it reminds me in an odd way of a caffeinated Jello Biafra, though musically there’s a stronger lineage to more angular sounds. Crazy how strong this recording sounds nearly 40 years on…just goes to show you the longevity of great songs. LP versions of Don’t Eat Food drop on October 6th! Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Mesh Key roster while you’re at it!

Dreamy Pop Tune from Swim Sweet Under Shallow

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If you were in need of a dreamy pop number to carry you on its back, then perhaps you should look to Japan’s Swim Sweet Under Shallow, who’ve just dropped this delightful ditty. There’s this weighted atmosphere on the top layer, like a Spring shower just constantly drizzling atop the mixture; it’s like we’re all bobbing our heads in the rain here. Beneath that, though, there’s this sweet chocolatey center, created by the balance between the track’s rhythmic pulse and the delightful charm of the melodies. This track definitely is a nice little place to shelter yourself today.

 

Bryan Cooper Shares Beta Life

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You better believe that when a songwriter name drops Suede, Stone Roses and Blur as influences, I’m going to spend sometime listening, which is how I fell in love with this new Bryan Cooper tune. The opening verse alone, pulling on those sort of classic riffs, gritty but dripping with melody makes it easy to be charmed on this one, particularly if you let Cooper’s sweet vocal notes push on through as well. But, just as you expect the quiet loud quiet chorus move, Bryan takes it into a different direction, stripping the pace back and allowing the song to unfold the way he sees fit. I love the way he really hits those high notes, letting his voice take you to bright new heights!

Hazy Sour Cherry Announce Strange World

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The good folks at Damnably have already brought us one incredible record this year from Say Sue Me, and they’re looking to tap into my bank account with a new record from Japan’s Hazy Sour Cherry. I got hooked by falling in love with Tsuzumi’s voice, which sounds like a modern Belinda Carlisle, albeit with a bit more punctuation and sharpness to it. There’s a lot of steady blending of surf notes and rolling thunder rhythm throughout, but if you can’t just let the emotional vibe wash atop you, then you’re missing out on this absolute powerhouse of a pop jam! The group will release Strange World on June 15th.

Nicfit Share Deviation Video

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Looks like we’re spending some time on the Japanese tip today, getting you into Nicfit and their latest single. The band operate with this sound that feels like you’ve taken the best bits of Fugazi and like-minded post-hardcore outfits, then mixed it up with modern twinges of psychedelia and pop music. At times the track can feel really heavy, particularly as it smashes to a close, though it can also feel fun and off-kilter immediately following. The track keeps you guessing, which makes for the best listening longevity. They’ll be releasing their Fuse LP in January via Upset the Rhythm.

Damon & Naomi with Kurihara Share Oceans in Between

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The title of this song seems to fit the story of the latest album from Damon & Naomi with Kurihara; the whole of the record seems like a letter to their friend and collaborator, Kurihara. Here we’ve got dreamy vocals from Naomi, riding on the crest of waves, crossing that vast distance of ocean in order to reach the shores of Japan. I love how there’s a guitar that cascades across the song’s middle, like another shared memory among companions, being told by another narrator, though clearly tied to the storytelling of both song and LP. You can feel the song reaching across the distances, yearning to find solace in long-lasting companionship. You’ll hear this tune on A Sky Record, out August 6th via 20-20-20.

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