Archive for the ‘myspace band of the week’ Category

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Hunting Pigeons

November 16, 2011

myspace band of the week

Hunting Pigeons is a four-piece indie rock band from Kobe. Frontman Isseki Shirai was the lead singer of 25m Floater until their breakup in 2005. Isseki then started a solo project, which was later renamed Hunting Pigeons when he stole the rhythm section from his friend’s band. This lineup quit after the recording of the Honeycomb Jukebox album. Joining Isseki now is 25m Floater bandmate Kuniaki Kakusei (bass), Noriaki Takagi (guitar) and Kozo Nakamura (drums).

Honeycomb Jukebox was released on July 6 and is a throwback to 90s college rock. It was entirely self-produced and released on Hunting Pigeons’ self-run label Home Recording Is Killing Music. This label will also release Isseki’s solo project and Sentinels’ new EP later this year. You can pick up Honeycomb Jukebox at CD Japan and all digital outlets.

http://www.myspace.com/huntingpigeons/

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Awai

November 9, 2011

myspace band of the week

Awai is an experimental noise/doom band from Kagoshima. The band members are Mei Ryuu (guitar, vocals), Setsuko Yuuto (guitar), Daisuki Hachiro (guitar), the one (vocals), Atsuko Ai (keyboard), ‘uno’ gillis (drums), and Habiki Natsumi (cello, french horn). They like to think of themselves as a small cult rather than a band, which just adds to the mystery.

Illinois based label Fahra Recordings released both of Awai’s EPs as a single album this October. You can download Electric Blanket / Past, Present, Funeral at Amazon, CD Baby, iTunes, etc.

http://www.myspace.com/awai666


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Aureole

November 2, 2011

myspace band of the week

Aureole is a dreamy post rock band from Tokyo. They formed in 2007 and released their debut album Nostaldom in 2009. In 2010 they released their second album Imaginary Truth featuring guest vocals by calu of matryoshka. The album was released through kilk records, which is run by Aureole’s vocalist/guitarist Daichi Mori.

Samples from both albums are on myspace. Aureole blends together a variety of genres including electronic, alternative, folk, psychedelic, ambient, jazz and more. Whereas some of their songs are lullaby worthy others are sweeping flute driven post rock epics.

Imaginary Truth is available at CD Japan and for download at iTunes and Bandcamp.

http://www.myspace.com/aureolemusic

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go green

October 26, 2011

myspace band of the week

Go green is not an environmental group or eco addict. Just a solo rock act. Go green formed in 1995 as a three- piece led by Kenji. However, over the years it became Kenji’s solo project. Kenji records almost all of go green’s songs in his small Tokyo apartment. In 2008, Kenji started doing live go green shows with acoustic/electric guitars with self-recorded back tracks on iPods.

The original go green lineup released the album From Apple To Pepper in 2002. Floating on the Edge released in 2010 was go green’s first album as a solo project. In July go green released Close To You, Close To Me, a free digital single inspired by the earthquake and tsunami disasters in Japan.

Go green MP3s are available at iTunes, Amazon and directly from the artist. CD Baby has Floating on the Edge on CD.

http://www.myspace.com/gogreenmusic

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The Valves

October 20, 2011

myspace band of the week

The Valves is a new garage rock band from Tokyo. The band members are Takeshi Kaji (vocals, guitar), Jean (guitar), Junichi Ishida (bass) and Takashi Kanda (drums). Takeshi Kaji is the lead vocalist/guitarist of The Rodeo Carburettor most known for the end theme “Speed of Flow” from the Gintama anime series. From the looks of it, The Rodeo Carburettor may have broken up some time ago. The Valves released their first album Feed Back Club May 28 despite only forming earlier this year.

Feed Back Club is available at iTunes and Amazon. Samples are available at myspace.

http://www.myspace.com/thevalvesjapan

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Uzumibi

October 12, 2011

myspace band of the week

Uzumibi (埋火) is a 3-piece folk rock band from Tokyo. The band members are Mai Mishio(vocal/guitar), Kanako Shiga (drums) and Keizo Suhara (bass). They formed in 2001 in Fukuoka and the current lineup was solidified when Keizo joined in 2006. Their first mini-album Koi ni Kansuru Ikutsuka no Film was released in 2005 when the band still had 5 members. They have released two albums Watashi no Fune in 2008 and Diorama in 2011.

There are two tracks on Uzumibi’s myspace, “Letter” from Watashi no Fune and the “mono” version of 溺れる魚 from their new album Diorama. “Letter” is sweet little pop diddy while 溺れる魚 is on another level. There is something very nostalgic about it that keeps making me hit replay (watch the album version PV below!).

Uzumibi CDs are available at CD Japan.

http://www.myspace.com/uzumibi

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BBQ Chickens

October 5, 2011

myspace band of the week

October marks the return of legendary thrash band BBQ Chickens. The original lineup consisted of Hatano (drums), Hongolian (vocals), Iso (bass) and Ken Yokoyama (guitar) who were buddies since childhood. The band formed in 2000 after Yokoyama announced the hiatus of Hi-Standard. They released three albums and won two Space Shower awards for “Sick Guy/Stupid Magazines” and “Pizza of Death’s Theme/Fat Boy.”  BBQ Chickens themselves went on somewhat of a hiatus after their 2003 cover album Fine Songs Playing Sucks, presumably so Yokoyama could focus on his more successful solo career.

BBQ Chickens officially got back together last year. Hatano left to focus on his own band. Their new drummer is Andrew from Rise and Fuck You Heroes. Crossover and Over, which was released today, is BBQ Chickens’ first album in 8 years. Their new video for “Raised Up In Hell/Xie Xie” is classic Chickens. Older songs can be heard on myspace.

Crossover and Over is available at CD Japan.

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Hysteric Picnic

September 27, 2011

myspace band of the week

The mysterious Hysteric Picnic formed earlier this April in Tokyo. According to the band’s bio (written in…German), the duo spent some time in New York prior to forming. They are influenced by post punk and 80s new wave. Their self-titled EP was released in August.

“Tonight” is a lo-fi pop song that chugs along at a slow pace. The do-do’s are sometimes washed out by the droning guitar but they’re there.

“Merry Go Round” takes Hysteric Picnic to more psychedelic grounds. The beat is a little creepy and the wailing and screaming in the latter half only intensifies that feeling.

Hysteric Picnic’s EP is available at Jet Set Records. Download “Tonight” for free at bandcamp.

http://www.myspace.com/thehystericpicnic

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The_AIU

September 21, 2011

The_AIU is a “mysterious multinational rock band” from Tokyo that formed in October 2010. Leading The_AIU is Indonesian pop singer Aiu Ratna, who released a covers EP in Japan last year. Rounding out the band is Sohichi (The JETZEJOHNSON) on guitar and Jessie (Noise & Treatment) on electronics. A distinguishing characteristic of their music is the lack of a drummer, although it appears they have a support drummer live. Their debut mini-album Minority was released today. They also did a remix for Genki Rockets’ second album released earlier this month.

The four tracks on The_AIU’s myspace are labeled “Ver.0.” These demo tracks are a bit raw on the instrumentation side but there’s a lot of promise here. Aiu Ratna does sound a little diva-like on “Gothictro” and “Loser” hopefully she doesn’t sing this high on all their songs. All four tracks and “CPU,” which kicks a lot of ass, are available on Minority.

Minority is available at Amazon (MP3) and CD Japan.

http://www.myspace.com/theaiu

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Ohshu

September 14, 2011

myspace band of the week

At first glance Ohshu (王舟) looks like the Broken Social Scene of Japan, a collective of musicians centered around singer-songwriter Ohshu. Notable musicians that perform and record regularly with Ohshu include Hara Kazutoshi (ex Gellers), mmm, muffin and oono yuuki. Ohshu has released two CD-Rs in 2010,  賛成 and THAILAND. A digital single was released in June through Tonofon, with all proceeds donated to the victims of the Tohoku earthquake.

Most of Ohshu’s songs are acoustic based with piano, trumpet and flute filling the orchestra. Title track “Thailand” is a nice love song, sung in English. Throughout the song we get lovely flute by mmm (hear more of mmm’s flutework on Ogre You Asshole’s new album) and everyone goes all out on the ending.

賛成 and THAILAND are available at Jet Set Records.

http://www.myspace.com/ohshu

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