Archive for the ‘myspace band of the week’ Category

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Lemon’s Chair

September 1, 2010

myspace band of the week

“What’s up ladies?  Would you like some lemon in your tea?  No.  Okay.”

Lemon’s Chair is a three-piece post-rock band that formed in 2002.  The band is fronted by Masashi Imanishi who occasionally plays his guitar with a violin bow.  Yuko and Yuki round out the band.  WATCHMAN (ex Melt-Banana, Coaltar of the Deepers) had a brief stint with the band in 2008-2009.

Their myspace player features several tracks from their album I hate?  I hope?, their split with monocism, and what appears to be Masashi’s solo stuff.  “Swallowtail” and “Halcyon” showcase their shoegazer leanings while “virtus,” “selsius” and “brilliant” are more quiet, reflective pieces with ambient landscapes.  “Sonar” is an epic 12-minute track worthy of Mono.  Meanwhile, the Lemona version of “Sonar” is a minimalist guitar only piece.

I hate? I hope? is available now. I can’t find a place to purchase it but it’s quite easy to find through other means.

http://www.myspace.com/thelemonschair

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Hotel Mexico

August 25, 2010

myspace band of the week

Hotel Mexico are here to blow your earlobes.  They’re not from Mexico, but they’re the latest in a string of awesome bands from Second Royal Records.

Hotel Mexico hails from Kyoto and began writing songs in 2008.  Many members of the band are also club DJs.  They put out a cassette tape and a live VHS earlier this year and released their debut mini-album His Jewelled Letter Box last week.  “Its Twinkle” is their first single.  It has a nice, spacey intro before a deluge of electronic boops and muffled vocals.  The kind of track Tom Delonge wished he could do with Angels & Airwaves.  “Do you Do you HAIA” wasn’t ready in time for the mini-album release, but you can download it for free at the bottom of this post.  Just as the previous song, it’s full of dreamy riffs and retro synths that will keep you dancing all night.

You can download both songs and a remix at Second Royal’s SoundCloud page.  Pick up His Jewelled Letter Box at Jet Set Records and get a free sticker and a CD-R with two remixes by NITES.

http://www.myspace.com/hotelmexico

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Nature Living

August 18, 2010

myspace band of the week

Screamo is a delicate word.  But that’s what I’ve associated Nature Living with since I found them on purevolume ages ago.  Their second album Anonymous came out in Japan today so now’s a good time to bring them up again.

Nature Living formed in 1998 and their debut was the Thirst for Lust mini-album in 2000.  They released their first album Thereof in 2006 from Theory&Practice Records and a cover album After All in 2008.  They’ve released split albums with FACT, Waterweed, LOST, Evylock, and others.  In 2008 they provided “Vacancy” for the anime Xam’d: Lost Memories with 14-year-old Kylee on vocals.  Their new album will be released on Savi Records.

“Shadow of Truth” and the “Walk Upon Thorns” and “Use To Be Sad” snippets come from their latest album.  It’s classic Nature Living.  Nice violin intro, catchy chorus, an electronic beat in the background.  I don’t hear any screaming but that’s okay.  The rest of the songs on myspace are the singles from past albums and mini-albums and their cover of Madonna’s “Material Girl.”  Nature Living haven’t changed too much over the years but they’re still one of my favorite screamo bands from Japan.

Overseas fans can pick up some Nature Living CDs at Interpunk.  Download Anonymous at HearJapan.

http://www.myspace.com/natureliving

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deepsea drive machine

August 11, 2010

myspace band of the week

Deepsea drive machine is an electronic band from Kashiwa.  Shinya Nishi (bass) and Kohtaro Uno (guitar) formed the band in 1998 and were inspired by hardcore punk bands.  They released their first album Saion in 2002 and the Sonar For Life EP in 2005.  In 2008, Shinya and Jun Izawa (LITE) started Parabolica Records and began releasing albums from Japanese and foreign artists.  Earlier this year deepsea drive machine released the Wayless EP through Parabolica.

The first five tracks on myspace are from Wayless.  It sounds similar to sakanaction at first, but with a lot less vocals.  “Ray of Light” and “ミチナキセカイ” are nice spacey dance tracks.  Some of the more guitar heavy tracks like “Jag” and “Secret Path” recall the direction LITE have been heading in their last two EPs.  Their older tracks are pretty similar to their new material, but I would definitely throw “JADA” in the post-rock category.

Deepsea drive machine is on the electronic side of post-rock, with more spacey than dancy tunes.  The beats are catchy enough to keep you awake on the highway, but relaxing enough for studying music.  More please.

http://www.myspace.com/deepseadrivemachine

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Quattro

August 4, 2010

myspace band of the week

“Why are they called Quattro though they are 5?”  The video for “Magic J” never answers the question, but I went ahead and listened to some more Quattro.

Quattro is a four or five-piece (their myspace lists four members at this point) indie band from Tokyo.  They’ve put out two albums and an EP on LilBallet.  Their latest album Where Is The Coconuts? …Ha? came out earlier this year and it’s a lot of fun.  Samples of all eleven songs are up on myspace.

Their sound can best be described by observing what’s on their album cover: five dudes standing under palm trees.  Some of the songs have a Brit pop flair, such as the excellent single “Time, Time, Time” while others such as “Question #7” and “For All We Done” are straight up country.  The kind of album you play as you spread out on your hammock and enjoy an ice cold Popsicle.

Their English isn’t perfect.  Their grammatical disaster of an album title should be proof of that.  But the charm is still there.  And if Takeshi Iwamoto works on it a LilBit I’m sure they’ll find success overseas.

http://www.myspace.com/quattrotheband

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The Suzan

July 28, 2010

myspace band of the week

The Suzan is an all-girl band from Tokyo that caught the ear of Bjorn Yttling of Peter, Bjorn and John.  They managed to convince him to produce their new album via a myspace message and it will soon be released internationally from Fool’s Gold.

Only two tracks from the girls grace their myspace page.  “Home” is a xylophone filled indie pop song that’s blissfully happy.   Astute readers can download the track free here.  “High and Low” has more of a garage rock feel with motown vocals.  Their music can be powerful or as cute as them.

Their album Golden Week For the Poco Poco Beat doesn’t come out until September, but you can buy their new single “Home” now on a  fancy 7″ record.

http://www.myspace.com/thesuzan

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Sweet Hollywaiians

July 21, 2010

myspace band of the week

The ukulele always makes me happy.  It should come as no surprise that the Sweet Hollywaiians put me in a good mood.

The Sweet Hollywaiians are based in Osaka and were originally street performers that shared a common interest in Hawaiian, swing, ragtime,  and calypso  music from the 20s and 30s.  They formed a string quartet in 2002 to celebrate the long forgotten legends of the time such as Sol Hoopii, King Bennie Nawahi, Roy Smeck and Eddie Lang.  They’ve put out four albums and toured worldwide, wrapping up a Canadian tour this week.

The songs up on myspace are mainly instrumental Hawaiian pieces that range from hula-dance to mai-tai-on-the-beach.   But there are several vocal pieces such as the excellent “Hula Girl.”  The Hollywaiians also team up with Yumi Ishikawa on “U’i Lani” and “Maile Swing,” traditional Hawaiian songs that are just as sweet and melancholic as the originals.   The interplay between the steel guitars, banjos, and ukulele’s are relaxing and more than up to the par to the legends of the past.

If the Hollywaiians made you hula, pick up Ticklin’ The Strings and Hula Girl from CD Baby or their collaborations with Yumi Ishikawa and Tom Marion.  Whether you need some Hawaiian music for a romantic evening or just something to drown your booze, the Sweet Hollywaiians are pleasant listening material.  I guess this will tide me over until I can afford a damn vacation.

http://www.myspace.com/sweethollywaiians

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RiLF

July 14, 2010

myspace band of the week

Ever wonder what happened to that new matryoshka album that was supposed to come out last year?  I did.  And found the post-rock supergroup RiLF.

Calu, the vocalist/creepy looking girl from matryoshka, four members of Anoice, and a couple other people got together earlier this year and dubbed themselves Ricco Label and Friends.  They released era e.p. in April and renamed themselves RiLF later on.  In September, they’ll release their debut album Ferris Wheel on Ricco Label.  One-minute samples of the entire album can be heard on myspace.  RiLF combines the post-rock stylings of Anoice with Calu’s haunting vocals.  Some of the songs are more experimental than others, but all come out out as very relaxing, easy to fall asleep to music.  The violins also add a touch of class to songs like “Mint Tea” and “so sad.”

This is definitely a side project to look out for.  And if you’re still wondering about that matryoshka album, it was announced yesterday that it will be released on world’s end girlfriend’s new label Virgin Babylon Records.

http://www.myspace.com/rilfs

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Satanicpornocultshop

July 7, 2010

myspace band of the week

When I run across bands with the words “satanic,” “porno,” and “cult” in their names, I tend to think of sacrificial goat slaughter, pig rape, the screams of dying maidens, equivalent exchange, and tofu burgers.  You proved me wrong Satanicporncultshop.

The randomly named Satanicpornocultshop formed in 1997 and have released many albums on their label NuNuLaxNulan and others.  They started off as a breakcore/hip hop unit and then proceeded to throw everything else in the mix.  Listening to their material on myspace is enough to give you whiplash.  “Feed me w) your kiss” lives up to the breakcore label, with nice boy-girl vocals leading up to a chaotic chorus of failing machines, with movie quotes and Hawaiian music filling out the background halfway in.  “Summer Quest” and “Tnnoji Zoo” have some of the same breakcore elements but nothing else here is really loud or abrasive.

I wasn’t expecting shibuya-kei from this band, but they gave us the very pretty “Suicidal Empire.”  “Asakichi” and “Closer, club mix” have the same pop elements, but with a dance beat.  Then we have “Beast Must Die, autumn” that could’ve been on the Memoirs of Geisha soundtrack.  But my favorite of the bunch is easily “Pinky,” one of their ridiculously cute covers of Missy Elliot’s “Get Your Freak On.”

So far Satanicpornocultshop released Arkhaiomelisidonophunikheratos through The Genepool and Catholic Sunspot Apron on their own label this year.  Which is a lot.  If you’re looking for original music take your porno to the cultshop.

http://www.myspace.com/satanicpornocultshop

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Urichipangoon ウリチパン郡

June 29, 2010

myspace band of the week

It’s good  to know halfway across the globe there are still bands that are willing to wear neon phallic objects on top of their heads.

Urichipangoon formed in 2003 in Osaka with just two members.  Their first album was recorded at home and released on a small indie label.  The following year, two more people joined, including the drummer from Boredoms.  Their 2008 album Giant Club received high praise from Shugo Tokumaru and Ryuichi Sakamoto of all people.  “I’ve never set ears on music by such gentle pervs,” so says UA.  If Shugo Tokumaru says Urichipangoon is “one of the best pop groups around” I better listen.

The first four songs on their myspace come from Giant Club.  “Paya Paya” sounds a bit like OOIOO in the beginning, but the violin jigs liven it up.  “Zenon” is the best of the bunch even at eight minutes.  I enjoyed the random folk instruments, jungle sounds, and banjo “FunaUta” and “TowaNoAi” come from their first album SEN.  “FunaUta” has a minimalist, ambient vibe while “TowaNoAi” sounds more like their newer stuff, with the bird calls and vocals.

If you enjoy Boredoms or Shugo Tokumaru it’s safe to say you’ll like Urichipangoon.  It’s nice to see folk pop make a comeback.  You can also order both their albums and a t-shirt via PayPal on the band’s myspace.

http://www.myspace.com/urichipangoon

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