Please enter your username and password, if you are not a member then click Register.
Explore the Unexplored 22
Zac Bentz has been enlisted to delve into the ever expanding HearJapan library and dig up the hidden gems every week. Zac is a writer and musician who has interviewed and reviewed hundreds of Japanese bands for several prominent sites and magazines over the years. You’re sure to find some great music, so pay attention!
The Brixton Academy – Vivid | [Electropop]
Don’t let your ears fool you. While this debut album from The Brixton Academy might sound like it dropped right out of the ‘80s, it is indeed a new release. A mix of Kraftwerk precision, Pet Shop Boys kitsch and a small dose of Yellow Magic Orchestra’s sense of the bizarre, Vivid is instantly infectious. It’s first and foremost a dance record, and its naive lyrics (all sung in English) about dancing in clubs and getting to know girls make it hard to do anything but join in with the crowd. The stripped-down instrumentation sticks to very basic and pure drum machine beats backed by even more basic synths and sparse vocal treatments. Instead of clever studio tricks, they instead rely on their excellent song writing and never-ending barrage of hooks.
andymori – Fanfare to Nekkyou | [Indies]
Indie pop-rock sensation andymori are back with their second full-length release. What more can you say? They bring more of their easy-going rock sound, rounded off around the corners and shimmering in setting-sunlight. There are plenty of acoustic guitar interludes to break up the otherwise jaunty album. Upbeat and positive to the last, Fanfare to Nekkyou proves that andymori is here to stay.
Joseph Nothing – Shambhala Number Two & Three | [Electronic]
Joseph Nothing (aka Tatsuya Joseph Yoshida) is a master at creating exotic landscapes, blending hip-hop tempos and beats with swirling, organic melodies and samples. His beats crash live waves onto a beach brimming with weird lifeforms. If the 21 tracks on this nearly two hour release aren’t enough for you, make sure to check out the artwork by Aya Takano of Takashi Murakami’s KaikaiKiki studio!
device color – braveman | [Emo]
The female fronted device color pack a lot of energy into this, their first EP. They bring a more gentle post-rock gloss to some otherwise powerful indie-rock anthems.
Isao mix totally over-the-top cookie monster vocals with classic metal riffs and…girly j-rock? Yes, just when you think you know what Isao is all about, they pull a 180 and shift into a completely different feel. You’ve just got to hear it to understand.
UGLY in CLARITY – SELFLAME!!!!!!! | [Electronic Rock]
UGLY in CLARITY is a super-group of sorts featuring three female vocalists Akie, Mirai and CHIYO. Together they produce some pretty rockin’ j-pop.
The Cokeheads – Setagaya Sweet Memories | [Punk]
Sure, with a name like The Cokeheads and songs like “Shitsong,” you know you’re in for something special. That aside, The Cokeheads bring an authentic brand of rockin’ punk with plenty of head-bobbing moments.
AVTechNO – For example | [Vocaloid]
This is AVTechNO’s release in celebration of Vocaloid singer Megurine Luka’s birthday. It’s a stomping electro-dance track packed with wall-to-wall Luka.
Mentairocker&Achikoaco – VIRGIN KILLER | [Vocaloid]
Mentairocker&Achikoaco take Megurine Luka’s more mature persona to a new level with this special birthday release. VIRGIN KILLER is loud and full of distortion while still being epic and electronic.
The Moonlights – Midnight with you (single edit) | [J-pop]
With a photo like that, you know that The Moonlights are aiming straight for the heart of early Beatles fans everywhere. They do indeed have that exact ‘60s four-part harmony, nice boy rock that will send you back in time.