beta music mode

I’ve listened to a load of music lately without having the time to write about it, but I just had to say a few things about one of my favourite Japanese indie bands. They’ve been pretty active since the start of the year with a collab EP and now, a new album not to mention frontwoman Yakushimaru Etsuko’s own solo activities. Seems a great time to be a fan.

Briefly skimming through their releases:

Our Music. Soutaiseiriron x Shibuya Keiichiro
It’s pretty amazing how many hats the Soutaisei quartet can wear, and comfortably at that. This January release featured a collaboration with pianist/keyboardist Shibuya to create a couple of downtempo, chill tracks and the results are suitably sublime. While not totally a million miles away from their own music style-wise Shibuya’s keys adds an interesting dimension to their sound especially on the title track, a whispery ballad closer to the works of one Spangle Call Lilli Line (gutarist Nagai Seiichi has produced some tracks for them before). So only three tracks and three instrumentals but fans of either Soutaisei or Yakushimaru should definitely check this one out.

Synchroniciteen. Soutaiseiriron
The indie darlings show little sign of slowing down since breaking out with the fantastic Hi-Fi Shinsho last year, churning out a new album that is every bit as bright and refreshing as the first time I heard their music. The melodies may be a little catchier than before (in before anyone accuses them of selling out) but thankfully they maintain that penchant for bizarre, nonsensical lyrics, telling strange little tales that I’m still struggling to wrap my head around. The Japanese syllabary of My Heart Hard Pinch (a i u e o, ka ki ku ke ko?) is particularly delightful, as are the Chinese-influenced (Koi wa) Hyakunen Senso and China Advice. And hey, check out the acoustic guitar on Moonlight Ginga! Wonders never cease. I guess I’m calling this as one of the best albums of 2010 way in advance? It’s really that good.

Blu-Day. Yakushimaru Etsuko to d.v.d
And this is where it gets a little weird. The whole project has a bit of a gimmicky feel about it, with Yakushimaru on vocals and guitar, Itoken and Jimanica on twin drums and artist Yamaguchi Takashi providing… art and backgrounds and strange shit. Musically it’s a bunch of random lyrics repeated over an electronic backing (seriously, I don’t hear that much guitar in there) and I came out of it feeling like I’d just travelled to Mars and back. Very odd. The limited-edition version comes with a DVD of live performances of some of the songs from the album.

The Yakushimaru train doesn’t just stop there though. Anyone who watches anime might know that Etsuko’s got two theme songs ready for the current spring season - the first is a solo effort called Venus to Jesus, a song which is just as weird as the show (called Arakawa Under the Bridge and featuring Venusians, kappas, star-head people & mafia nuns) it comes from. The second is Kamisama no iu Toori, a collaboration with 9mmpb & Chatmonchy producer Ishiwatari Junji and DJ Sunahara Yoshinori from the yet-to-air noitaminA-slotted Yojohan Shinwa Taikei. I haven’t heard the song yet but if it’s anything like the dizzy Chikada-Takahashi Oyasumi Paradox, we’re in for fun times.

There’s still TUTU HELVETICA, Yakushimaru’s electropop side project whose work I’ve yet to touch. Wonder what treasures I’ll dig out of that one.