The J-Pop Thread

Really liked this 2016 single, which to my unseasoned J-pop ears sounded like Perfume's "Polyrhythm" with Skrillexy cut-up production.

Aira Mitsuki - Detective A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDa8Q3hUDIY

Is this an emerging style, where the idol becomes an electronica producer's toy, even more so in more "mainstream" J=pop? I want more of this.

where the idol becomes an electronica producer's toy

That's most J-Pop. Or at least all Nakata.

Jun Togawa is releasing a new album shocker! recorded with Vampillia, out in December.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkNU0QbXVsw

that's a Yapoos track isn't it?

her voice definitely sounding a bit different these days!

yes, a Yapoos track. looking at the tracklisting there's only one new song at the end http://natalie.mu/music/news/205511

Yeah, the way I read their announcement was it was an anniversary thing? But it's all rerecordings of her old songs, not a comp of them, right?

when was the last time she recorded any legitimately new songs? the last Yapoos album was in 1995 I believe, doesn't seem like she's done a lot since then. seems a bit odd to come back just to re-record old tunes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jWLioW7Zx0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEGjoWVJKNk

the last few Wednesday Campanella singles have been excellent

Yep, very cool

the new BOMI is very Campanella, produced by Tokyo Recordings who worked on Campanella's Napoleon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhUHE61xetM

Tentenko produced by Eye of Boredoms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLL91md6Y_o

really like that tentenko album. anyone familiar w/her ~900 or so other records?

checked out a later yukako hayase album from 2001 - love your life. it rules. here's the only track on YT but the whole thing is solid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkRba0s6NkA

So this Wednesday Campanella album is pretty much all I've listened to for the past month

they are super likable for sure. PVs have an odd personality to them.

yeah i love it, it's maybe their most consistent so far. certainly a lot better than UMA last year

apart from Aladdin i think my favourites are Sakamoto Ryoma (i love the percussive lead synth) and Zeami (the difference between the first and second verse is so dynamic)

New YMM -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed-LsUht8iE

what a mess lol. It's interesting how popular Ano has become in Korea recently, mainly due to comps of her TV appearances on YouTube - a lot of comments on YMM videos are now in Hangul.

I really like this track by ex Koutei Camera Girl member Molmo under the name Ame To Kanmuri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsMhk56zLE0

hahaha I kept pausing that YMM single bc surely a totally different track must be playing in some other tab, right? lol, awesome.

new campanella is def v nice & 世阿弥 is amazing but I think I still prefer the earlier records. the simpler melodic idm sound is just more up my alley & I like their consistency even if they are a little less ambitious.

anyone ever hear this early demo? (w/a 2nd singer!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeOkQvyh0Jc

here's a collab I never expected, Ano of YMM guesting on a Towa Tei track

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-tXl0gajdc&

strange but I dig it

Towa's albums always seem like a who's who of J-pop, lately

wooow that YMM track

More Idol fuckery

http://aramajapan.com/news/music/·········is-an-enigmatic-project-that-may-hide-a-deep-meaning/74429/

Whoops, trying again - http://aramajapan.com/news/music/%C2%B7%C2%B7%C2%B7%C2%B7%C2%B7%C2%B7%C2%B7%C2%B7%C2%B7-is-an-enigmatic-project-that-may-hide-a-deep-meaning/74429/

This is so sad - http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/j-pop-star-ayumi-hamasaki-is-going-completely-deaf

goddamn, that's awful D:

new campanella single sounds a little like a coldcut remix of a tortoise song or something to me and I mean that in the best possible way:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qPSHOTzidw

You'll Melt More continue their habit of parodying western record covers (previously including Neu!, ESG, B&S, Suicide etc)
http://i.imgur.com/ELZYbze.jpg

hmmm what's that one?

Screamadelica (the EP seems to be called Discopsychedelica)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQd-Nj4eH48

What a crowd pleaser of a song!

Digging CRCK/LCKS

Neat mix of Ringo, Clammbon, a few others and a little bit of mathyness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHdgffU5mbU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJF7_d1yhjI

I quite like both of those. btw what's a good resource for finding out about these sorts of things, and/or maybe more alternative/underground Japanese music?

Heya ultros, does your webmail ink work?

Yes I think so

Just sent you a message, my web address is super old/dead so don't reply there.

Thanks :)

this is fun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Wp_2X6nUo

A bit late but I'm loving this REOL track from last year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IK6eLTNV1k

Heya Emily, have you checked out the Tentenko sings Halmens EP?

No!!!!

Worth checking out, I never realised how similar her voice is to JT

another great YMM parody sleeve

http://i.imgur.com/bqEwqHV.jpg

the new Koutei project sounds promising

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_tyAg5J1wE

yeah, that koutei track is nice! didn't realize that the original group had splintered into all these variants a while ago.

anyone else check out the · · · · · · · "single"? one long track that's built out of three or four p solid shoegaze/emo j-pop tracks with drone and field recording interludes and then 50 minutes of warm guitar noise at the end:
http://aramajapan.com/news/music/shoegaze-idol-group-%C2%B7-%C2%B7-%C2%B7-%C2%B7-%C2%B7-%C2%B7-%C2%B7-debut-song-70-minutes-long/78818/

Yes have been listening to that Dots single, the first 20 minutes are pretty good. I have a soft spot for releases that link tracks with drones etc.
A bit late but I really like this Sora Tob Sakana track that came out earlier this year, sort of math rock idol?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHBrIzHFff4

yeah, I'm honestly not super into indie/shoegaze/etc. and the last 50mins of that dots single aren't particularly compelling noise music either (imo)... but I still appreciate that they went there. the initial back-and-forth between songs and drones is fun too, yeah. I like the interlude w the locust hums <3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq16jUhk9As
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jilbr-dW2Cc

monari from especia's solo album is quite nice

hell yeah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol-P9BxDHuw

had completely missed that there was a new FAMM'IN track in march. a bit disjointed and not quite as transcendent as circle but still a lot to like

Hey Zappi, thanks for recommending CRCK/LCKS above! They're kicking my ass with jazz chords