good japanese indie stuff?

I liked the harunemuri too - need to listen to that again. I only discovered GNKO with the last album, but they've been on regular rotation since - it suits so many moods! I love all their retro organ sounds.

'Youtopia' by You'll Melt More! was a favourite of mine from last year though it's more straight up pop-punk than indie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzc1xhQUlTs

any idea what the lyrics are?

Alas, I do not. I was wondering the same thing.

hmm we should try and recruit some japanese ilxors

I'm just hearing Coaltar of the Deepers' No Thank You for the first time and I had no idea it was going to be this good. I've listened to some of their other albums and loved them, but this is something else. It is the least chilled-out shoegaze imaginable, with liberal death metal interruptions and twinkly emo chords scattered about. It's so insanely great that they've had to pace it out with some little ambient palette-cleansers so you don't get heartburn listening to it.

Yes that's a great album. I still remember how absolutely caught off guard I was the first time I heard the middle bit of Star Love!

I like YMM too, I think their albums are probably a bit long for what they are but the last track on their 2015 album is fucking incredible. Speaking of alt-idol stuff I've been really digging Sora Tob Sakana over the last year or so, given that they're essentially the new Haisuinonasa (who might be still going? I'm not sure).

Also while I'm at it, this is one of my albums of the year:

https://kikuo.bandcamp.com/album/kikuo-miku-5

Not sure how much appeal it has around here but if you want odd electro pop fronted by a piece of software Kikuo's got your back

wow that Kikuo Miku album is bonkers. it's not really my thing (often too carnival-esque) but still fascinating.

I haven't been keeping up with Gesu no Kiwami Otome but they're usually enjoyable so I'll check out their recent stuff.

my favourite japanese album this year is of Wednesday Campanella's Galapagos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_epnF4YjQo

That Kikuo album is great. Like OPN at a computer games circus, with sweet vocals.

I'm listening too. It's pretty crazy!

Unfortunately, I think a lot of this really good stuff doesn't crossover to US audiences as easily as stuff like Polysics, Boredoms, etc. because it's more "serious" and doesn't fall in line with our stereotypes about "wacky japanese people." It's a shame.

???

That crazy talk

the biggest difference is that Polysics and Boredoms both actively sought out US audiences by signing to US labels and Zazen Boys never have

Yeah, distribution in the West and a bias towards singing in English are the main factors, see also P5, Cibo Matto, Plastics, Sadistic Mika Band, YMO, Buffalo Daughter and so on.

Enjoyable listicle thingy -

https://overblown.co.uk/top-20-japanese-albums-of-all-time/

Long Season is great and all but it's really overrated compared to Uchu Nippon Setagaya which is the real best Fishmans album

but I'd never heard of Quruli and the blurb there sounded very promising so I gave a few tracks a listen and they're pretty great so I'm looking forward to diving in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icCgF5UFoNo

this rules so much

that song is great, quruli are also new to me. i was disappointed by the list not containing pale cocoon, but then i saw there was a list of 20 more. but pale cocoon isn't on that either!

That’s a bizarre list that could only have been put together by a foreigner

yeah obviously it's pretty pretentious to call it the Best Japanese Albums Ever but i'm thankful for the Quruli rec from it, i'm loving Team Rock a lot

That’s a bizarre list that could only have been put together by a foreigner

― F# A# (∞)

the fact that it's in english probably a giveaway there

listening to the kikuo album now
this is super fun

one of these days I'll start a Mitsume thread, they are my fav japanese indie stuff for sure, vibe is similar to Real Estate, but they're super precise and effective in their playing, here's their latest jam:

https://open.spotify.com/album/66wH8kDC79uNWsphS5OM8p

anyone recommend a spotify list to follow/shuffle?

Here's one entry point: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/0ZvU7A9di2xjWA5b8Z9x3u?si=zcvHPJHXQjCP_qTa1VLXNA

oh fuck how did i miss quruli getting mentioned in this thread, unbelievable band

incorrect number girl and supercar picks on that list imo

(i prefer num-heavymetallica and futurama respectively, but also every number girl and supercar album rules so why am i even complaining)

i thought there was a japanese band called "incorrect number girl"

xp thanks will check it out!

co-signing Wed Camp and Gesu No Kiwame Otome.

liked this from earlier this year, reminds me of a more laid-back Studio:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ORo2y4pQnY

the always enjoyable Paellas:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buabL8wjMmQ

another band i really like is Sakanaction who are basically the proper dance-rock band I wish Bloc Party had turned into. i think they're supposed to finally release a new album later this year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I25AFSBm2g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Maq09mKVnQ

Sakanaction rules! My favourite band of the past five years at least - seeing them at Summer Sonic two years ago was some of the most fun I've ever had at a festival. tried and failed to get them on the EOY 77 several times lol.

"Music" is basically an early-to-mid 00s indie dance track and its own Jacques Lu Cont remix at the same time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVstp5Ozw2o

i also enjoy the fact that a band as outre as sakanaction are considered a huge mainstream pop act in Japan, with endorsements for everything from beer to space robots.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toe_(band)

Heard about Toe after they had just played a DC show that I missed.

one of these days I'll start a Mitsume thread, they are my fav japanese indie stuff for sure, vibe is similar to Real Estate, but they're super precise and effective in their playing, here's their latest jam:

https://open.spotify.com/album/66wH8kDC79uNWsphS5OM8p

― niels, Wednesday, September 12, 2018 5:30 AM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Just got around to listening to Quruli - it's amazing!!

Listening to Piana's _Snowbird_ this morning, came here to ask if she'd followed up her three albums with a fourth. Did a quick search first, though, and yes! _Muse_ out in 2014, available on Bandcamp. Will be downloading tonight myself, but FYI for any other fans.

Really looking forward to mitsume's new one. New single is fantastic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=eOc_Z4G-hWo

Not strictly indie but here's some lovely eclectic art-pop

https://open.spotify.com/album/66sWn3QHTYhNIPuCOL8RfK

Digging the hell out of this. Can't easily find the album that just came out, unfortunately. Any good?

https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=od7FH9dlfok

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od7FH9dlfok

I like the way Japanese indie bands all seem to be heavily influenced by The Sea And Cake. Or is it some other, more obvious influence?

That Ai Kamano record is sounding great, thanks uug.

Even though they're not exactly "indie" (more psych rock), this is probably a good thread to encourage UK ilx0rs to go see Kuunatic when they come back over here this summer.

Forgot that it's good practice to actually say what the links are, but anyway, glad someone likes it!

I keep meaning to bring up Jyocho as well so I'll do that now, they're sort of math-rock with a strong influence from Midwest emo. That's not particularly unusual but they do it in a way that make my eyes moist, their album from last year is lovely stuff

https://open.spotify.com/album/7mRW1P9lDdXC47czngKQ2F

are eX-girl indie?

just found out they're a thing again. there's a single. guess i'm gonna have to buy it.

https://i1.wp.com/exgirl.lolitapunk.jp/info/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/28DC7929-1D6A-4B50-B927-EA57B1645D2B.jpeg?resize=724%2C1024

whoa, I was listening to them just yesterday. I wonder if it's the same line-up

this is what the official page says:

http://exgirl.lolitapunk.jp/info/

It is a pleasure to be able to announce everyone on eX – Girl reunion today.Last summer, when I returned from Mt. Hakusan, which was opened for climbers 1,300 years ago.
Suddenly, I thought I wanted to play again as ‘eX-Girl’, which was the rock band consisted of three women who were playing
mainly in overseas for 10 years since 1997.
At that time, I did not tell anyone that story.But the next day, suddenly from the US record label called Secret Records contacted me and told they were interested in releasing the sound source
from old ex-Girl on a vinyl.Yes! All of a sudden!And we released it in the US at the end of last year.Also, I received a message asking for having a live concert tour in the US.
I answered, “If I could find a new member.”
To find someone who can sing, play musical instruments, with atmosphere and mental strength, and also can do performance must be quite difficult, I thought.
However, I found them!Both of them are beautiful women who “love Mother Earth”.
I am so delighted and am thinking this must be heaven’s discretion!We will be playing in the US in the next spring, and in Europe in the summer.As we are a new member, and in 11 years absence, we are going to have several live performance in Japan, and will continue to
power up.The first reunion live concert will be held at Kichijoji GB on Thursday, 18th October, 2018!We are psychedelic, spacious and unique rock band with the concept of “Came to save the Earth from the Planet Kero Kero!”Please do come to the first celebration live concert of our reunion!

Looks like they were at SXSW. I honestly had no idea. Been listening to them a bit lately as well and just assumed they were totally defunct.

new mitsume album, ghosts, is out today

it's a keeper

I'd like to actually hear what it sounds like before spending $8, but eX-girl's new single is being released Stateside by Alternative Tentacles:

https://alternativetentacles.com/product/the-crown-of-dr-keroninstein/