For anyone living and partying in the capital and beyond, she is unquestionably one to know. Kyoto-based Ultrademon is a frequent performer in Tokyo, thanks to her unforgiving live and DJ sets. Æði (aethi) by ultrademon Ultrademon - Aethi An easy-listener to pop on when friends come around for dinner. “Look Around” edges into synthesizer territory, with electro switchups brought back into YeYe style by cutting out into soft crooning. YeYe tends to switch between swayable and stripped-back, and Hamidete is gingerly the former, with consistent beats that encourage foot-taps and head-bobs. In addition to her band members, Hamidete sees her joined by collaborators including Ginger Root and BIM. The perfect songs for sunny Sunday mornings or lazy days, this album is a hark back to 1970s and 1980s Japanese city pop from the multi-instrumentalist. Archive 2 is like happening on an open jazz night, in which the band playing happens to be very good and you feel like you definitely got your value for money that night. It’s a group of accomplished musicians having fun and they end up producing a record that blows others out of the water. The music itself is joyous and full of abandon. Tanaka’s expert mastering exemplifies parts that may have been missed otherwise. Elsewhere, the maracas on “Blue Cheese” become a flourishing chef’s kiss moment. Listening with headphones in a cafe, I turned around as the drums from the opening track entered, checking to see if there was a band in the corner. Each instrument is clear, precise and assertive in its position, vocals included. Yet perhaps it is Mitsukazu Tanaka’s mastering that lifts Archive 2 from good to great. Hei Tanaka is a six-piece band fronted by Kaoru Tanaka, who is known predominantly for his stage and theatrical compositions. Thundering taiko superseded with rainsticks and shakers, one moment the album unleashes fury and the next it is lying awake listening to the rain.Ĭarefully composed and brilliantly executed, Zero On feels like witnessing a dramatic ritual. At times a cacophony of percussion and restrained thunder, Zero On is a lesson in the importance of a balance between minimalism and maximalism. Part of Sado Island’s Kodo Drummers, duo Kentataku Yutataku contributes to the inaugural release on the 0on label. 零音 Zero On by KENTATAKU YUTATAKU Kentataku Yutataku - Zero On Will they continue with the originality as found in “Daydream Believer” and hinted at in “Sunbeetle”? Only time will tell. The album closes out uneventfully, leaving us wondering what direction the band will head with their next record. It may even help overcome the YouTube fame No Buses have spent ages trying to escape throughout their career. “Daydream Believer” features guest vocals from producer and rapper, BIM, a welcome collaboration which buoys the track and hints at a new, interesting turn for the band. The second track, “Sunbeetle” is somewhat melancholy, bringing to mind the likes of Nick Cave, ending in an unfortunate shout which seems a little contrived. The opener “In Peace” instantly hits like an indie version of a Red Hot Chili Peppers track with electronic cowbell before exploding into guitar fuzz. September’s top albums are a mishmash of genres, each one a standout in its own way.įresh from their appearance at Fuji Rock’s Red Marquee stage, indie five-piece No Buses released their third album Home Sweet Home to much acclaim. We have crackling experimental electronic spookiness by Ultrademon through to punk jazz from Hei Tanaka plus foot-tapping city pop with YeYe and more. This year has been dominated by newer artists, yet last month reminded us that even accomplished musicians still got ‘it.’ Back after the summer break, musicians really hit the ground running in September.
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