a Japanese indie music blog
Denmark new-wave trio The Foreign Resort, whose latest single “Alone” wowed us, has just released its newest full-length album New Frontiers via Chicago’s BLVD Records. The new record is a showcase of The Foreign Resort’s thick new wave sound, featuring simply catchy upbeat tracks and some entrancing, textural downtempo tunes. The 9-track album, recorded at Copenhagen’s Black Tornado Studios, is now available at the band’s Bandcamp page and also on iTunes.
Aerofall have announced the release of their self-titled album via suddenly stacked Japanese shoegaze (and the like) label Hands and Moment (Sea Dweller, Asalto al Parque Zoologico). They previously released a video for the track “Alien Dance”, a beautifully haunting song from the upcoming album.
“Collider” is the upcoming release from Brisbane, Australia’s dreamy shoegaze foursome Roku Music. Two tracks – “Collider” and “Reflector” – have been made available for download on the Sonic Masala Records’ Bandcamp page. You can also pre-order the album which will be released on March 3rd.
Last week Czech shoegazers Manon meurt released a self-titled, 6-track EP. It’s really a stunningly beautiful release and yet another addition to the number of quality of releases thus far in 2014. The release is available for about 500 yen/100 CZK/5 bucks American on their Bandcamp page. Your ears will thank you.
Beijing noise-rockers Carsick Cars will be releasing their third album, appropriately titled 3 on February 28th. Carsick Cars has been making waves for years in the Beijing music scene and 3, which was produced by Hamish Kilgour (The Clean) and Sonic Boom (Spacemen 3), will be the start of an eventful 2014 for the band. The release via Maybe Mars will be followed by a North American tour in March and April.
Brooklyn’s Dead Leaf Echo look to follow up their success from last year’s monster album Thoughts & Language with their first release of 2014, true.deep.sleeper. The 4-track EP will be released on February 25, and is available for pre-order on Bandcamp. The title track is available to stream if you’d like to have a listen.
Tijuana, Mexico’s Celofan has just released its debut album “Ideas a Medias”. I’ve been looking forward to this release since the band’s work was brought to my attention by Jairo from Latinamerica Shoegaze, who mentioned the then upcoming release in Muso Planet volume 3. Nice big sound from the Mexican shoegazers. You can get the album simply by tweeting its existence here http://www.paywithapost.de/pay?id=24b4d62b-d70f-45b2-99e9-e1c630514897. Follow the band on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/CelofanTJ
“Ether” is the latest single from Tokyo based dreamy post-rockers Dormer. It’s a really chilling ambient track featuring some beautiful vocals and a bunch of layers that are arranged quite brilliantly. The single is available through More Records here: http://morerecords.jp/?pid=70023737 (Japanese only). Here is a preview of the track:
Sweden’s Zeit wowed us in 2013 with the really strong Life is Just a Blur EP. The Gothenburg-based quartet has gone back in time and posted its self-titled album from 2011 for free (or whatever you’d like to pay) on its Bandcamp page. Click here to get the album: http://zeit.bandcamp.com/album/zeit.
The city is another relatively unknown shoegaze band in Japan that is worth getting familiar with. Formed in Osaka in 2011, there is very little information about the band outside of some photos, some social networking pages, and one song. The song, “Celebration” was released in November 2013 and inspired by a long list of classic shoegaze artists. The four-piece has been playing out around Osaka and is planning on getting into the studio some time in the spring. Check out their lone track at their Audioleaf page here: