Fuji Rock has finally announced the first wave of artists to appear at the summer festival. The list is headlined by Bjork and the recently reunited Nine Inch Nails. Other notables are the xx, Coheed and Cambria, Flying Lotus, Killswitch Engage, and Tame Impala.
For the full list of announced artists check out the Fuji Rock Festival website here: http://www.fujirockfestival.com/artist/
2/26 Festival Roundup: Tokyo Rocks 2013 Lineup, Taste of Sonar in Osaka
Tokyo Rocks 2013 Lineup
The bands have been announced for a bit now, but the lineup has been revealed for this year’s resurrection of the Tokyo Rocks Festival. The event will take place May 11-12 at Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium. The days have been arranged as follows:
Saturday
Blur (headliner)
illion
Primal Scream
Carl Barat (Libertines)
Man With a Mission
Back Number
Sunday
My Bloody Valentine (headliner)
Champagne
andymori
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Droog
DJ Lineup
Tom Meighan (Kasabian), Alan McGee, Simon Taylor (TOMATO), This Feeling, Mark Beaumont
With the event a little less than 3 months away this lineup is subject to some change, but it looks pretty good so far!
“A Taste of Sonar” comes to Osaka
The Japan edition of Sonar Sound will be taking place in Tokyo, but this year, folks further west will be given a treat as an abridged version of the concert will be flanking the Tokyo weekend festivities. The main event will be taking place on the weekend of April 6-7, with the first night of “A Taste of Sonar” set to take place at Universe on the 5th. The second leg will be at Umeda Club Quattro on Monday the 8th. The “Taste of Sonar” event had only previously occurred in London, so it’s a pretty nice treat for electronic music fans in Japan. The ticket price for the first night has yet to be determined, but for the second night the advanced ticket price has been set at 5,800 yen. Here are the preliminary lineups for each night:
4/5 Fri @Universe (open: 18:00)
Nicolar Jaar
Sherwood & Pinch
Actress
…and more
4/8 Mon @Umeda Club Quattro (open: 18:00)
Karl Hyde
Darkstar
Altz
…and more
Lemon’s Chair
Lemon’s Chair
Homepage: http://white.ap.teacup.com/lemonschair/
Twitter: @HIGH_FADER
Genre: Shoegaze, Post Rock
For fans of: Noise, Mono, Mogwai, Cocteau Twins
Lineup:
Masashi Imanishi (Guitar)
Kondo (Drums)
Yuko (Guitar)
Bio:
Lemon’s Chair was formed in 2002 as an instrumental “acid rock” three-piece featuring Masashi Imanishi and Yuko on guitars and Ryo on drums. As time passed the band’s sound transformed into the minimalist shoegaze/post-rock blend that has since been a staple of the Japanese shoegaze music scene.
The band began to publish music actively beginning in 2009, having appeared on a compilation album for American label Series Two Records. Later that year, on Masashi Imanishi’s own High Fader Records, the band released a split album with monocism title “high shoegazer”. The following year the band released it’s first full album “I hate? I hope?” while also appearing on a Rocket Girl Records compilation alongside Ulrich Schnauss and A Place to Bury Strangers. In 2011, Lemon’s Chair took part in the “The Light Shines into your Dreams” compilation in aide of the earthquake relief efforts. The shoegaze/dreampop charity album also featured My Bloody Valentine.
In 2013, Lemon’s Chair played a major role in the release of “Yellow Loveless”, a tribute to the quintessential My Bloody Valentine record. The band submitted two tracks for the album: “To Here Knows When” and “What you Want”. Released alongside the tribute album was “Japan Shoegazer as Only One”, a split single with fellow genre-mates Tokyo Shoegazer. These releases coincided with not only the 2013 My Bloody Valentine tour of Japan, but High Fader Records’ Japan Shoegazer Festival.
While Lemon’s Chair are always accompanied by a “who’s who” of Japanese shoegazer outfits, the band have an impressive international resume. Among the overseas acts they have performed live with in Japan are Ringo Deathstarr, Ulrich Schnauss, Sad Day for Puppets, Chapterhouse, and Spectrum.
Masashi Imanishi and Lemon’s Chair’s role in the Japanese shoegaze community has been very highly-regarded. In addition to their contributions as a band, they are very active in organizing events such as the annual “Japan Shoegazer Festival” and the indie-music showcase “High Fader Night”, as well as offering services to shoegaze bands.
The band have slated the release of their second full album for the summer of 2013.
Muso Japan’s Thoughts: Lemon’s Chair are deservedly given a lot of credit for their contributions to shoegaze music in Japan. Their recordings are most definitely worth checking out, but their live show is a must-see. If you like extremely loud, beautiful music then do yourself a favor and make it out to one of their events. Masashi Imanishi and Yuko work brilliantly together on guitars, while Kondo is a very very impressive drummer. Their tracks tend to be quite long, which works out brilliantly as each song builds up in it’s own way.
Sample:
2/18 Shoegazer Roundup: Shoegazer Fest pt. 2, New Shelling Album, Tokai Shoegaze
Need More Japan Shoegazer Festival
The 2013 Japan Shoegazer Festival went brilliantly and rode the wave of shoegaze madness brought about by My Bloody Valentine’s tour of Japan. It was really nice to have a local supplement to the monumental event and it seems that we’re going to be treated again. My Bloody Valentine will return to Japan in May for the Tokyo Rocks event, and it appears now that so too will the Shoegazer Festival. Masashi Imanishi revealed the “Japan Shoegazer Festival Extra” that will take place on Saturday, May 4th (at Koenji HIGH in Tokyo) and Saturday, May 18th (at club vijon in Osaka). This makes perfect sense as Tokyo Rocks is set for May 11th. There aren’t any details as far as what this “extra” event will be exactly. All we know is that Masashi is planning something to further appease the shoegaze community.
Shelling’s New Album and Video
Shelling’s new self-titled album will be released this Wednesday, February 20th, under White Paddy Mountain. The band have recently released a music video of one of the tracks on the new album titled “Floating Area.” If this song is any indication, this album is going to be something special.
Tokai’s Got Talent
As a resident of the central part of Japan and an avid music lover, it is sometimes frustrating to constantly see wonderful events in Osaka and Tokyo, while Nagoya often gets left behind. One would think that the location, somewhere right between the two largest cities in Japan, would be a great spot to draw an audience. Boasting a number of venues and it’s own seemingly diverse music scene, Nagoya needs more love. One of Muso Japan’s goals for the year is to pull together some of Nagoya’s fine indie and shoegaze artists. Wouldn’t a Nagoya Shoegaze Festival be a great thing? We want to try to help make it happen.
Shelling
Shelling
Homepage: http://shelling-info.com
Twitter: @shelling_info
Genre: Dreampop, Shoegaze, Sherbet Pop.
For fans of: Daydreaming, being wisped away to fantasy worlds, Thrushes
Lineup:
Aya (Vocals, Guitar, DTM, Music & Lyrics)
Shota (Guitar, Synth, Mastering)
Bio:
Shelling are a Tokyo-based self-proclaimed “Sherbet Pop” duo consisting of Aya and Shota. Aya, a veteran of the shoegaze scene having worked with various artists, is the primary songwriter as well as the vocalist. Shota provides the live instrumentation in addition to running the synths and mastering the tracks. The band’s sherbet pop sounds incorporates the floating sensation from ambient genres, the coldness of electronica, and the dreaminess of shoegaze. The product is a whimsical soundscape over which Aya’s soothing vocals are draped.
The band released four songs on a split single alongside IROTTO+ titled “Before Time Melts”. The 2010 High Fader records split featured songs previously released on their self-titled E.P. The band released their first full album – also self-titled – in February of 2013. They have been a mainstay in the shoegaze scene in Japan, featuring at events like the Japan Shoegazer Festival.
Muso Japan’s Thoughts: Shelling are one of the more truly inspiring bands in the Japanese shoegaze and dreampop world. Their sound is deep and dreamy and easy to be carried away in.
Sample:
Interview: High Fader Records and Lemon’s Chair’s Masashi Imanishi (English ver.)
2013 has begun in a wonderful way for shoegaze fans in Japan. We all owe this to the efforts of a large group of people who have helped to put together some spectacular events. One of the people largely responsible is Masashi Imanishi, the man in charge of High Fader Records and one-third of Japan shoegaze mainstays Lemon’s Chair. Despite his hectic schedule organizing and performing at the 2013 edition of Japan Shoegazer Festival, as well as keeping up with all the My Bloody Valentine festivities, Mr. Imanishi was kind enough to take some time and give us an interview.
While Masashi Imanishi is extremely humble and thankful to everyone who supports shoegaze music in Japan, he refuses to take any credit for the events that he contributes so greatly to. One thing is very clear after speaking with him: he does everything purely out of his own passion for shoegaze music and his desire to bring joy to shoegazers throughout Japan. A very special thanks to Mr. Imanishi, whose work I personally adore, and whose time (and patience) has been much appreciated.
MusoJapan: First of all, what is attractive about shoegaze music? Why do you want to be involved in this particular genre?
Masashi Imanishi: As far as the aesthetic image or view of shoegaze, I believe it is something beautiful through which you can feel hope. I personally feel that the sound summarizes Japanese emotional and virtous things.
MJ: When did High Fader records begin? What were your goals at the beginning?
MI: High Fader was started in May of 2009. The goal was to make people aware of the music that I was personally into.
MJ: How many bands are currently on the label?
MI: Currently the label consists of sugardrop, boyfriend’s dead, and Lemon’s Chair.
MJ: What services does High Fader offer to bands?
MI: We help with live booking and CD releases, while also putting an emphasis on communication and conducting business with a sense of moral values.
MJ: The Shoegazer Festival is a great way to showcase the shoegaze scene in Japan. How
many years has the show been running and how has it developed over the years?
MI: 2013 is the third year of Japan Shoegazer Festival. Since the beginning, the amount of young people coming to the event has been increasing.
MJ: Are there any plans for future Shoegazer Fests? Do you plan on having events outside
of Tokyo and Osaka?
MI: The Shoegazer Festival involves much more than just my effort. The support of the people who come to the event as well as the labels, record companies, and artists involved is huge. As long as they continue to be involved I want to keep it going.
Since spreading shoegaze to more and more listeners is the key to the revitalization and growth of the genre, I have been considering holding the event in other cities outside of Tokyo and Osaka.
MJ: Do you have any plans to work with foreign artists or involve them in future events?
MI: As long as the timing was good, yes
MJ: In addition to organizing events and running a label, you are also involved you’re your band Lemon’s Chair. When did the band form and what is the current lineup? How would you describe your sound to people who may not be familiar with your work?
MI: Lemon’s Chair was formed in 2002. We are a three-piece consisting of me on guitar, Yuko on guitar, and Kondo on drums. Lemon’s Chair is instrumental guitar music in which the sound builds up and is brought together using minimalist sounds and tools.
MJ: Lemon’s Chair and Tokyo Shoegazer recently worked together on the split single “Japan. Shoegazer as Only One”. Looking at the title, do you see this as an essential album for fans who want a quick taste of the Japanese shoegaze scene?
MI: It’s just something that we personally thought was pretty cool, but the truth is it isn’t something we consider to be “essential”.
MJ: The tribute album and this year’s Shoegazer Festival coincide with the highly
anticipated My Bloody Valentine Japan tour. As evidenced by the expansion of the tour
from three to five shows there is clearly a substantial amount of interest in the shoegaze
genre. As someone who works within the genre, what is your opinion of the shoegaze
scene in Japan?
MI: I feel like the interest in shoegaze music in Japan is on the rise, but it’s something I attribute to a lot of different people: record companies, event planners, media members, record stores, music writers. It is the result of a combined effort, and so I can’t really give one representative opinion on the entire shoegaze scene
MJ: 2013 has started off in an exciting way for shoegaze fans in Japan. With the MBV tour, two Shoegazer Festivals, “Japan Shoegazer as Only One” and the tribute album starting off the new year, fans have had a lot to look forward to. What is your message to fans this year?
MI: First of all, I really want to thank all of the people who purchased “Japan Shoegazer as Only One” and “Yellow Loveless”, as well as those who have read this interview. While some things may not always work out well, I am always thinking about the enjoyment of others, which is something I hope everyone will keep in mind.
I believe that many of the people who are into shoegaze are sensitive people with good hearts. However, in life, this can also be a disadvantage. I want shoegaze fans to be proud of themselves and not get too down. “When you look down you see your feet. But be assured, those feet are standing firmly on the ground. Keep your head up!”
Kinoko Teikoku
きのこ帝国 (kinoko teikoku)
Homepage: http://www.kinokoteikoku.com/
Twitter: @kinokoteikoku
Genre: Post-Rock, Alternative, Shoegaze.
For fans of: Three Out Change-era Supercar, catchy hooks, good female vocals
Lineup:
Sato – Guitar, Vocals
Aa-chan – Guitar
Taniguchi Shigeaki – Bass
Nishimura “Kon” – Drums
Bio:
Kinoko Teikoku formed in 2007 and began performing live in 2008. Drawing inspiration from the post-rock and shoegaze genres the band is based in the Tokyo-area, where a large number of their shows are held. The band released their first full album under Daizawa Records/UK Project in May of 2012, after independently releasing a demo (titled “First Demo”) and the mini-album 夜が明けたら (“Yoru ga Aketara”). This debut album, titled 渦になる (“Uzu ni naru”) was well-received leading to testimonials from such Japanese indie-music icons as Kinoshita Riki (Art-School, Killing Boy) and Nakamura Koji (Supercar, Lama). The band finished off 2012 appearing at the year-end Rock in Japan Festival.
In February 2013, Kinoko Teikoku released their follow-up album “Eureka” as well as a video for the title track.
Muso Japan’s thoughts: Kinoko Teikoku is a must-see show. They bring a ton of energy to a venue and Sato is an extremely gifted singer. Their recordings are wonderful, but the live show is beyond brilliant. One of the best up and coming bands in Japan.
Sample:
Lemon’s Chair
coming soon
Kinoko Teikoku release new video. New album “eureka” coming 2/6.
One of my favorite Japanese bands Kinoko Teikoku is still going strong. They wrapped up 2012 at the massive Countdown Japan year-end event and are getting ready for the release of their new full-length album “eureka”. On January 17th, the band released a new music video of the title track (watch below).
The album is slated for a February 6 release and will be available at stores for 2,520 yen. The track list is as follows:
01.夜鷹
02.平行世界
03.春と修羅
04.国道スロープ
05.ユーリカ
06.風化する教室
07.Another Word
08.ミュージシャン
09.明日にはすべてが終わるとして
The band have announced dates in support of the album:
3/13 Kanazawa vanvanV4
3/15 Fukuoka graf
3/27 Sendai PARK SQUARE
3/30 Chiba LOOK
4/6 Yokohama F.A.D
4/19 Osaka club vijon
4/20 Nagoya club Rock’n Roll
Here is the video for “eureka”. Enjoy!
Yellow Loveless: Japanese My Bloody Valentine Tribute Album
In addition to this year’s Shoegaze Festival 2013, High Fader Records has another gift for shoegaze fans in the form of a My Bloody Valentine tribute album titled “Yellow Loveless”. The album is a reconstruction of the band’s quintessential shoegaze album “Loveless” performed entirely by Japanese artists. Among the bands on the CD are Lemon’s Chair (High Fader’s head man Masashi Imanishi’s band), Tokyo Shoegazer, and Japanese indie-rock legends Shonen Knife. The album will be released on January 23rd along with a Lemon’s Chair/Tokyo Shoegazer split-single titled “Japan shoegazer as only one” and will be available at select Tower Records locations throughout Japan.
Yellow Loveless track list
1. Tokyo Shoegazer – only shallow
2. GOATBED – loomer
3. The Sodom Project – touched
4. Lemon’s Chair – to here knows when
5. Shonen Knife – when you sleep.
6. Tokyo Shoegazer – i only said
7. AGE of PUNK – come in alone
8. Boris – sometime
9. Shinobu Narita – blown a wish
10. Lemon’s Chair – what you want
11. SADESPER RECORD – soon