Seeing as we’re fans of dreamy pop over at the blog, this remix of The Kaleidoscopes song featuring Swiss Music Awards nominee Shuttle caught my attention recently. Remixed by Corserine, this is an unusually jazzy take on the original vapourwave:
I think it’s a song about a boxing match, or a failed relationship though I’m not sure which, either way fans of Japanese band Night Tapes, Tame Impala and even M83 would be well served by giving it a spin. It’s great!
We wish Shuttle the very best on his nomination now voting is closed.
Well hey ho it’s that time again where I round up a few songs I’ve heard recently and rather liked.
So lessgo!
Noting But A Nightmare – She Always Ruins A Good Time
I think what swung this for me was the song title. One particular person single handedly ruined what was meant to be a very special holiday in Ibiza. Verily, sometimes folks mess things up for everyone.
She Aways Ruins A Good TIme’s solid verse builds into a super strong chorus that reminds me ever so slightly of a Blink 182; but there’s also another post-punk band who had a chorus much closer to this but for the life of me the name of which escapes me. Maybe you can help out in the comments?
Waves_On_Waves x Crimewave x Death By Algorithm – Messed up and Fell in Love
A very melancholy and understated track borrowing heavily from the likes of The Sisters Of Mercy and Depeche Mode, Messed Up And Fell In Love builds into a deeply reflective and absorbing song.
I could elaborate but that sums it up very succinctly and you like brevity my dear readers.
Paint and Copter – Another Dimension
The production may be a bit shaky and the verse is perhaps pretty dull but I liked the chorus. But the main reason for including this song is the vocals are AI. As the band explains:
With that AI-powered engine, we can give her words and melody to sing. Even though we are writing the words and music, they are from her perspective.
And it’s interesting. I’m not sure AI will replace songwriting because you still need a good mechanism to filter out bad ideas; nevertheless, the idea of getting an AI to be your band’s vocalist appeals to me especially if you can control what they sing. Thoughts folks?
Benjamin Ingrosso x Olly Alexander – Kite
Charming wee song this. It may be really poppy and happy with shades of happy camper Mica but I can also hear bits and pieces of Tame Impala in here. A very strong song with a damn catchy chorus.
Chérie ifẹ – Good Girl
And last on this list is newcomer Chérie ifẹ who tells me she “started writing late summer of last year” and is already producing some very intriguing material.
Good Girl is one of those unusual songs which leaves you unsure at first but on second and third listens digs it’s claws deeper and deeper until you realise resistance is futile. For sure fans of Ling Tosite Sigure and uber obscure Scottish band Laki Mera take note.
Now, the caveat here is the mixing and production may not be the most professional but she’s trying to do everything herself which is no easy task. But that aside, I really think Chérie is an act to keep an eye on.
And it’s Japanese! And Vapourwave! All win here! Too many exclamation marks!!!! Oh nose!!
I can’t fault this kind of stuff and it’s exactly my jam. Very Tame Impala, very Kaleidoscopes very….good. I’m super late to the party though because this game out aaages ago. Who cares. When you hear good music, you need to share, right?
Tais toi just means shut up. No you shut up! I digress. I heard this on a Twitch stream and it got me all thinking “you just don’t hear many songs like this these days…sigh….”. The production may need a wee bit of love and attention but the intent is there: a really strong song in the tradition of early Marillion or heavier version of early 80s Dio. Oh to hell! Let’s fling Rush in there while we’re at it!
So back once again with a roundup of some cool songs I’ve heard recently.
Kamelion – Happy
And I think it will be fair to say after hearing this slice of rare groove infused nu-disco you will be too. Vocals are lovely although it’s hard to say who they remind me of – perhaps Charlie Puth? But whatever, fans of Metronomy and the Weeknd will be most satisfied.
Waves_On_Waves x Sonic Shades Of Blue x Tommie Sunshine – Coming By Your House Tonight
Following in a similar vein from Kamelion we have Waves on Waves with a solid electro pop song coming about after a chance meeting when the various artists met backstage at Ultra Music Festival in Miami; sometimes great things can come from happenstance! If you like The Midnight or even John Waite (from way back) you’ll probably like this too.
Tonal – Flutter Bond (feat. Kanako Takatsuki)
Well, this is a Japanese music blog and this is robust City Pop with a neat, updated, sound. Alas, Tonal doesn’t write that much in the way of a band bio on Submithub so I really have not much idea about who they are. Still, this is a nice wee number.
Eliza Roe – Ethereal Junkie
This collaboration between LA-based Eliza Roe and New York-based artist Kevin Kim is about a good a definition of Dream Pop as one could hope for. Lush vocals drift in and out of an excellent production by our man Kevin and it’s all backed up by one of the best bass lines I’ve heard in a very long time.
Brandon Liew – ILOVEYOU (feat. xiinya)
It’s hyperpop of the Japanese style from Brandon Liew! Yay! There are quite a few Jrock bands that are tangentially similar – Scandal or maybe Hatsune Miku. I dare say a fun song to dance to but I don’t dance so much these days.
Amir Ekbatani – Tell Me You Love Me
A strong vocal here and a very good song too. It takes a while to get going and the verse is maybe a bit pedestrian to my ears but the chorus builds and builds into something super duper melodic that will hook you right in. Fans of A-Ha or even Ultravox will identify.
Ticking all my boxes of Jpop, Synthwave, Vapourwave, Raregroove; Liminal Pop Up Shop is just a joy to listen to. There are nods to early 80’s City Pop like Sadao Watanabe and The ABs or even modern acts like FM84 or The Midnight, with with it’s infectious synth lines and that oh-so-Japanese chordal arrangement. I’m also reminded strongly of the work Vaughn Oliver of Oliver fame is up to from time to time.
A really strong track this one and I hope to hear more from Pa-Pa very soon with their album due March 2024.
I’m back from a most excellent trip to Taiwan so have had not too much time to blog. But! I did find some pretty cool music on my travels which I shall regale you with now…
PARIS x Keepa – Only You
A class production here and as a struggling electronic producer myself I greatly appreciate the talent. This is progressive house with a twist of the deep house. It’s the chordal modulations around the 2:50 mark that raise this track to a darned high level.
湯ノ山かがり – 自意識過剰撤廃委員会のテーマ
Theme of the Committee to Eliminate Excessive Self-Consciousness is what the Google translate tells me the song means; a maxim for us all! This is pure Jrock silliness but still catchy nonetheless.
Tuudi – Just Like Before
I’m not a big fan of the song per se but the reason I’m including it is for Tuudi’s voice which is magnificent – think a slightly innocent Lana Del Rey. I have my eye on Tuudi for some good things in the future.
Subway Rat – Corner Cafe
This is a very acquired taste this one but I do write a food blog where I ate cat food so there is that. David Polanco AKA Subway Rat is an autistic rocker from Queens, New York City and judging by the 11 submissions they sent, quite prolific!
Furami – Villian
To round off our list it’s Furami who says on Submithub “Hi, it’s FURAMI here! I make J-Core music!”. You go girl! This song makes the list not least because of solid production but a neat key change in the chorus which keeps things ticking along nicely.
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If you have any music you’d like me to hear send your tracks here.
Nattan Utan Drommer translates to ‘nights without dreams’ and I can’t really segue neatly into anything logical at this point apart from the fact this track is relentlessly 80’s and mixes together The Damned, The Scorpions and some uber obscure Polish banned called Kombi which I shall post here because I fricking love this song:
Jake Huffman – Highs and Lows
Highs and Lows is the first single of an upcoming EP and has very British sensibilities: The Verve and Razorlight spring to mind immediately. A really solid track that bodes well for what I’m sure will be a good EP next year.
darkDARK – Ghost Complex
This one does take a while to get going but by the time the vocals kick in at 30 seconds you’ll be hooked. A lovely pared back production really lets the track breath and flow as every good production should and I am reminded very much of Feist or Imogen Heap – surely a good thing.
Guggenheim Bilbao / Koki Nakano – MONUMENTAL: Ep. 2
A real adventure this one. Starting off as slightly circular piano piece and then evolving into performance art courtesy of Tess Voelker’s intimate dancing, this is a highly unusual and involving body of work.
Tiger Del Flor – Living In The 90s
All I can remember from the 90s is being miserable and hating pop music and listening to nothing but heavy metal. Pop music in the 90s was terrible. Change my mind. However, Tiger Del Flor makes good pop music and this is like a very laid back Lana Del Rey or – oft quoted in these blog pages – Miranda Lee Richards. This is some great Americana.
Christian Loffler – Roused (Ft Malou)
When reviewing songs for the blog often times you’re struck by the occasional production that is utterly flawless and our Christian delivers a huge but very understated track. If M83 were a bit more grown up it might sound a bit like this.
Dual Aeon – Tokimeki Christmas
And what better to round of this selection with a very silly Xmas song by Dual Aeon. Don’t know what else to say – it’s gloriously happy and Santa San will be sure to add this band onto the Nice List this year!
So I’m in Taiwan visiting family and eating random food when by a quirky twist of fate I chanced across a band called called The Kaleidoscopes who have a new song out called Kung Fu:
Kung Fu – Kaleidoscopes ft Shuttle
Musically it’s a mix of very good things: Home, Empire of the Sun, with bits and pieces of Tame Impala and M83 all thrown in for good measure.
Not much left to say except I have another blog post to write real soon about other great music like The Kaleidoscopes I’ve heard recently. And if you want me to hear your music you can send it to the blog here.
As many visitors to my once world famous not-cooking-blog know I do like the odd bit of off-kilter house music and this week provides zero exceptions in the shape of Ardlap’s remix of Era Wadi’s track PRPL.
Era tells me he was a massive Prince fan and wanted to pay his respects to the wee guy by writing a song about the colour purple (not the film, ha!) and then have it remixed by someone certifiably insane. Et voila! Voici le résultat! Une chanson house vraiment dérangée! No idea why I’m speaking French but this song made me do it.
And you will be speaking foreign tongues too once you wrap your ears around this gorgeously deranged, very fidget-y, musical gem.
And if you want to send me stuff YOU’VE made, you can do so over on Submithub.
Najinsan!!!!!!!!! 