Japanese Electronica

[Lillehamring]

gradually discovering loads of great music at the moment and most of it from japan...

my latest find is Gutevolk...

Glitch futuristic pop, innocent but dignified vocals. Produced by Kazumasa Hashimoto!

Noble Records (CXCA1205CD)

The Japanese Noble label, home to luminaries such as the charming Tenniscoats and rising legend Kazumasa Hashimoto, continues their releases of albums dedicated to the concept of "music for a daily life". They kick of the year 2007 with the label's 14th release - "Tiny People Singing Over The Rainbow" - a new album by the Japanese vocalist and songwriter Gutevolk.

Gutevolk is Hirono Nishiyama who is also known for her various releases on Nobukazu Takemura's Childisc and Haruomi Hosono's (formerly of Yellow Magic Orchestra) "Daisyworld" labels. After her last album "Suomi", which was her first band effort, she created movie soundtracks and music for TV commercials, toured Europe and released a mini album for Taylor Deupree's Happy imprint (12K's sibling imprint).

"Tiny People Singing Over The Rainbow" is Gutevolk's first full length album in three and a half years. It's produced, mixed and mastered by Kazumasa Hashimoto. His remarkable feel and touch with arrangements and processing techniques eloquently embrace Gutevolk's innocent but dignified vocals and her absorbing melodies. This album is glitch futuristic pop, music that covers multiple music genres to obtain it's unique form - elements of jazz, bossa, and electronica are merged, and out comes a fantastic entity we can describe as great, subtle, pop. Her vocals evokes a faint nostalgia, and a stream of tracks with oh so catchy melodies, embedded in beautiful harmonies, will take listeners to her narrative past, future, and finally to the bottom of the ocean and the end of the universe.

not sure this is a particulary accurate review, but it's too late to write my own -only that it's super cool

Kazumasa Hashimoto is my hero at the moment, must listens are his 'Euphorium' and 'Epitaph'

[stez]

it's not a genre widely listened to in this house, but i'll give it a whirl, as i'm not yet old enough to close my mind to experiencing new forms of music.

[Rocket-Ron]

I was in Tokyo last november. the place is absolutly buzzing.

Has some of the best record shops in the world,Floors and floors of vinyl

[MC Prussian]

I'd recommend (if not already known):

Ken Ishii

Ishino Takkyu

Towa Tei

[Lillehamring]

I'd recommend (if not already known):

Ken Ishii

Ishino Takkyu

Towa Tei

heard of (tho not listened to) ken ishii - the other two, no doubt will entertaining, cheers as usual A.

...stez, Gutevolk is so mellow and fresh, you can't not like it! won't knock your rocks off but it is really melodic and alive

[MC Prussian]

Towa Tei used to be the turntable genius behind Deee-Lite, so I take it he's rather known to the musical public than the other two.

[AmericanScott]

I will be giving this Japanese electronica a go. Sounds a bit adventurous

[Lillehamring]

I will be giving this Japanese electronica a go. Sounds a bit adventurous

well, i can't comment on the stuff alexei mentioned, but the stuff i'm listening to is very accesible - and they tend to combine the electronic stuff with real instruments: piano, acoustic guitar, strings, woodwind...

i find stuff like Aoki Takamasa, a bit harder to get into, it's quite abstract, a bit like the icelandic band, 'Mum'

[Lillehamring]

this is a great track.

i don't know much about 'if by yes', but the remix is by cornelious who has don some great stuff and some excellent remixes...

If By Yes - you feel right (cornelious remix)

[stez]

Towa Tei used to be the turntable genius behind Deee-Lite, so I take it he's rather known to the musical public than the other two.

in that case, i'm definitely going to give it a go!