I've now listened to the album... it was a lot poppier than I expected (in a sugary way), and most of the tunes didn't strike me as memorable sadly. Basically the song you linked the video for was the best imo. There were some cool bits here and there tho, so it wasn't all that bad. Won't make it into my year-end list but it was okay for experiencing once and trying out something new.
Artist: BRADIO
Album: POWER OF LIFE
1. Are You Ready to Blast Off?
2. Flyers
3. 真っ赤なカーチェイス (MAKKANA CAR CHASE)
4. Sunday feat.MICRO(from HOME MADE 家族)
5. Chocolate Flavor
6. Flash Light Baby
7. オトナHIT PARADE (OTONA HIT PARADE)
8. シークレットコード (Secret Code)
9. スパイシー・マドンナ (Spicy Madonna)
10. 腰振る夜は君のせい (koshifuru yoruha kimi no sei)
11. You Make Me Feel Brand New
12. Ride On Time feat.谷川正憲(from UNCHAIN)
Rating: | Disco is not dead!
BRADIO is a relatively young indie rock band that blends large doses of throwback funk with addictive and catchy pop melodies. While they formed in 2010, the member shuffle kept them bound to releasing solely demo material until they took off like a rocket 2 years later with their first mini album. Fast-forward to 2015: BRADIO are headlining tours, releasing their first full length album, and gracing an anime series with their music as the opening theme for Death Parade. It's been a big year and it's barely half way over!
The album opens with a single question posed to its listeners, "Are You Ready to Blast Off?" That answer is a resounding "YES!" as this song breaks into a high octane dance party that will make it impossible to sit still. The mood is set with a fun chorus and dramatic "oooh-aaah" backing vocals that lift the track up until a funky bass solo takes the song, as promised, right into outer space. The equally cheesy yet infectious "Flash Light Baby" and "OTONA HIT PARADE" keep the overall feel of the album in this realm, as they sit back to back in the middle of the track list.
The lack of ballads on POWER OF LIFE is somewhat surprising. Only the song "You Make Me Feel Brand New" slows down enough to give anyone a chance to catch their breath. However, the song still maintains a level of energy that comes much closer to 'power ballad' territory. Not only does it serve as a change of pace with tempo but it also spotlights a fabulous female vocal harmony just shy of making this song a duet
Musically, BRADIO doesn't do anything that reinvents the wheel for their genre, but they keep their music consistently well composed across the board with a level of quality and attention to detail. The band may not create an image of taking themselves seriously (It's all about having fun!), but you can tell that stops in the studio where the production is remarkable. The range of instruments used must have kept a long list of session musicians in and out of their recording booth even though the band's main line up only consists of 4 official members. A sassy horn section really helps songs like "Flyers" and "Spicy Madonna" stand apart from the others with enough swag that even Kool and the Gang would be proud. If you don't know who that is, let me google that for you.
Breathing life back into disco may sound like quite a formidable task, but BRADIO have found the right mix to make it look easy. And they're bringing their friends along for the ride, both MICRO (from HOME MADE KAZOKU) and Masanori Tanigawa (UNCHAIN) have wonderful features on this album. They each lend their special flavors into two of the most uplifting tracks "Sunday" and "Ride On Time", magnifying the positive sentiment the album carries. BRADIO strive to raise their listener up in every way with POWER OF LIFE, if the title didn't already give that away. My only complaint is there aren't enough low or quiet moments to give this album as dynamic a sound as it could have. A bit of shadow to make the big songs shine even brighter would really push it to the next level. There are a huge chunk of mid-tempo numbers on the album that, while enjoyable, don't sink their teeth too deeply into the different emotions they grasp at and some of them can blend a little too seamlessly into each other. But since they all keep the party rockin' it's hard for me to be mad about it. It really is a simply fantastic soundtrack to boogie away your problems.
Support the band! POWER OF LIFE on US iTunes
POWER OF LIFE @ CDJapan
POWER OF LIFE @ HMV
Jazzy hip-hopper Kenichiro Nishihara will be releasing his 2nd electronic album under his ESNO moniker on July 22nd. The album will feature DAOKO, ボンジュール鈴木 (bonjour suzuki), and yumi (lyrical school).
Self proclaimed "21st Century Dub Band" TAM TAM will be making their major debut on Victor/Speedstar records in spring of 2014. They will also be changing their name to TAMTAM (without a space).
I'm glad that someone has noticed this band's potential! I just pray that they don't turn into pop/anime fodder like so many other indie bands have. They have a cool sound, and I'd love to hear them expand upon it!
I'm a million years late, but as they say, "better late than never!"
2012 was been a wonderful year for Japanese music & abroad. Here are my personal favorite albums and EPs of 2012. I've divided them into 2 parts - Japanese and non-Japanese! I've also provided full sample tracks from each album.
Please feel free to leave any comments!
Japanese Picks!
ATATA - TATAT
tags: alternative, emo, post-rock Sample song: General Headquarters
After releasing a string of demos, ATATA has finally released their first full length and it is thoroughly fantastic! Consisting of ex. Bandwagon, nenem, Retromania, Mirror, Holstein, and 3cm tour members, ATATA combines all of the punk, post-rock, and emo/hardcore elements from these bands into one seriously rocking package!
ar - YON
tags: rock, indie-pop, electronic, folk Sample song: breakin' Mama&Papa
sleepy.ab is usually regarded as Japan's answer to radiohead, but the lesser known ar is also very noticeably influenced by them as well. However, such a simple comparison doesn't do ar's sound any justice. They're much more colorful and adventurous than the aforementioned bands, manage to span several genres within the same album, and yet they somehow maintain their own unique sound. The aptly named "YON" is the ar's 4th full album and does a wonderful job of showcasing the band's highly imaginative musical palette.
COgeNdshE - cogency
tags: post-rock, experimental, female vocals Sample song: un deux trois
Zankyo records is well respected amongst fans of indie and post-rock due to their impressive roster of quality bands (mudy on the 昨晩, the cabs, and te' to name a few), and COgeNdshE is a welcome addition to the label. Their music isn't as easy to digest as some of their label-mates, however. Cogency has a dark, often brooding quality to it and is chock-full of unusual rhythms and time signatures. In addition, the hauntingly melodic female vocals provide a stark contrast to the music itself. The band focuses more on creating a solid atmosphere as a single unit as opposed to employing overly flashy instrumentation in an attempt to highlight themselves as individual musicians. This album is perhaps a bit more left-field than most Monochromians are accustomed to and may require several listens to truly wrap your head around, but it's a rewarding listen if you're willing to give it a try...or two!
Debut album from ESNO, the new project of jazz/hip hop producer Kenichiro Nishihara. In contrast to his normal material, Nishihara has taken a decidedly electronic approach on this album and it's quite possibly his best work to date.
4th album from FilFla, one of Keiichi Sugimoto's many monikers, and the the latest addition to the "’10 Songs In 20 Minutes’ series by music label Someone Good. Given the duration, Fliptap emphasizes the essentials of FilFla's sound - a stunning mishmash of organic elements like acoustic guitars and field recordings, and vibrant electronic programming. Short, but oh so sweet!
fresh! have been around for a few of years performing on the Japanese underground circuit, but have finally released their first proper album - the aptly titled "What Are You Doing In This Confusion?". This album is one nonstop cacophony of hectic drumming, disharmonic guitar noodling and obnoxious saxophone screeching. fresh! fits right in with bands like NATSUMEN and PANICSMILE. I can only imagine how killer their lives shows are!
For those that follow the non-mainstream Japanese hip hop world, GAGLE×Ovall is a match made in heaven! The amount of talent between the 2 groups is undeniable. Gagle (consisting of MC Hunger, DJ Mu-R, and DJ Mitsu the Beats) is already a powerhouse, but with the added abilities of Ovall (Shingo Suzuki, Mabanua, and Shingo Sekiguchi/Vusik) these guys are pretty much incapable of producing anything less than quality.
JariBu Afrobeat Arkestra - NO MORE PATIENT
tags: afrobeat, funk Sample song: No More Patient Prt 1&2
Along with KINGDOM AFROCKS, JariBu Afrobeat Arkestra is one of the Japan's premiere afrobeat bands in a small, but flourishing scene. Their last album "Mediacracy" ALMOST made my list for 2011, but the production value wasn't quite as dynamic as I'd hoped for. Thankfully, that's been rectified on this new album and JAA's grooves are more sonically tangible than ever!
Jimanica is a drummer and laptop musician who is one-third of the trio "d.v.d" (drums visuals drums) and also 'partners in sound' with fellow electronic musician, Ametsub. Torso is Jimanica's 3rd solo album is a dynamic assortment of live drumming, electronics, and fractured vocal lines (provided by Anna Yamada, Hitomitoi, and Koshi Miura).
KATUSI from EL SKUNK DI YAWDIE & EXTRAVAGANZA - Rhythm Messenger
As you can somewhat gather from his name, KATUSI is the drummer/percussionist from the little-known bands EL SKUNK DI YAWDIE & EXTRAVAGANZA!. Rhythm Messenger is KATUSI's solo effort in which he features various musicians and singers over his Cajon playing/Drumming. In addition to reggae and jazz, there's a variety of "organic" genres to be found throughout the album. Some awesome features include Likkle Mai, EKD, CHAN-MIKA, and 千尋 (Chihiro)!
KINGDOM☆AFROCKS - SanSanNaNa
tags: afrobeat, funk, jazz Sample song: No Son Tuyas (Not Yours)
SanSanNaNa is the 2nd studio album from Japanese afrobeaters, KINGDOM☆AFROCKS. Their first studio album Fanfare made it on my list last year, but the grooves here are just as prominent and uplifting!
Just a few months after their first EP, instrumental prog-rockers LAGITAGIDA have returned with their 2nd EP and they mean business! The band consists of members from the now defunct bands mahiruno, Green Milk From The Planet Orange, and school food punishment. They site their major influences as Frank Zappa, Led Zeppelin, King Crimson, Can, The Mars Volta, Battles, Metallica, Slayer, and Melt-Banana. CartaMarina is intense from beginning to end and proves that LAGITAGIDA is worthy of sharing the stage with Japan's best instrumental bands.
LITE - PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE
tags: math-rock, post-rock, female vocals Sample song: Bond
LITE is no doubt one of Japan's finest instrumental acts, and their latest EP, PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE offers a glimpse into the band's evolution over the years. From their humble beginnings as a traditional post-rock band to their more experimental, vocal-driven compositions that strive to defy classification.
Matryoshka - Laideronnette
tags: modern classical, ambient, IDM, female vocals Sample song: Cut All Trees
Absolutely gorgeous modern classical pieces embroidered with subtle electronic glitches and angelic female vocals. The tone of Laideronnette is epic and highly emotional - captivating from start to finish.
middle 9 - Cettia Diphone
tags: post-rock, jazz Sample song: Deja
Cettia Diphone is middle 9's third album and continues the band's tradition of immaculately fusing jazz and post-rock. With only five tracks spanning about 30 minutes, I only wish this one were a bit longer!
M-KODA - Inga
tags: idm, electronic, ambient Sample song: Glow
Only in his early 20's, M-KODA (real name Satoshi Kodama) is young, but already producing music like a seasoned pro. Inga is his 2nd full album and it exhibits just the right amount of minimalism - not overly melodic, but not subtle to the point that it's boring either.
mmm (ミーマイモー) - ほーひ
tags: folk, indie, female vocals Sample song: 無題
2nd full album from the indie-folkstress, mmm (pronouced me-my-mo)! Fortunately, she hasn't fallen into a sophomore slump - in fact, she's managed to produce an even better folk album than her first! With her unique voice, memorable songwriting, and endless charm, I don't think this woman is capable of doing any wrong. ;3
Moe and ghosts - 幽霊たち
tags: hip hop, experimental, indie, female vocals Sample song: ルー=ガルーガール
Splendid debut album from the enigmatic underground hip hop unit, Moe and Ghosts, who unsurprisingly, describe themselves as a "ghost coast hip hop group from Japan". The production on 幽霊たち has a distinct "underground" feel with many experimental liberties taken, while the rapping/vocals are all handled by the equally interesting female known as Moe (萌); who has a remarkably dynamic flow and style. The tone of moe's voice is also atypical for hip hop, but then again, this is not your typical hip hop album. : )
nego - SANSARA
tags: dub, psychedelic, tribal, experimental, club Sample song: Raga Naja
Sophomore album from the fascinating, hybrid-band, NEGO. Mixed and mastered by none other than KASHIWA Daisuke, SANSARA (meaning "metempsychosis" in Sanskrit) is a riveting album that utilizes simplicity and repetition at the core, and builds around that core a diverse wall of sound that is utterly entrancing! Members from bands like sgt., kacica, ROVO, egoistic 4 leaves, and WUJA BIN BIN have all given praise to NEGO and this album!
Re-Trick - re:Re-Trick
tags: jazz, club-jazz Sample song: Regeneration
While some of the more popular of acts of Japan's jazz scene have been on a steady decline (quasimode and jabberloop come to mind), Re-Trick has only been improving! After the release of their last album in 2010, the band went on hiatus for about 15 months, but they haven't missed a beat. As the title of the album implies, re:Re-Trick is a bit of a self-cover album since half of the tracks are re-recordings of early tracks. However, each of those tracks have been redone masterfully and in most cases, aren't even identical to the originals. And of course, the new tracks maintain re-trick's originality and technical prowess. Hands down, my favorite jazz album of 2012!
ROTH BART BARON - 化け物山と合唱団
tags: folk, indie Sample song: Campfire
I was initially introduced to this band by MH's resident Japanese folk expert, Aion, a year or 2 ago and I've been following them ever since. The world of Japanese folk music is vast and saturated with mediocrity, so it's easy to point out the greats from the fakes - and ROTH BART BARON is the former. Their music has a simplistic beauty to it and it's evocative without being either overly sappy or too depressive. Hopefully, these guys will release a full length one day!
Meteorite is the first full album from the obscure, reggae/dub outfit, Tam Tam. While they employ a lot of traditional elements from reggae/dub, their sound also incorporates pop and alternative sensibilities - giving them a young and fresh appeal.
THE★米騒動 - 十九歳でぜんぶ終わる
tags: rock, garage, female vocals Sample song: ストランゲーゼ30番地
2nd mini album from the young garage rock trio, The rice panic. They have a fantastic, raw energy that's reminiscent of MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS' more agressive side.
TK from 凛として時雨 - flowering
tags: alternative, indie-rock Sample song: flower
Solo album from Rin Toshite Shigure vocalist and distinguished guitarist, TK (Toru Kitajima). Even with the ensemble of strings, piano, and additional electronics, flowering isn't much of a departure from rin toshite's sound. In fact, it shows just how much influence TK has over the band. Though this isn't much of a gripe considering the consistently high quality of rin toshite albums. Naturally, TK remains above par.
2nd full album from wienners! Wild, zany, and fun punk that sporadically fuses elements of pop, hardcore, and electronica. Highly energetic with hardly ever a dull moment.
Wuja Bin Bin - Wuja Bin Bin
tags: jazz, avant-garde Sample song: Middle Age Riot
Wuja Bin Bin is the new project of ex. ex-BEAT CRUSADERS' keyboardist, KEITAIMO, but this is no ordinary project. WBB is more like a super-group of superb indie and "under the radar" musicians. Within the line-up you have achico (on button down/KAREN), jazz trumpeter Shinpei Ruike, Satoru Takeshima (EGO-WRAPPIN & THE GOSSIP OF JAXX), Takuji Nomura (goodluckheiwa/natsumen/sakerock), Keisaku Nakamura (toe/hotel new tokyo/stim/kowloon) and more! Wuja Bin Bin's debut is an amazing mix of jazz, progressive, and experimental elements.
アルカラ - ドラマ
tags: indie-rock, alternative Sample song: 踊れやフリーダ
I consider Arukara the flag-bearers of a particular brand of rock in Japan that see bands blending traditional elements of "indie-rock" with pop sensibilities. While many attempt this style, trying to appease the indie/DIY fans and exert mass appeal at the same time, Arukara simply excels at it. Whether they're doing ballads, instrumental tracks, or simply rocking out, they always manage to remain catchy and melodic without compromising their skills as musicians. Drama does a wonderful job at showcasing the band at their best.
subenoana is one of my favorite Japanese indie labels, as they're constantly releasing some of the most interesting, abstract and experimental Japanese hip hop. Although kiriko is usually very left-field, his new album features a more accessible sound full of soul and jazz-laden samples (courtesy of DJ OLDFASHION) and a host of female rapper/singer collaborations. Kiriko's flow and style remain very off-kilter though, which makes for a unique and refreshing listen.
Stunning EP from Ryuichi Sakamoto's handpicked protege, Kotoringo! For this EP, Kotoringo formed a trio with Shige Murata (□□□, Cubismo Grafico Five, Circle Darko) on bass and Jumpei Kamiya (Akai Kutsu) on drums - and of course, herself on piano. As always, kotoringo has managed to produce some of the most exquisite pop music around and proves that she is in a league of her own.
スガダイロー - 春風
tags: free-jazz, avant-garde Sample song: 不屈
New album from the insanely talented avant-garde pianist, Suga Dairo. His previous album actually made it onto my BEST-OF 2011 list; however, this work is almost entirely different. 46 minutes of pure piano work without the accompaniment of bass, drums, or vocals. Replete with broken melodies and meandering improvisation, this album may not be the easiest listen for some, but may be rewarding to those with an ear for the uncanny.
5th album from singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Shugo Tokumaru. Extravagant and meticulously crafted folk-music with a cartoon-ish flare. Superb~!
haisuinonasa's first full album is every bit as fabulous as their previous 2 mini albums suggested it would be. While the band has always mixed several genres (math-rock, post-rock, electronic, etc), they've really been able to let loose and expand their musical prowess to new areas on this full length. At this point, trying to dissect their music into genres would be futile. Despite the varying elements, their sound is so cohesive that it's nearly indescribable. Whatever haisuinonasa has become, I only have one word for them - EXQUISITE.
First full album from the obscure, but lovely singer-songwriter, Ijuuin Yuki. THIS IS MY STORY is like a blast from the 50's/60's past - even the production of the album is tailored to suit Yuki's impeccable retro-pop sound. Vocally, she sounds similar to early 90's Bonnie Pink, who also had a retro vibe around that time. All-around great tunes~
八十八ヶ所巡礼 - ○△□
tags: rock, progressive, experimental Sample song: ((((未練))))
○△□ is 88kasyo's 3rd full album, with their previous 2 albums being released in 2011 and 2010 respectively (all in the month of August btw). With releases so close together, you'd think it would be hard for a band to maintain the quality of their work, but that hasn't been the case with this trio. 88kasyo has only improved and grown even wilder with each release. Their skills are simply undeniable (srsly, their guitarist does more on his guitar in one song than some bands with 2 guitarists do in an entire album *cough*thegazette*cough*). But more importantly than their skills as musicians is their ability to craft songs that are unique, refreshing, and keep your ears craving more. Their previous album made my into my top picks of 2011, and they've managed to do so again this year.
Impressive major debut from the up-and-coming singer/songwriter, Kominami Yasuha. She plays an edgy, yet radio-friendly brand of pop-rock that harkens back to early "Muzai Moratorium" days of Shiina Ringo. It's not often that you come across quality major artists, but Kominami is definitely one worth keeping an eye on!
空きっ腹に酒 - 僕の血
tags: indie-rock, punk, hip hop Sample song: 記憶
Imagine throwing bands like qomolangma tomato, usotsuki barbie, and UHNELLYS into a blender - you'll likely end up with a concoction like this band. "Boku no chi" is Sukipparanisake's first full album and is a spastic mix of indie-rock, punk, and hip hop with just enough craziness to keep your ears excited from start to finish.
緋と陽 - タイヨウニホエロ
tags: hardcore, emo, post-rock Sample song: いざ沙らば
hitohi's first EP made my best-of list last year, and their new EP is equally as deserving. While the band's songwriting seemed to meander aimlessly a few times on the last EP, they've made noticeable progress in streamlining their "mathy-proggy-postrockish-folky-hardcore" sound. Unfortunately, this EP is only 4 tracks long, but each one is epic in it's own right! ; )
With the bulk of Japan's hip hop culture filtered through the likes of MTV, it's tough to find Japanese rappers that really understand the essence of hip hop, but thankfully, CHINZA DOPENESS knows what hip hop is all about! CHINZA has formed a band (THE DOPING BAND), which consists of the up-and coming reggae songstress, CHAN-MIKA, percussionist and producer, IZPON (from KINGDOM☆AFROCKS, Panorama Steel Orchestra, and Orquesta, Nudge! ) with the rest of the members coming from the disbanded reggae/dub outfit 犬式 a.k.a Dogggystyle. This is anything but your typical rap record, as CHINZA and the DOPING BAND play a diverse array of styles including funk, jazz, reggae/dub, as well as your more traditional, old-school hip hop numbers. CHINZA and the DOPING BAND aren't out to talk about their swag or brag about material riches, they simply want to show you a good time!
高橋征司 - N41°
tags: ambient, glitch, minimal Sample song: first report
This album nearly flew under my radar, as it was released under an obscure, fledgeling label called Te Pito Records. Seiji Takahashi's first album, N41° is only the 3rd release from this label. I bought this on a whim, but was pleasantly surprised by the quality of it! Incredibly soothing ambient soundscapes!
radioradioradio reacted to CAT5 in J-URBAN THREAD
radioradioradio got a reaction from Replicant in SONG OF THE DAY! ^__^
radioradioradio got a reaction from CAT5 in SONG OF THE DAY! ^__^