Clean of Core

Clean of Core is perhaps the closest spiritual successor to Downy since the latter's split many years ago. The main difference being that while Downy incorporated vocals into much of their work, Clean of Core is strictly instrumental. Yet the same dark and intense post-rock vibe runs in their veins.

While Clean of Core may not have that vocal element, it's obvious that they are no less concerned with forming very melodic songs around their bare-bones instrumentation. They let their songs loop and slowly develop, building in intensity and depth. They also keep things in a more traditional verse/chorus/bridge song structure, as if their singer is simply absent. Yet it certainly doesn't feel like there's anything missing from the equation. The group offers up more than enough evocative material, projecting images of watery landscapes and misty hillsides. In fact much of their debut album Spectacle seems to carry with it thoughts of the sea, with song titles like "Pipe Line," "Navigation and Storm" and "Time Wave."

Unlike other instrumental or post-rock bands who like to thrill their audiences with showy playing and head scratching musical equations, Clean of Core does indeed focus on the core of their work, letting it drive the focus of the song. They spin around it like a star, letting it pull and push them as they travel in looping arcs around it.

BUY CLEAN OF CORE RELEASES FROM HEARJAPAN AND CDJAPAN

"Navigation and Storm"



Official Site
MySpace

Members:
Sunao Takeda - Guitar. Keyboard
Kenta Katou - Bass
Teruhito Takano - Drums

Albums:
Spectacle - 2009

"Pipe Line" (Live)


"Pipe Line" (Live)

Coaltar of the Deepers

It's not often you see people using the words "shoegaze" "death metal" and "techno," all to describe the same band in the same sentence, but when it comes to Coaltar of the Deepers, genre is the first thing to go out the window. Formed in 1991, the band has deftly switched genres almost as much as they have switched members. The core duo of Narasaki and Kanno has seen around ten members come and go over the years.

While the band has taken a few breaks, they've managed to maintain a prolific output, releasing twenty albums and EPs in as many years . For the most part, CotD stick to the washed out, dream-like, grungy, indie-shoegaze sound that they started playing in the early '90s, though they've never been a particularly quiet or brooding band. You'll also get songs like "Giant" that start out with the light female vocals of Ichimaki (who has since left the band), singing a fast pop rock song, only to have it suddenly drop way down into a metal scream fest, then kick into some post-punk/disco sort of beat. "Hyper Velocity" also falls into the above formula of spaced out synths with a very fast beat and dreamy vocals, which then totally falls off the rails into a cookie-monster voiced electro-hell.

Their many EPs seem to be used as isolated playgrounds for the band to test the limits of various sounds.Their Yukari Telepath album takes a much more electronic path, fusing rock with simplistic yet organic synths and drum machines. Much like Supercar's Highvision, it's a fantastic example of dark yet non-gimmicky electro rock. Just about everything CotD does will make you wonder what's coming next with an eager anticipation. Let's just hope there's another twenty years of material on the way.

BUY COALTAR OF THE DEEPERS RELEASES HERE

Giant




Official Site

Members:
Narasaki - Vocal, Guitar, Programming
Kanno - Drums

Live support:
Akira Nakayama - Guitars
Koji - Guitars
Watchman - Keyboard, Percussion
Kenjiro Murai - Bass

Albums:
THE VISITORS FROM DEEPSPACE - 1994
Come Over to the Deepend - 2000
NO THANK YOU - 2001
newave - 2002
Yukari Telepath - 2007

Dead By Dawn


Cell


Snow Again

Cow'p

For every genre of "real world" music, there is an 8-bit equivalent. From metal to folk to hip hop, you can be sure to find someone out there working furiously to re-create its hallmarks on a tiny GameBoy or similar retro-music-generating device.

For instance, Cow'p. (Yes, that's "cow pee.") Furuzu Nakano is the one man force behind the rather strange name. His music is slightly removed from what you might automatically think of when you hear the term "chiptune." While apparently 100% GameBoy generated, he seems to add a little of his own special recipe , give his tracks much more oomph than anything you'd normally hear chirping out of the handheld system. Most notable is the massive amount of bass-bin shattering bass. This goes hand-in-hand with his obviously love of reggae and dub. While other chip artists more often than not go for more frenetic and virtuoso performances, pushing their electrons to the bleeding edge, Cow'p takes a much more relaxed approach. His songs are no less indicative of the artform, he just tends to let the bass do the talking, adding in a few rude-boy samples and jungle beats here and there.

Along with the deep, groovy tracks are some more ambient vibes. Sounding a bit like some of Aphex Twin's early AFX stuff, these songs are as much about the production as they are creating electro soundscapes. Cow'p doesn't seem to be at all concerned with impressing people with over-the-top, high energy pop (like, say, YMCK.) His material is a bit more serious minded, while at the same time being very fun and never too self-indulgent. It would seem the audiences agree, as evidenced by his several tours in Europe and the UK. More recently, he'll be making an appearance at one of the biggest 8-bit/chiptune events, the Blip Festival in New York. A true sign of one's arrival on the world stage.

Live 2006



Official Site (with free music downloads)
MySpace

Members:
Furuzu Nakano

Albums:
2002 Gameboy Galaxy
2002 Cow'P vs. Kema Keur
2002 V.A "APA" (CD) from 19-t
2002 "AFRICA" (CD) from 19-t
2002 cowp vs kema keur sprit (12') from adaadat
2003 V.A. "trade&distribution almanac volume 1" (CD) from adaadat
2003 mongol (CDR) ---------------from rdc records
2005 "gameboy riddim" tour CDR
2005 "gameboy gallaxy" tour CDR
2005 "bass emperor" tour CDR
2004 V.A. trade&distribution almanac volume 2 (CD) from adaadat
2006 V.A "????????" (CD) from magic book records
2007 V.A. "GBCD" (CD) from Intikrec
2007 V.A. "8BP050" (CD) from 8bitpeoples
2008 KOCHITOLA HAGURETIC EMCEE’S "HAGULIFE" (tr.10)

Camino

Formed in 2003, Japan's Camino fall into that rather slippery catagory of "anime bands." They have a generally rockin' sound, but it's tempered with a slick pop sensibility. Plus they have indeed appeared in some TV themes for the likes of Tomica Hero Rescue Force and Koutetsu Sangokushi.

They do bring in a few elements missing or other mainstream rock bands however. They are a bit more progressive than most, with plenty of pumped up guitars and keyboards. Singer Hayato sounds a bit like Dream Theater's James LaBrie, at least in the lower register, and has the same hint of snarl at times. They're also a bit like Abingdon Boys School in the power rock department, though Camino can't hold a candle to ABS's complex and highly proficient arrangements. There are even echoes of JAM Project's over-the-top, epic rock style, but again with Camino it's more restrained and subtle. There isn't enough synthetic production to call them "electro rock," but they do let Ryosuke bust out the samples and keyboard leads from time to time. Like many other anime and TV theme-focused bands out there, Camino spends ample time on the twinkly ballads full of bells and chimes, but they don't let it bog them down.

It's been several years since their last full-length album in 2004. There have only been a handful of singles and re-releases since then, so it looks like the world is set to see a third album from the band soon. We'll just have to wait to see if they ramp up the rock or stick to the softer side or rock.

BUY CAMINO RELEASES HERE

Story


Official Site
MySapce

Members:
Hayato - Vocals
Kiku - Guitar
Rehit - Drums
Ryosuke - Keyboard
Taka - Bass

Albums:
Arise - 2003
IC Brain - 2004

Capitan Straydum (キャプテンストライダム)

Somewhere between The Pillows, Love Love Straw, Beat Crusaders and Going Underground lies Capitan Straydum.

Formed in 1999, the trio didn't really take off until their first single was released in 2004. Possibly their biggest hit has been "Mountain A Go Go" which was used as a closing theme to the Naruto anime series.

They definitely have a '60s and '70 (and sometimes '80s) pop rock sound at times, bolstered with more modern and heavier rock riffs. They've got a very upbeat and happy vibe which is also reflected in their videos. Much like Beat Crusaders, their videos are often funny in a quiet, charming way. They are a very "approachable" band, but still retain a slightly rough, old-fashioned rock and roll edge that's missing for other "nice" rock bands. Perhaps it's the way they look to the past through a '90s grunge lens that makes them fit so well in the '00s. Whatever it is, they are comfortably at home where they are now.

Fusen Gum




Official Site

Members
Nakatomo Saiya - Lead Vocal, Guitar
Umeda Keiske - Bass, Backing Vocals
Kikuzumi Moriyoshi - Drums, Backing Vocals

Major Releases
BAN BAN BAN (2007/03/07）
108DREAMS （2006/02/15)

Lone Star


キャプスト


[title unknown]


[title unknown]


[title unknown]

Chocolat (ショコラ)

Chocolat began her official singing career at age 18 in 1997, with the release of her first single "Blue Mint Blue". She was married the next year to Akito Katayose. She released a few more albums up until 2005 when she teamed up with her husband as Chocolat & Akito.

As a solo artist, her sound was much more rough and playful. While firmly in the no-risk zone and sticking to more mature sounds, the songs would occasionally throw a curve-ball and do something, well, interesting. There's a lot of indie spirit on her early recordings which remind me a bit of early Puffy Ami-Yumi's happy sound mixed with Tsuji Ayano's crystal clear vocals. Most of the time though, they were straight up "nice" songs suitable for the adult contemporary charts and daytime drama soundtracks.

This niceness was taken a step or two further when she joined up with Akito in 2005. Together they produce very down-tempo, jazzy/classic R&B tracks that are, unsurprisingly, rather romantic and gentle.

Like A Starberry (feat. Miki from Supercar)



Blue Mint Blue


One Too Many Rain


Chocolat and Akito - Tuning




On MTV Japan 2001 - Pt. 1


On MTV Japan 2001 - Pt. 2


Official Site
Chocolat and Akito's MySpace

Major Releases
One Too Many Chocolat - 1997
Hamster - 1999
henry - 2001
Chocolate notes - 2003

Chocolat & Akito - Chocolat & Akito - 2005
Chocolat & Akito - Tropical - 2007

Coltemonikha

Coltemonikha is yet another electro project from producer Nakata Yasutaka, the man behind Capsule and Perfume, among others. This time he brings along vocalist Sakai Kate to add the sugary frosting to the Daft Punk-like beats and Pizzacato Five sense of style. Coltemonikha is almost an exact replica of the aforementioned bands. In a blind taste test I would be very hard-pressed to tell the difference between songs like Coltemonikha's "Sora Tobu Hikari," Capsule's "Sugarless Girl" and Perfume's "Computer City." They are essentially the same song. Not that there's anything wrong with that. A good pop/dance/electro song is a good pop/dance/electro song is a good op/dance/electro song, and Nakata Yasutaka has the formula down to a science.




Official Site

Members
Sakai Kate (vocals)
Nakata Yasutaka (everything else)

Major Releases
COLTEMONIKHA (2006.05.17)
COLTEMONIKHA 2 (2007.09.26)

After you watch the Coltemonikha video above, check out the perfume and Capsule videos below to see what I'm talking about.

Cune

Cune are a straight-ahead, good ol' fashioned safe pop rock band. Is "safe-rock" a new genre? If so, I claim it here and now as my own. Anyway, Cune are safe-rock to a "t". This is the stuff of bottled-water commercials, arenas full of smiling faces, happy-ending credit sequences and all sorts of dancing animals. But at the end of the day, is that really so bad?

Cube Juice

Nagao Shinichi, aka Cube Juice, is a synthpop producer. He's worked with many other artists along the way, from Stereolab, to Dragon Ash, to Plaid and Buck-Tick's Atsushi Sakurai. The best way to describe the Cube Juice sound is that old standard "electronica." It's all rather danceable, but most songs are a little slower and dark, focusing on more experimental, organic sounds along side Shinichi's heavily effected voice. It's all very clean and clear, while at the same time just a little sinister. Oh, and his videos are all pretty amazing.

Cruyff in the Bedroom

Named after Dutch soccer coach Johann Cruyff, Cruyff in the Bedroom maintain a solid shoegaze vibe throughout their albums. Shimmering guitars, whispery vocals, droning bass sounds. They seem content to focus on playing regular shows at Club Que in the Shimokitazawa area and running their own small indie label. Sometimes good things come in small, quiet, simple little packages.

Chirinuruwowaka

Chirinuruwowaka is a side project of Yumi Nakashima (not to be confused with her own solo album), guitarist for GO!GO!7188. There's really little more to say than that, as the band sounds exactly like GO!GO!7188, only not as good. Nevertheless, they are good. Much like GO!GO!, Chirinuruwowaka's songs are funky, rockin', sort-of-surf rock, er, rock. Yuu's guitar playing and singing both remain tightly wound and high pitched as ever, and the rest of the band bashes away, backing her up nicely. Still, with GO!GO!7188 still together and making music, what's the point?

Chatmonchy

After toiling away for a few years, these three high-school friends finally released their first album, Miminari, in 2006. While guitarist and vocalist Hashimoto Eriko's voice sounds a little shaky at times, it's obvious that Chatmonchy has a huge amount of potential. They have a dreamy, positive indie-rock sound. They are very tight and controlled, and they manage to walk the thin line between catchy and abrasive. Their newest single "Shangrilia" is much more refined and radio-friendly, so it will be interesting to see where their next album falls. We will be watching their career with great interest.

BUY CHATMONCHY RELEASES HERE

Chara

If you took Macy Gray, shrunk her down and smeared her in Bjork-sauce, you'd have Chara (aka Miwa Sato). Cute, mellow, just a little strange. "Quirky" comes to mind. Her style jumps effortlessly from soft piano pieces to loud, electro (here I go again) Katamari-ish dance tunes. "Chara chara" means "scatter-brained" in Japanese, and it's a great descriptor for her overall approach. Chara is a great antidote to all the cookie-cutter girl pop out there. She's poppy, but very original and creative.

BUY CHARA RELEASES HERE

Kiss




Official Site

Releases:
Sweet [1991.11.01]
Soul Kiss [1992.09.01]
Violet Blue [1993.09.09]
Happy Toy [1994.10.10]
Baby Baby Baby (Chara the Best) [1995.10.10]
Montage [1996.09.16] (Yen Town Band)
Junior Sweet [1997.09.21]
Strange Fruits [1999.03.17]
Live 97-99 MOOD [2000.03.08]
Caramel Milk (The Best of Chara) [2000.11.01]
Madrigal (マドリガル) [1999.03.17]
Yokae Mae (夜明けまえ Before the Dawn) [2003.03.19]
A Scenery Like Me [2004.02.18]
Something Blue [2005.08.31]
UNION [2007.02.28]
Sugar Hunter~THE BEST LOVE SONGS OF CHARA~ [2007.09.05]
Honey [2008.06.25]


Crazy For You


Fantasy


世界

Chappie

There has been only one full-length album released by Chappie, but then again, Chappie is no regular artist. Chappie is in fact a huge collection of DJs and producers, along with the Japanese design team Groovisions. Groovisions is probably most notable to Westerners for their Chappie characters featured in Takashi Murakami's Superflat exhibit. (I'll wait while you Google that last bit. It's worth it!) The Chappie album, New Chappie, is predictably eclectic, but every song is upbeat and happy, with the P5-esque (Konishi Yasuharu is one of the producers) "International Chappie Cheerleading Team" being the obvious stand out track. It's sort of the Katamari Damacy soundtrack of the late '90s.

Capsule

Nakata Yasutaka, a producer, musician and DJ, is the man behind the scenes in many different electro-tinged projects, including Perfume, Coltemonikha and, most notably, Capsule. Along with Toshiko Koshijima on vocals, Capsule began as a Pizzacato 5 clone in 2001. Over the years, Yasutaka has morphed their sound from lounge/bossa-nova to hard-hitting electro/disco ala Daft Punk. In fact, some of the tracks on their latest album Sugarless Girl could very well be mistaken for cast-off tracks from the French band. Not that that is a bad thing. Of course, the same could be said for Perfume, a group that also sounds just like the new Capsule. Perhaps it's time for Yasutaka to take a break? Of note: Capsule made three videos (or a single short film when viewed all at once) with Studio Ghibli.

BUY CAPSULE RELEASES HERE