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Russell Thomas
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 28, 2019
All aboard: the art of sampling Japan's railways
In the rest of the world, trainspotting is something of a niche hobby, but in Japan it is much more mainstream. Combine a natural predilection for hobbies with a massive proliferation of railways and you naturally get train enthusiasts.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 14, 2019
Embracing the Japan of the past through music with Meitei
As the Reiwa Era begins, Japanese music producer Daisuke Fujita, aka Meitei, is looking forward while sticking to the traditions of the past. Fresh from last year's spook-summoning album "Kwaidan," which featured in "Best Albums of 2018" accolades curated by the likes of Pitchfork and Bandcamp, the Hiroshima-based...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Mar 13, 2019
Aaamyyy whips up a synth-heavy soundscape for the year 2615
"Body," the much-anticipated debut album from music maker Amy Furuhara, aka Aaamyyy (stylized as AAAMYYY), opens with an instrumental of tumbling beats, skittering hi-hats, wonky nighttime synth and pitch-shifted samples of a Spanish monologue — the portal of sound aims to transport the listener to...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jan 31, 2019
The Future Eve gets experimental with prog rock pioneer Robert Wyatt
Progressive rock and experimental music personality Robert Wyatt said goodbye to the music world in 2014 when he announced his retirement with the cryptic statement, "there is a pride in (stopping), I don't want (the music) to go off." That didn't mean that something pre-dating his retirement wouldn't...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 13, 2018
Yasuaki Shimizu's artful jingles
An effective commercial jingle wedges itself into your brain. There's the incessant repetition of Meow Mix, the harmony of McDonald's "I'm lovin' it" or the youthful chorus of "Biiiku, biku, biku, Bic Camera."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 1, 2014
Leftfield J-pop, '70s influenced rock and shadowy R&B: Our favorite albums of 2014 (so far)
In his Strange Boutique column last week, Ian Martin wrote about the need for a canon in Japanese music in order for newcomers to the scene — especially those writing about it — to gain some context into what is being released.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Mar 18, 2014
Geskia, Cuushe team up on impressive Neon Cloud side project
Neon Cloud was a mysterious entity when it first surfaced a little more than two years ago, but with the release of its second EP some of that mystery is starting to clear.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Mar 18, 2014
Hiroto Kudo "Omoid"
The musical subgenre glitch reflects our modern relationship to digital sounds, something Hiroto Kudo has picked up on for his new EP, "Omoid."

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