When people ask which new bands they should be listening to right now, SALEM (and Telepathe) are easily my first response. Their tormented lo-fi electro with its crooked, otherworldy vocals might at times seem an uneasy listen, but there’s so much depth to it, it’s an addictive uneasy listen.

Following their first two releases on Acephale and Merok, Japan’s Big Love Records took care of their third release, which features OHK and Sweat (I), restricting it to just 300 copies. I think it’s well and truly sold out now, so you’ll have to make do with the mp3 below, (which is on the lighter side of the SALEM spectrum) and check out the SALEM-directed clip for Dirt with all of its smoke-obstructed Aphex Twin-like grotesqueness.

SALEM – DIRT from ACEPHALE on Vimeo.

SALEM – OHK

- bec

Shinichi Osawa‘s Last Days is a great mix between sweet, melodic guitar and distorted, driving bass – and the video is no different.

Using animated ink drawings the video starts off with blotter paper but turns into repetitive, interacting characters. Like almost all of the videos we’ve been featuring over the last few weeks you can see how they would work so well to accompany the man live.

Good news for Australian readers is that Shinichi Osawa is coming out to Australia for a round of shows in March 2009 which is definitely not to be missed. Details are still scant as to whether it will be a live show or DJ sets but when I’ve got more info I’ll post it up here.

Check out the other videos we’ve featured here and here. Check back next week for more releases seen here first.

xox
ned

The first video is for Shinichi’s cover of the Chemical Brothers “Star Guitar” featuring the vocals of Au Revoir Simone. The clip features a montage of shots of hot girls repeating into the foreground. Kind of reminds me of the “My People” clip Krozm did for the Presets…

You have to watch until at least 2:33 to catch the sickeningly sweet Au Revoir Simone girls melt your heart. This is the first and only time I want to use the word “dreamy”.

Come back next Friday to catch the next video release from Shinichi.

xox

ned

Like Astrolabe, Crystal cite acts like Yellow Magic Orchestra, Depeche Mode and Human League as influences along with 80′s Jpop groups like the Moon Riders and Cosmic Invention. Their sound is a combination of these influences and the inspiration from the success of more modern electronic groups.

Crystal’s equipment is a reflection of their sound, combining vintage analogue synths from the 80′s with the latest macbooks. Live each member of the group plays keys in one way or another.

Crystal – Neo Age

Crystal – Initiative

An E.P. is almost finished with rumors of being signed to a French label in the coming weeks. We’ll let you know when we find out for sure.

xox
ned

Astrolabe is a one man band using old school and new computers with samples to make music. At the moment it’s just a studio project but once there’s enough material a live show is on the cards.

Like a lot of the electronic music coming out of Japan Astrolabe is influenced by Yellow Magic Orchestra and their eclectic style as well as old school Frenchies like SpAce. He also uses a lot of samples from 80′s jpop groups.

The first track is “A Trial Run” and I’ve been playing it at the start of my sets for a few weeks, I crush on that “Get Ready” sample.. Such great samples, such a great track. Reminds me of the new G.L.O.V.E.S. track I mentioned a while ago too.

Astrolabe – A Trial Run

I am digging the sax in this track. I’ve been hearing some great sax solos recently, bring it on.

Astrolabe – Flag

Astrolabe – This Emergency

Astrolabe is chilling in the studio at the moment making new originals. Drop him a line on myspace.

If you know any rad Japanese groups we should be checking out drop us a line in the comments or at music@electrorash.com

xox
ned

If you only read this blog you might think that the only thing that came out of the Japanese electro scene was Shinichi Osawa, Shinichi Osawa, and Shinichi Osawa. Oh and Avalon and Ray Flash. And don’t forget Narctrax! But apart from all those great people there is a bit more to to the Japanese scene than these few people.

The electro scene in Japan at the moment is pretty small and widely separated. There are small groups of people into the sound in Sapporo, Osaka and of course Tokyo but their isn’t one cohesive scene or label that has brought them together like you can see in places like Sydney or Paris.

The sound that is coming out though is fairly cohesive: sweet, melodic electronica.

So I thought I would do a bit of digging and came up with three groups that you might not be familiar with but who are part of the new wave sound coming out of Japan at the moment. On top of this I’m going to be looking at the influences of these groups which have a lot of overlap and include some pretty awesome 70′s and 80′s Jpop groups.

Stay tuned later today to catch the first of the three acts and I will bust out a new one on Friday and then Monday as well.

Damn, I’ve got to get to that country.

xox
ned