Alakazam, alakazoo, now you’ve arrived at to the zoo this week’s issue of Shibuya’s Scrambled Sounds !

Last week was stacked and so is this week, so get ready! Get set! Now let those fingers fly (touching links for new albums, I know it was a stretch!!).

^{Reviews of the best new-ish albums}

Genre: Art Rock, Noise Rock
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

Bold, ambitious, genre-bending, a little freaky.

Once you hear the transition from the Free Jazz noise of the first track “I” to the off-kilter Post-Punk Funk of “Social Plan”, the unmistakable talent of these 4 lads from Fukuoka shines on like a mad emerald. (ha!)

With influences spanning from Jimi Hendrix, to Boredoms, to DNA, aldo van ecyk are not scared to push and change genres at their own will. Speaking of DNA, about half the songs on this album are legit No Wave tracks, a genre/movement that rarely gets referenced in the current contemporary musical landscape.

Talking about the genres and influences of this album would be never ending. However, this isn’t just a circus performance. They’re great at writing memorable, creative hooks. The less noisy tracks which contains memorable melodies and unforgettable instrumental breaks are where their genius really shines. Take the final track “Plastic Gold” as the perfect example, a beautiful song with a melancholic chord progression that simultaneously tugs at and nuzzles your heart strings.

While I need to be in the right mood for the DNA-esque tracks and I wish they would sing more in Japanese than English, this is an amazing listen, and already a top contender for album of the year.

Rating: 🥧🥧🥧 We gonna need oven mitts -
potential classic, highly suggested listen

Favorite Tracks: Social Plan, Icy, ephemeral, L S Drive Apartment 5F, Lydia, Plastic Gold

Genre: Art Pop, Glitch Pop, Hakushi Hasegawa-core
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

Genre: Dream Pop, Shoegaze, 90’s JRPG Soundtracks??
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

^{An older album you should check out}

Genre: Post-Shibuya-kei, Indie Pop
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

Since this album received an updated record pressing recently, it’s the perfect time to talk about this semi-hidden Pop gem. Originally a band that formed to make music for ROOMMANIA＃203, a Dreamcast video game soundtrack, Serani Poji have aged like a fine wine and have become one of those Japanese bands that are in the “if you know you know” category.

Let’s take a moment to talk about our lord and savior “A Fishman’s Story”. Where were you when you heard pop perfection? Mine was in 2017, driving down a bumpy road jamming this track. Okay I’m exaggerating a little bit, but the Mario Kart 64 Koopa Troopa Beach vibes are in full force. Can we talk about how the steel drum is the most underrated instrument of all time?

Anyways, you like cute early 2000’s semi-electronic Japanese Pop or what? If this sounds even remotely up your alley you know what to do…

Favorite Tracks: Where is Smiley?, Pipo Pipo, LOVELABOR, A Fishman’s Story, Spiral Da-hi! P.R.R. Mix

^{Some good EPs that recently came out}

Genre: Indie Soul, Funk
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube
*Not too shabby for a comeback EP!

Genre: Indie Rock, Math Rock
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

The hottest Japanese music playlists around.

Shibuya’s Scrambled Sounds official Spotify and Apple Music playlists below!
*Will be updated soon!

Playlist Links:
Spotify
Apple Music

As always, thank you thank you sooooo much for reading this issue of Shibuya’s Scrambled Sounds! 🥹

Want to support this project? You can do one of the following:

See ya next time! Breakfast is ready.

All SS Sounds logos and images were created by local Tokyo artist Mai Moroe.
https://www.instagram.com/maimoroe/
https://www.moroemai.com/