Get off the JR rail at the next station called “this week’s issue of Shibuya’s Scrambled Sounds !”

Hi everyone, I hope you had a nice week. It’s finally chilly over here, but some days are still hot. Going outside every day is a guessing game, giving me a good ole adrenaline rush every time I step out the door.

This week’s episode includes:

Reviews of the best new albums that came out recently
*with some exceptions

Genre: Improvisation, Free Jazz, Electronic
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

You know that feeling when you meet someone for the first time and you just hit it off? It feels like you’ve known each other your whole life and you pair together like some type of high-end cheese and fine wine, like the ying to their yang, like Happy Hour and Applebee’s.

But have you ever hit it off so well, that you made not one collaboration album, but 2… AT THE SAME DAMN TIME?

I didn’t think so, but that’s what happened when legendary experimental musician and “Drive My Car” soundtrack composer Eiko Ishibashi got together with Tokyo improvisational pros Tatsuhisa Yamamoto (drums), Joe Talia (electronics), and Cologne-Berlin based group Von Spar. All of the members in this collaborative collective interplay with each other so seamlessly, answering each other’s melodies making these tracks feel like they weren’t improvised. Maybe they weren’t? It’s tough to tell, but that’s part of the beauty of this album.

Another reason this collection is so strong is due to the group’s unwillingness to give in to just one particular feeling or sound. Take for example, “VII”, the final track whose drums generate what can only be described as pure anxiety, while the melody that comes in halfway through is simultaneously soothing and maniacal.

If you like this and want more, good news, there’s a whole other album for you to check out (still working my way through that one). Definitely worth a listen if you like Jazz or other forms of improvisational art.

Rating: 🥧🥧🥧 We gonna need oven mitts

Favorite Tracks: I, II, III, VII

Genre: Experimental Electronic Music, Minimal, Sample based
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

While this might be your first time ever hearing of Taeji Sawai (it was mine at least), he has worked with legends in the Experimental music sectors of the world, including legends such as Yamantaka EYE (of Boredoms and bulldozer driving fame) and John Zorn.

What makes this album stand out in the Ambient/Electronic music sphere is Sawai’s sample use. For example take “Alone In Mountain”, which samples some sort of blasted out pop song that is faded and panned so many times. With headphones, it creates a psychedelic experience or a headache, whichever you prefer.

There are mind-blowing and also serene tracks on this album, but what holds it back is it’s consistency. I think it’s purposefully supposed to be an eclectic gathering of songs, but it definitely feels more like a B-Sides and Rarities collection rather than an album.

While the teeter totter of track quality may hurt the overall experience, people looking for some real Japanese underground sounds should check this out.

Rating: 🥧 Pretty warm

Favorite Tracks: EERINISSE Neu Summer, SAWAI HANO, H’nogrphy - Calm Ver, Hello, Harrow, How Low

An older album you should check out

Genre: Post-Shibuya-Kei, Power Pop
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

Since this issue was all about challenging exploratory sounds, I wanted to make the Mystery Bento about something more light hearted and fun. This is one of those albums I find myself coming back to when I get down and want to feel better. It’s cute and light-hearted, yet there are so many intricacies and genre jumping if you focus on it.

So you might know ROUND TABLE from the collaboration albums they did with Nino, which features some cute sugary pop classics such as the opening for the anime Chobits. While those tracks might be more popular, this album is definitely my favorite and is the more influential within the Post-Shibuya-Kei landscape. I feel like ROUND TABLE is the perfect example of a group whose sound is not that unique, yet there are only a few other albums that came out during this time era and genre that can match their consistency.

Actually, if there was one album that described Shibuya-Kei’s sound in the late 90’s this would be it. You get orchestral sweeps on “Brownie”, melancholic Power Pop on “Summer Rain”, and cutesy accordions on “Play the March”. Thrown into the mix are some tracks that throw in surprises to keep you on your toes. For examples, there’s the noisy feedback present throughout “Christmas Time”, or my personal favorite, the Jazzy Funk on “Desert Side of the Moon”.

This is a classic in the genre that I personally think gets overlooked in other countries and works for any season (take THAT Brat Summer).

Favorite Tracks: Brownie, Holiday, Summer Rain, Desert Side of the Moon, Christmas Time

Some good EPs that recently came out

Genre: Indie Pop
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

Genre: Electronic Pop but for the bedroom instead of the club
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

Here’s where you find the newest hottest singles on the planet from Japan

For Spotify and Apple Music, check out the official playlists!

Playlist Links:
Spotify
Apple Music

PAS TASTA - B.B.M. (feat. PinocchioP)
YouTube
Genre: Vocaloid, Bubblegum Bass

Fellsius - you
YouTube
Genre: Experimental Electronic Pop, Indie Rock

petalhead - Springs to Life
YouTube
Genre: Indie Pop

Robounoishi - Messiah
YouTube
Genre: Vocaloid, Blackgaze, Shoegaze, Black Metal
* I was wanting to talk about this album but I just didn’t like it so much. This song however, is SO entertaining I had to include it.

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

See ya next time! Breakfast is ready.