Reading Time: 9 minutes
Me again! A weird bunch of songs, these, but it’s been a weird time.
Still, I’m happy to share these with you and I truly appreciate every read!
Hope you enjoy reading and maybe even find something new which you enjoy.
As always, there’s a streamlined version at the top featuring my Top 5.
Read More »Can you believe that it’s July already?! We certainly can’t.
Here’s the July Mixtape – a testament to our love of Pop. Enjoy.
Here’s the mixtape for April! 20 songs old and new that we’re loving at The Music Box.
When The Japanese House emerged in early 2015 with the hauntingly ethereal ‘Still’, she was the cause of mystification. Whilst many fell in love with the track, her lack of online profile and distorted, effect-coated vocals led many to question whether a male or female was behind the project. It soon surfaced that The Japanese House is the project name of 20 year old Londoner Amber Bain. She shares a record label (Dirty Hit records) with the likes of The 1975 and Wolf Alice, a promising omen, considering their success. In fact, she was introduced to the label by the former’s Matt Healy and George Daniel who have also handled the production of some of her material. Her cinematic, multi-layered and often haunting sound makes her work a compelling listen and has won her a legion of fans. Just a proportion of those were crammed into The Haunt in Brighton on Saturday evening.
She walks onstage timidly after her bandmates – a drummer and guitarist/keyboard player begin the oriental cascades of ‘Clean’. Her multi-layered sound translates well live and is cleverly achieved through frolicking between various guitars, synthesisers and various effect pedals, including a harmoniser pedal to achieve Bain’s dreamy vocoder-reminiscent vocals. Between songs, she keeps talk to a minimum and is fantastically shy but impossibly endearing.
The Japanese House steadily ventures through her complete eight song discography from both of her EP’s – ‘Pools to Bathe In’ and ‘Clean’ before treating fans to a bonus track, a new song called ‘Leon’ at the end of the show. A brilliant performance of downtempo, sullen ‘Still’ reminds the audience of what a mesmeric listen the track is. It was her debut record and it’s still one of her best with its thunderous percussion and R&B-influenced fragments.
Her melancholic electronica is quite an intense listen and at times it’s perhaps a little too over-bearing, her set crying out for one or two up-tempo tracks. This request is eventually met by the brilliantly catchy and ‘80’s-influenced ‘Cool Blue’ which arguably prompts the best response from the crowd. It’s understandable since it’s perhaps the most up-tempo track The Japanese House has released to date. It echoes Tears for Fears’ ‘Everybody Wants to Rule The World’ in terms of rhythm and slamming percussion but replaces the piano arpeggios with those of a guitar. It’s one of her best songs and it provides the audience with an opportunity to dance.
Despite the small-scale nature of the show, it is still atmospheric. Dim lighting and hazy smoke create the perfect accompaniment to The Japanese House’s introspective sound. Pulsating lights swing into action during the electronic drop in ‘Pools to Bathe In’ but aside from this, the music does the talking.
As the evening comes to an end, it’s clear that The Japanese House is certainly in possession of something special. Whilst collectively, her work overall feels it could do with the addition of one or two more substantial, up-tempo tracks, Amber Bain is certainly one to watch.
Over the years, elusive and practically faceless artists have become a rarity. In an age where commercial music seemingly thrives off fan connection on social media, appearance, controversy and personality, it is exceedingly infrequent for an artist or act to emerge and maintain their anonymity. The Japanese House (or Amber Bain) is an exception. Bain first surfaced over a year ago, capturing the attention of many around the world with her cinematic, atmospheric 80’s-esque indie-pop. The success of début EP ‘Pools to Bathe In’ has been followed with latest offering ‘Clean’, a four track EP.
Similarly to ‘Pools to Bathe In’, ‘Clean’ is a lavish-sounding affair and enchanting throughout. Title track ‘Clean’ opens with scatty oriental-sounding synthesisers and clonking bells before unsettled percussion and a mesh of broken vocals carry the rest of the song. ‘Cool Blue’ is the E.P’s superlative track, beginning with gentle guitar riffs and melancholic, dreamy vocals. It evolves into an ’80’s-sounding synthpop track with shuffling percussion and gorgeous syrupy layered vocals. Like the rest of Bain’s work, it’s dreamy, atmospheric and enchanting.
‘Letter By The Water’ is more moody in tone and features gorgeous reverberating guitars and synthesisers amongst eerie sound effects representing water. It’s a little heavier than the first two tracks but still hugely enjoyable. EP closer ‘Sugar Pill’ utilises sombre piano chords before launching into an electro track abundant with jittery synths and stuttering percussion.
An enthralling and endearing E.P; a reinforcement that The Japanese House are only just beginning…
Rating: 4/5.
‘Clean’ is available now.
1) Tove Lo – Moments
Emotive and powerful electro-pop ballad with brutally honest lyrics. Produced by one of the hottest production duos currently around – Mattman and Robin, ‘Moments’ is abundant with crashing percussion, reverberating vocals and eerie sound effects. One of the hottest tracks around right now.
2) Tori Kelly – Should’ve Been Us
Pop perfection with hip-hop beats and a powerful vocal performance.
3) J. Tillman – Howling Light
Gorgeous folk ballad comprised of little more than guitars and organic instruments. It’s refreshing to hear music in its natural form, free of autotune and other programmable effects.
4) The Japanese House – Cool Blue
A gorgeous and gentle intro builds into a shuffling 80’s synthpop-esque track featuring pretty guitar riffs, spacey synthesisers and auto-tuned vocals. One of the hottest tracks in the world right now.
5) The 1975 – Love Me
Yet another pop track which reinforces the return of ’80’s pop. Abundant with detuned guitar riffs, squeaky synthesisers and gated percussion, The 1975’s comeback single is an explosive and effortlessly catchy affair. Healy’s vocals are the clearest they have ever been and the lyrical content is as witty and clever as always. A fine return.
6) Drake – Hotline Bling
Utilising both hiphop and trap, Drake’s ‘Hotline Bling’ heavily samples Timmy Thomas’ 1972 song “Why Can’t We Live Together”. It may be somewhat repetitive and Drake’s vocals may not be the most powerful but it’s effortlessly catchy.
7) Kanye West – Love Lockdown
One of Kanye’s best. The ‘808’s and Heartbreak’ album is often overlooked due to West’s attempt at singing rather than rap but it contains innovation and power that could never have been projected through rap. The song’s power lies in its minimalistic pop style – piano riffs, a Roland TR-808 drum machine imitating tribal percussion and West’s heavily autotuned vocals dominate this repetitive but catchy and powerful synthpop track.
8) Olly Murs – Kiss Me
Catchy pop track featuring a punchy bass line, ’80’s-eque synthesisers, funky bass riffs and an effortlessly catchy chorus. Just try to ignore the fact it is more or less a rip off of Nick Jonas’ ‘Jealous’…
9) James Morrison – Demons
James Morrison triumphantly returns with this powerful, eerie and beautifully sincere pop-soul track. The sped-up/high-pitched “I’ve got demons” refrain which opens the track and appears throughout is heavily reminiscent of Simon Webbe’s pop hit ‘No Worries’ and adds an extra dimension to Morrison’s gorgeous track. ”
10) Selena Gomez – Sober
Gomez wails over jittery synthesisers, reverberating percussion and spacey vocal effects on this great pop track.
1) Take That – We Love to Entertain You
Electrifying and rousing stadium anthem that somehow managed to escape inclusion on an album. Whilst it did appear as a b-side to massive hit ‘Shine’ and was used in a German commercial, it was worthy of far more attention and credit. It’s a fitting tribute to fans; a sort of predecessor to ‘Hold Up A Light’, ‘Portrait’ and ‘I Like It’.
2) Beyonce – Love on Top
Funky and soulful R&B track; unbelievably catchy with an infectious melody and bouncy percussion. Highly influenced by 70’s disco tracks by Stevie Wonder and The Jackson Five, Beyonce braves FOUR key changes and blasts her powerhouse vocal effortlessly. One of her best.
3) Taylor Swift – Wildest Dreams
Miss Swift proves once again she is currently the biggest female Popstar in the world. Clearly influenced by the moody and breathy production Lana Del Ray is famous for, the chorus is unmistakeably Swift and the melody isn’t far removed from her signature Country-sound. A lovely track full of emotion, crashing beats and 80’s-esque synthesisers. Irresistible.
4) The Japanese House – Clean
Elusive and enigmatic act Amber Bain (better known as The Japanese House) released another enchanting track earlier this week, once again produced by Matty and George from The 1975. Full of twinkling bells, fizzy synths, distorted brass instruments and unsteady percussion, it’s beautifully endearing and cinematic.
5) Tame Impala – Yes I’m Changing
Aesthetic, downbeat and dreamy, this is another lovely moment from Tame Impala’s latest album ‘Currents’. Evidently influenced by ’80’s synthpop, it has a great bassline and hazy vocals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhlPXa6g4C8
6) Oasis – Half the World Away
Lovely acoustic ballad written and sang by Noel. Whilst never released on a studio album or as a single, this became well known for being used as the theme tune to the BBC Sitcom ‘The Royle Family’. It has also since been featured on two Oasis compilation albums.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK_Mrpjppwk
7) The Blue Nile – Everybody Else
Whilst not the most recognised of bands, Glaswegian adult-alternative band The Blue Nile have received much critical acclaim and have gained a cult following over the years. They purposely never chased fame and are notable for their perfectionist approach to releasing music, releasing only four albums in a thirty four year career.
‘Everybody Else’ is a beautifully simplistic track featuring only a strumming guitar, computerised percussion, sweeping synthesisers and Paul Buchannan’s melancholic but sincere vocals. It is the penultimate track on their final album to date, 2004’s ‘High’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQYn5WgvBqU
8) Kylie Minogue, Garibay and Shaggy – Black and White
Miss Minogue is back on form with this sultry and sensual club banger, produced by Fernando Garibay and featuring a rap by legendary Shaggy. It is a return to Kylie’s club roots after previous album ‘Kiss Me Once’ was a more R&B-led affair and was only a moderate success commercially.
9) Lawson – Love Is You
Lovely acoustic-based ballad by Lawson, released as a free download on their website just days ago. Andy Brown’s voice is sincere as always and the chorus is very pretty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFkw8v8eyvM
10) Duran Duran – Ordinary World
One of Duran Duran’s biggest hits, ‘Ordinary World’ launched the band back into the charts after a period of declining popularity in the early 1990’s. Written about front-man Simon Le Bon’s late friend David Miles, this became a huge hit around the world in December 1992. Emotive, powerful and dramatic, it is one of Duran Duran’s best works.
1) Simply Red – Big Love
Smooth, soulful; everything Simply Red does best. Beautiful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGYMZWs9wPs
2) Simply Red – Love Wonders
Love the slightly dark, night-time tone of this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK7HCNAGHHI
3) Mark Morrison – Return of Mack
Without a doubt one of the best pop/R&B tracks of the 90’s. Funky and catchy as hell.
4) Joni Mitchell – How Do You Stop
Stunning cover that completely surpasses the original. Aided by Seal on backing vocals, this is a stunning interpretation. Joni and Seal’s voices blend beautifully together.
5) The Japanese House – Still
I love the debut EP by The Japanese House and this is one of its highlights. Produced by Matt Healy and George Daniel from The 1975, it’s a stunning piece of electro-pop full of dramatic drum breaks, layered vocals and squeaky synthesisers. Beautiful.
6) Joni Mitchell – Help Me
Love Joni Mitchell and I am slowly getting through listening to most of her discography. I absolutely love this! So uplifting, so jazzy and soulful. It’s reminiscent of cycling through the countryside on a summer’s day.
7) Jamie XX – Loud Places
Keep hearing this on the radio and it always manages to grab my attention. The distorted vocals on the chorus and the stamping beats all contribute to how endearing it is.
8) Rixton – Where are u now
Prior to hearing this on radio, I hadn’t bothered checking out the original. This absolutely blew me away and made me actually sit up and listen to Rixton properly for the first time. Harmonies are on point, the jazzy piano interpretation and eerie guitar screams are stunning. Jake Roche’s lead vocal is also fantastic. I ended up checking out the original after this and this is definitely the superior version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJnMqeJrD5Y
9) Justin Timberlake – Cry Me A River
Throwback to 2002! What a tune.
10) Justin Timberlake – I Think She Knows
Awesome interlude from the FutureSex/LoveSounds album. Love the guitar work on this.
1) Circa Waves – T Shirt Weather
Catchy, summery indie fun. Love this band at the moment and I love this song. Great to listen to in the Spring sunshine.
2) Circa Waves – My Love
Staying loyal to their fun sound, this song is a little more ballad-y and I love the chord progression in this. Probably my favourite from the album. Great tune.
[Only decent version on YouTube at the moment]
3) Circa Waves – Deserve This
Another slightly slower track from the band’s début album. Pretty little song with a gorgeous soft chorus.
[Not available on YouTube]
4) The 1975 – So Far (It’s Alright)
Still an absolute tune. Slightly repetitive, maybe but I love the feel of this track. So catchy.
5) Will Young – Love Revolution
SO glad Will’s back. Wasn’t sure about this at first but it grows on me more with every listen and it’s a great song. Looking forward to the album.
6) The Weeknd – Earned it
I’d heard this a fair but but hadn’t put 2 and 2 together to realise it was this song by The Weeknd that everyone keeps talking about. Dramatic, powerful and a great song. The 50 Shades soundtrack is definitely worth a listen. Awesome selection of music.
7) Brandon Flowers – Can’t deny my love
There’s something rather ambient and 80’s about this with its sweeping synths, tribal drums and squeaky guitars. Good song.
8) Lawson – I Got You
Whilst one of my favourite bands, their new single ‘Roads’ doesn’t do anything for me. After discovering this new song as a live performance on YouTube, my hope and faith in this band was restored, however. Catchy, uplifting and loyal to their sound. Awesome track.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMfzCGzN_AM
9) One Direction/Zayn Malik – I Won’t Mind
There is still much confusion on if this is Zayn’s solo material or a demo for one of Zayn’s songs that would have been on One Direction’s ‘Four’ album. Whoever this song belongs to, the demo that has appeared online is stunning. Raw and simplistic as a demo should be, I just really, really love this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YULGc9Gmog
10) The Japanese House – Still
Smooth.
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