#leo ieiri

Ray - Pink (23.05.2020) [★★★★]

Ray, Japanese band composed by four young girls, with pretty faces and nice clothes, typical concept of most pop acts of the scene, the only thing is that they are not a pop act, but their genre is definitely maturer. Their first album is a clear example of this; strong guitar lines and good electronic shades accompany the tracks, driven by a light and shaded voice, building up themes with an uncommon structure, closer to Western shoegaze bands. Ray is one of the bands you wouldn’t expect to get into, but when it happens, it’s easy to enjoy their sound.

TRACKLIST

1. Fading Lights
2. Butterfly Effect
3. Sekai no owari wa kimi to futari de (The end of the world is with you)
4. Blue Monday
5. Nemophilia
6. Meteor
7. Toutoshi anata no subete o (Precious all of you)
8. Hoshi ni negai wo (Wish upon a star)
9. No Title
10. Generation
11. Silhouette
12. All I need is love
13. Slide
14. Satellite

Mama. - Ningen shikkaku [No more human] (27.05.2020) [★★★★]*REVIEW*

Mama. is one of the most rising visual kei acts of the recent years, born from the ashes of the short-lived project Morphine. Following up a series of decent singles, the band released a mini-album showing off all the features of their sound, alternated between heavy and soft, with energetic lines and good vocals, where the songs don’t appear dull as they would seem. Mama. have a long path next to them and the time will say if they will be able to rise up within the scene.

TRACKLIST

1. Ningen shikkaku
2. Kansen (Infection)
3. Yubi asobi (Finger play)
4. Murder Red Chainsaw
5. Shinjuu uta (Heart song)
6. Urami harasade o kubebika (Envy or sickness)

Toko Miura - Asterisk (25.05.2020) [★★★★]

Toko Miura is not a name people would normally know, but if you are a fan of Radwimps, you should know that she became quite popular for having joined as guest vocal in the song Shukusai. Delicate vocals immersed in soft and touching melodies are the main ingredient of her first mini-album, a simple but passionate product of pop music, worth to be listened.

TRACKLIST

1. Uzu (Swirl)
2. Ai ni dekiru koto wa mada aru kai? (There’s something I can love?)
3. Mitsubachi (Bee)
4. Ochitsuke (Calm down)
5. Nami ga tatta (Only the waves)
6. Blue Hawaii
7. FISHANDCHIPS

Foad - Returner (09.05.2020) [★★★★]

The Japanese metal scene is growing more and more every day and Foad is another important name to add to the list of the most promising bands. Their first work in two years brings up an adrenalinic sound, completed by compelling rhythms, along with piercing vocals and unpredictable shades distributed in each song, showing that Foad has an own technique and energy, distinct from the other bands of the genre.

TRACKLIST

1. Grey Goo
2. Lucid Dream
3. Tsukuyomi
4. Dive to the Ground
5. Belong to the Sky
6. Wheel of Life
7. Nirvana

Leo Ieiri - Answer (13.05.2020) [★★★★]

Considered as one of the best voices of Japanese pop, Leo Ieiri always distinguished herself for her soft but really efficient tone, making her fit for any kind of sound. In her latest EP she brings her voice into a series of catchy and fresh tracks, featuring both slow and fast notes, according to the situation, and never fails in building up a solid final result in each one of them. Light and swift as few, Leo Ieiri is surely one of the faces of Japanese pop’s future.

ARTIST REVIEW

TRACKLIST

1. Answer
2. Kosumosu (Autumn cherry flowers)
3. Swallowtail Butterfly -Ai no uta- (Swallowtail butterfly -Love song-)
4. Kanashimi no hate (The end of sadness)
5. Pop Star
6. Naku kamo shirenai (May cry)

-HONORABLE MENTIONS-

Daisuke Kurosawa - Black Album 3 (06.05.2020)

The first mention of the month goes to the musician Daisuke Kurosawa, known as a composer for the GuitarFreaks & DrumMania series and also for owning a cover band. Since 2013, he started a series of albums, which this is one is the third, bringing his talent in rock and metal music within his works. The final result is a solid instrumental album, made of an interesting mix between electronic and nice rock notes.

TRACKLIST

1. Giga Drive -long ver.-
2. Kill Trap
3. Dairoku tenmao (Demon king of the sixth heaven)
4. Tenka touitsuroku (Memoir of the unification)
5. Banana Fusion
6. Field Seven
7. Metamorphose
8. Subliminal Delusion
9. Dos Ninos
10. Time Limit 10 PM

Muscle Soul - Freedom at Your Field EP (13.05.2020)

Muscle Soul is a not so known post-rock band based on Nagoya, whose musical style is closer to shoegaze, but including also alternative shades. In their newest EP, composed only by four tracks, their sound is shown through articulated rhythms, featuring vibrant guitar lines and electronic notes, and fascinating vocals, providing an unique aura in each song, in a really good musical product.

TRACKLIST

1. Wonder
2. Clearance
3. Behind the Light
4. Freedom at Your Field

Saki - The One (27.05.2020)

If you know the Japanese female metal band Cyntia, you should know that the former singer Saki has started a solo project following the band’s hiatus. Her first album summarizes at best her style, which doesn’t have lost the energy which accompained her in the past, combining energy and charisma in a single blow, all in a metal key. Saki joins some other colleagues of hers in building a promising project such as her previous band and we couldn’t be more happy of that.

TRACKLIST

1. The One
2. Desolate Heart
3. Raise your Flag
4. Fight
5. Nameless Night
6. Shooting Star
7. Genkai lovers (Limit lovers) [Show-Yacover]
   
8. Glitter
9. Days
10. Monologue.
11. One

TO BE CONTINUED…