Stereo Type - Tokyo Blue (2012)

Incredibly solid Japanese instrumental post-rock math. What you can always count on with anything in this vein is that it's never boring. Awesome bass lines, intricate drumming, and memorable guitar lines. Regrettably I seemed to have glossed over this from last year... sad face. If it doesn't grab you immediately, stick with it — it has surprises buried just beneath the surface. You have my personal assurance as a man of the math.

yoso-wa-yoso - Terraformed (2013)

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Japanese math rock might have been born after our brand but they constantly upstage even our most glowing examples.

I'm honestly not going to gush about this and I very well could. Just go listen...really it's that good.

ONE
acerola

yoso-wa-yoso

Talking Dead Goats 45"

What a band name huh!!??!

Its very, very hard to come by anything by these guys to download. They have released a few split EP's in Japan and i know they are working on their debut album. some of the best drumming Ive ever seen/heard....its jaw dropping! BATTLES eat your heart out! im searching for this split release at the moment...ill update this post once i find it ;)

MYSPACE

Good live video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FV6kicCTMY&feature=related

Low-Pass - Trimurti (2012)

I'm going to continue posting some Japanese stuff, i have mountains of it to get through!

This LOW-PASS album, Trimurti, is one of the best math-rock releases this year in my opinion. its an instant classic and the tracks are so catchy you'll be beating the songs out of your head!! Brilliant instrument playing and song arrangement...i cannot fault it anywhere. Production is also epic . These guys are seriously good live...if you ever get the chance to see them don't turn it down. enjoy!

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MYSPACE

LITE - Past, Present, Future EP (2012)

LITE's capability to produce something fresh sounding every release astounds me. This EP is no different.  I first heard of LITE when they came to Ireland and played a very small city and venue...i haven't stopped listening to them since. Jun, the bass player, also started Transduction Records. This is now a sister label of Sony Japan.


This EP marks a bit of a change for LITE. With their previous releases adding elements of dance and techno, this EP seems to have fully integrated that into their synonymous sound. Also, with two great vocal tracks sung by 'Caroline' from Mice Parade You (Yama from TOE is also in this band), this EP definitely stands out amongst their release catalogue.


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Interior Palette Toeshoes - Nude (2011)

I was searching for information regarding the still-delayed new Natsumen record and stumbled upon a brief recommendation to check this EP out, bolstered by their description as a Toe/Mouse on Keys hybrid. Nothing is particularly stellar, but they manage to maintain the illusion that every Japanese band is comprised of robots set to "Extreme Technical Proficiency" and there are some hummable melodies here and there. Production is lackluster, doing its best to compress all life out of each performance, but at least they got some claps in the percussion track. Worth a listen if you got that itch.

Nude EP

(Password is "music".)

AS MEIAS - self-titled & II

Japanese math rock is always crystal sharp in its execution and never a nary note thrown in. The most important aspect of my mass generalization is that their drummers are ALWAYS amazing. AS MEIAS is no exception to either of these rules. The singing here is a highly melodic emotional style that works well with the music and never tries to follow the rhythmic curve's going on behind it. Both guitars get locked into some solid steel counterplay with some riffs that I'd dare say are pretty original especially rhythmically. My issue (however slight) is that the riffs don't change as often as I'd like. Confession time I have musical ADD, no surprise. So many of you might listen and think "hmmm he's full of junk hell" Drums are pretty incredible in that they never play with the guitars and are always trying to (F) the beat up. This is super solid across the waters level biz.

Self-Titled (2004)

II (2010)

Cyclamen - Senjyu (2010)

As is often the case, I don't know too much about these guys, but I first heard some of their tracks via Travis Orbin who had posted some videos of him recording drums to a couple tracks off this record. The band itself appears to primarily be a studio project for Hayato Imanishi, as he composes the material independently and then gathers various musicians to perform whatever instrumentation he doesn't feel like performing. Overall, the sound encompasses elements of post-hardcore, metal, and math-rock in a very polished form, with plenty of technical flourishes and half-time breakdowns, reminding me at times of equal parts Envy and Meshuggah. Definitely worth a listen if you enjoy harsh screams, chuggity-chugs, and twisting polyrhythms.

You can explore their entire catalog at their Bandcamp: Cyclamen

Special Others - PB

To breath easier sometimes you just need a group that's going to:

A) Be good at their instruments
B) Have fun
C) Not challenge you so much intellectually (sounds not so fantastic but you cant tell me you don't enjoy some nice car ride music)

Special Others from Japan cram jam a lot delicious berries in the pie. This is fast paced Jazz Rock that isn't going to put you into a "prog-coma".  Emphasis on Jazz here folks and a spritz of Jam and Funk for good measure. There are vocals that sprout up but they are far and few between. Just plain good and good for you.

PB

Mouse On The Keys

Piano Driven Jazz Math

As Metaghost will certainly attest to, Mouse on the Keys is some seriously amazing stuff. I cant think of another progressive jazz group that employs math elements that is really this fun and knows how to man handle a groove. The drummer for this group needs to give lessons to some of the other math rock groups, possibly start some sort of out reach program. I'm shamefully unfamiliar with these guys former group "Nine Days Wonder" but I'd be willing to bet its pretty straight amazing as well. Thank you Japan once again for sending us auditory delights.

mouse on the keys

an anxious object   (Track 2, Spectres Des Mouse, has possibly the single tightest drum lick of your life)

Nuito - Unutella (2008)

 Instrumental 3 piece Japanese Math Rock. tapping, blasting, explosions, noise, breaks, time changes, quick. There is just so much here really. In any one song you could stretch to write 30 songs. Do you have musical ADD like me? well this is your cure. Ideas come fast and never stick around long enough for you to grab on and yet slower passages do abound. This is the sound of a band completely letting loose and having fun. The closest comparisons would be "complex full of phantoms" era Tera Melos but after they pounded 12 red bulls. Cant say enough for those of you that are into this kind of thing. Just incredibly well structured and played with surprises around every corner. yum.

 
Nuito - Unutella (2008)