Japanese

Enter a world unknown! Birdfriend is a cassette label run by Japanese musician/composer Koshiro Hino, aka YPY, who is also a founding member of the Osaka band goat. This compilation, available on CD and double vinyl, features 18 tracks by Japanese artists, from 2013-2017, previously available only on hard-to-find cassettes on the Birdfriend label, now available to you, the curious and courageous listener, worldwide on EM Records. Rejoice and enjoy the fractured rhythms and future-now timbres, questing intelligences and D.I.Y. energy, conveyed to you through hand-made synths, custom electronics, synths and samplers. Compiled by Hino, who also provides liner notes and cover art, these Japanese artists share a love of texture, semi-skewed rhythm, simple-yet-evolving structure, and a sense of humour; yet despite these similarities, there is a great variety across this release, making for an exciting and cohesive musical experience.

+ Double 12" set
+ Gatefold sleeve
+ English liner notes
+ Artist bio/photo/discography

Tracks:

Side A:
1. Sofheso - M.N.L
2. Shimetta-inu - Bird Peck at Dead Dog
3. NEW MANUKE - Fastest Motor
4. YPY - BFMIX B-3
5. JMT Synth Pinosaku - Tansun

Side B:
1. Shimettainu - Dog is Surrounded by Birds
2. UNBE - Vector Milk
3. YPY - The Damo UFO
4. Micro Futoshi - Reforest 1
5. Inoue Shirabe - Sleep Talk

Side C:
1. Futoshi Moriyama - Time Limit
2. OPQ - ENT
3. Futoshi Moriyama - Nico Electro
4. H. Takahashi - 4
5. Micro Futoshi - Reforest 2
6. UNBE - 5 Cubic Meters

Side D:
1. Bonnounomukuro - Enter the Exit
2. Futoshi Moriyama - Piano and Sampler

This double A-sided 7-inch features two new cool, sophisticated and funky melodic pop songs from Bank. Tight bass lines, multi-hued percussion, snappily intertwining guitars, yearning melodies and clever production touches abound. These Tokyo veterans evince their love of all varieties of funky pop from recent decades in these two sweet sides.