#japancakes

Omega Radio for July 20, 2016; #117.

Wall “Milk”

Kool A.D. “Love Is Everything”

His Clancyness “Pale Fear”

Yes Yes A Thousand Times Yes “Dad Got Me A Lefty Desk”

El Michels Affair ft. The Shacks “Strange Boy”

Happy Diving “Shed Light”, “The Call, It Thunders”

Dirty Nil, The “Zombie Eyed”

Japancakes “Android”

Twin Sister “Ginger”

Wax Idols “Deborah”

Culture Abuse “Perfect Light”

Miss June “Anxiety On Repeat”

Gurr “Moby Dick”

Rooftop Vigilantes “Movie Music For Assholes”

NAF (Nice As Fuck) “Door”

Japancakes’ sixth full-length album is a cover tributary to Loveless, yes, but one recorded after two whole waves of post-rock had crested and fallen, as a third was well underway. absent the harsh distortion of shoegaze, we're left with the indie rock equivalent to easy listening: slow-to-midtempo instrumentals with shimmer-swirling dream pop guitars and keyboards, augmented by upswelling chamber pop instrumentation (cf. Sigur Rós). also present throughout is a distinctly Southern alt-country flair, owed in large part to the strong presence of pedal steel alongside the cello and electric guitar.

the melodic, sleepy sound of this rock-a-bye–ambient pop suite is a pleasant listen, not quite on par with the original but definitely close. I'm not too surprised, but m.b.v.'s colossal oceanic guitar-rock seems to be well-suited to this softer, more conventionally textured approach that emphasizes acoustic instrumentation and splashes of bright, clean, spaced-out electric guitar. consequently this cover provides a more Beautiful experience geared towards background listening, but with enough depth in its atmosphere, arrangements, and overall sonic palette to merit a closer listen.