Times are tough and the year is already going by too fast. Put it all out of your mind for a moment and take a break. Take a deep breath, too, while you’re at it.

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You good? Good. I discovered some new tracks to share last month! Once again, they’re a mix of new releases and old discoveries. Sit down with some headphones and check them out. Hope you enjoy my compeltely uneducated descriptions of these tracks, albums, and artists in no particular order!

Bajune Tobeta - Tokyo Galaxy (2015) & Reflections: Tokyo Galaxy (2020)

(Amazon.co.jp) (Apple Music)

I said these weren’t in order, but I have to put this one first because it’s quite a discovery for me. I was watching this Tomggg/yuigot/Hercelot live set, which I also strongly recommend, and it starts with Silent Tokyo (feat. Makura Izumi) [Tomggg Remix ver.] @ 1:37. My jaw was open for a good half-minute at the absolute sound of this remix when 2:39 hits - I just haven’t heard anything else like it. Those echoing bells and loooowwww bass are such an amazing pair, and the pitch adjusting is just 👌

So I went to find the rest of the album, and to my surprise, the featured artists are incredible! There’s a song with Shing02 who you may have heard of from their Nujabes (RIP) collaborations. Bonjour Suzuki who I recognized from Pipo Password, and then Avec Avec, Qrion and PARKGOLF round out the remixing artists. Extremely solid album front to back.

Favorites:

• Silent Tokyo (feat. Makura Izumi) [Tomggg Remix ver.]
• Space Loungin’ (feat.Shing02)
• Contour of Moon and Afternoon Rain (feat. Bonjour Suzuki)

Unfortunately, this is one of those albums that’s hard to find. I had to buy the remix album on iTunes and resort to Amazon for the original. I’m posting links that I normally wouldn’t because I so strongly recommend this album.

iri - life ep (2017)

My introduction to iri was Watashi back in 2019, and I finally decided to go back and explore previous albums as an excuse for this blog. I started with life ep and it really clicked with me. Iri’s voice is so catchy with her mid-lyric pitch changes. It feels like I could drive for hours listening to Iri.

Favorites:

• for life
• fruits

Skirt and DJ PUNPEE - ODDTAXI (2021)

(Buy @ OTOTOY)

I watched ODDTAXI after a friend’s strong recommendation and I now also recommend it. Amazing characters and the opening got me hooked. You should watch ODDTAXI! And I bet you’ll like the opening. It feels like a rainy night drive type of song.

a-ko - ANTI BLUE (2022)

(Buy @ OTOTOY)

I’m cheating a bit here, since this one’s from another aggregator’s music recommendation list, but I love artists like this. Izumi Makura is one of my go-to chill artists and I get a lot of the same vibes from a-ko, but with more of an upbeat, hopeful, jazzy vibe. As I landed on Mars is great.

Jaron - it’s hard to see color (When You’re So Impossibly Far Away*) (2022)

Now that I’m done gushing about Tokyo Galaxy, let’s change gears a bit. Jaron is an up and coming artist who’s responsible for this incredible San Holo remix and an amazing live set that I’ve watched about 5 times now. Their debut album is finally out, and it’s everything I’d hoped - ethereal and emotional with exactly the type of production that snags me. Strong lyrics and vocals backed by very fresh sound design put this firmly into my favorites this year.

Favorites:

• 743⁺Aether*✧ ˳ ⁎ ¹¹¹} ⁺ . ˳
• Love [in Every Single way]

Chris Christodoulou - Risk of Rain 2 - Survivors of the Void (2022)

You knew I had to put this on here. Chris is back in full force for the DLC with guitar riffs in tow and I can’t get enough of it. With over 150 hours in the game, I’ve never once said “I’m sick of this song, I’ll put something else on”. It’s just so damn good that it almost makes me want to stop playing and jam.

Favories:

• Once in a Lullaby
• They Might As Well Be Dead

catmelt - metaphysica2 (live set) (2022)

You should know about Zoom Lens ending and Metaphysica beginning. I didn’t catch as much of the late Feb 2022 live show as I would have liked, but I enjoyed catmelt’s set at the end. Simple visual style with a minimal presentation pulled off well. I enjoyed NOBODYINTHECLUB, around and SEEYOUINHELL.

moore kismet (just in general)

Speaking of things you should know about, Moore Kismet. I learned about them from laxcity’s secret sky 2021 set and was blown away by their production. It’s just so unique - it feels like their songs can be anything, go in any direction, and it would sound good. Plenty of vocal samples and breaks in their songs, which I love, and I can’t wait until their debut album. My favorites are embedded above.

TCB - CONGRATS, YOU WERE TOO LATE: A 10 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE (2021)

If you’re reading this, and you don’t know what you were late for, congrats, you were too late!¹ You can still enjoy this album, though. It goes hard regardless of whether you missed the ride. I hadn’t heard of TCB before this, but it’s just so creative and experimental. 00:58 of MY HOPE would be killer live, and there was absolutely no need for the guitar at 2:43 to go so hard.

Favorites:

• MY HOPE, ONLY AS REAL AS MY THOUGHTS
• * CONGRATS, YOU WERE TOO LATE

That’s all! Hope you enjoyed this month’s! It might be an month or two before I post again, depending on my schedule.

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