I downloaded the excellent Tronika mini-album from Sketch Show there the other day, and was totally blown away by it. But, and here lies evidence of my total inability to work the googlemachine, I couldn’t find out anything about them in English. Gradually I looked closer and specifically to the excellently named NipPop, an internet resource on Japanese music.

It turns out that the two main guys are former members of Yellow Magic Orchestra, the giants of experimental electro, kind of a Japanese Kraftwerk. The music they do now is reminiscent of a more accessible Aphex Twin, from his ambient period, and the collaboration with Cornelius really tells through, with playful flashes layering unto the beautifully crafted aural textures and chanted lyrics, in both Japanese and English.

I am utterly enchanted by this little piece of brilliance and am now planning to buy the live dvd. The clip above is from it, the two guys in question are the bass player and drummer, called Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi respectively. They even look utterly brilliant. Love the hat.

Oh and if anyone has any of the other albums by these guys, or more infomation, please let me know or comment on this posting. Thanks.

Andrew Booth is an intercontinental dandy. He is co-writing his first novel Jackdaw Fool.
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