EM Japan レコード& CD

Review: Japanese ambient dub maestro 7FO creates his very own niche brand of ambient, dub, and experimental music, his mastery of which has thoroughly justified in this latest 7" vinyl release. Just two new tracks adorn its twin sides, 'Healing Sword' and 'Snake (Live)'. The former track sounds like a malleted plod through a surreal Christmas market, backed up by electro-reggae instrumentation at a dancehall tempo, plus haunting vocal fly-bys. The B is equally weird, like a wintry paean for a swords-and-sorcery fantasies and the healing power of escaping into them.

Review: A cult Brazilian band at their peak in the 1980s, Finis Africae represent the pinnacle of what post punk and its experimental offshoots reached for in South America. A lot of this compilation focuses on sprawling tracks that feature distant shapeless vocals, lightly pattering percussion and languid guitar, but cuts such as "Radio Tarifa" shimmy with the upstart angles of disco-not-disco at its finest, shot through with a salsa flair. Twisting and turning from child-sung folk to industrial-tinged instrumentals, through slow-pumping indie jangle and so much more besides, you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised at many turns discovering one of the hidden gems of the other side of the world.

Review: Despite the title, Hyu's Inaudible Works 1994-2008 album is not actually a collection of silence. It is instead a trip into the world of Osaka-born artist Hyu who recorded these 16 pieces of hard-to-classify music over a four year period. The collection showcases HYU's unparalleled talent and innovation in crafting intricate soundscapes that push the boundaries of auditory perception. From ambient textures to glitchy rhythms, each track offers a glimpse into his singular creative process and artistic vision. With its diverse range of compositions and experimental approach, this is an inquisitive record that questions everything while exploring uncharted territories of sound and the listening experience.