SUPERCAR - JUMP UP
As a bit of an お宅 (Japan fetishist), an album like Jump Up represents a sort of oasis. See, in the West, we hear so much about experimental Japanese electro, crazy Japanese pop. But to our disappointment, names never reach us, and if we have an opportunity to venture to Japan, the question becomes what to look for. Trying to find this sort of music when I first landed in Japan, I accidentally bought a very J-pop rendition of an American 40's classic, and was severely disappointed. Supercar are one of the many hidden Japanese bands that you can only find with perseverance and very handsome luck.
Their first sounds could be compared to an early Radiohead, rough and hormonal, just as unpolished as an album like The Bends. The sound is based on clear drum lines with funkily simple guitar riffs, and a humble Japanese man singing over the top (which will occasionally be replaced by a twee woman who makes for variation). This album is also pariticularily interesting it shows Supercars transition into using electronics for beats and effects, where later in there career they would become renouned for their use of such instruments. The album begins with a transient synth line, which quickly becomes accompanied by some cymbal-driven drums; it's music to start a party to. Like that build to celebration, at all points in the song you can feel the expected kick into a guitar strums and possible headbanging. Of course, it settles down, and makes for a refined song to start the album. Sunday People, the album's first single, see's both male and female voice collaborate in an up-beat yet firmly relaxed song, with a very techno deriven rythym and feel in general.
Highlights of the album would have to include Jump, which is quite frankly just plain, darn, bloody well awesome, makes me wanna jump in slow-mo, spazzing in the air. Also, Low-down will see you nodding your head and attempting to sing along in bad Japanese, and you'll be absolutely sure that you're the coolest cat in town. In general, the album is the sorta background music want for being the complete shizzpot of life. You'll want this to your soundtrack while you wander 'round China Town, looking for cheap noodles in your orange trench coat and jeans. This is like, an epiphany of cool.
PS. This album is bloody hard to find. Hence the small album artwork... ;_; If you want it, there's always hand-to-hand disk exchanges!
Favourite Song: Low-Down (Live Scene)
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