Japanese bell-tinkerer, guitar strummer and gentle crooner Shugo Tokumaru releases his new album,
Exit, to the English speaking world next month. (Those who can navigate
Japanese record store sites, however, will be able to get their grubby hands on it
right now.)
His weave of instruments and musical lines recalls Sufjan Stevens but with a slightly more chaotic, free wheeling spirit.
“Parachute” is one of the singles from the album, a foot-to-the-floor acoustic jam with enough melodies and harmonies to pile sky high. Plus his rounded English accent renders the titular object as “bra-chute, bra-chute”. How can you go wrong?
“Button” is initially more downcast, but its technicoloured dream boat of a video preempts the colourful harmonies of the chorus. There are more than a few echoes of Cornelius here—and it ain’t just the Japanisch.
“Green Rain” roams around the music instrument store, finding inspiration in accordion, hand drums and steel drums.
Note the comment of a YouTube user: “Not sure if I like the video... just cause it reminds me of a nightmare I had when I was a kid '_' but I like the song“. There's a message in this for all of us: don’t watch it too close to bed time.
There are more tracks up at his Myspace. Get among it. The September release is via US label Almost Gold. The Japanese release is via P-Vine.