Today we finally got around to working through the new indie releases that have been piling up since we've begun work on the new system. Holy mole! Indie releases usually run the gamut of quality, but this time around their were some truly outstanding releases (including a new Zoobombs EP!) and nearly all the good releases have samples floating around on the net. I was originally planning on talking today about the "what's new" section today, but instead I think I'll take the time to introduce a couple of my new discoveries from the indie release data.

So, without further ado, "It came from the Indies" (possibly volume 1):

Wizard's Hymn:
If you're a fan of visual or prog/melodic metal you should definitely check this band out. The band's official website is available in English, Spanish, German, and Japanese which seems to indicate that they're already picking up steam abroad despite the fact that their first album comes out July 7. They have this cool baroque metal sound thanks to the keyboards and the female vocalist can move from Gackt to 80s female rocker with ease. I usually don't listen to this sort of stuff but as far as I can tell Wizard's Hymn is awesome.

Sample: Brief digest of the new album "Hymnal" (MP3)
CDJapan link to the album: Wizard's Hymn - "Hymnal"

Then on the other side of the genre spectrum . . .

Yucca:
Woh! Yucca (official site) sounds like something that would have come out of the mid 90s Shibuya kei scene. Cute female vocals, sometimes shoegazer sometimes oddly psychedlic guitars, jam sound, very, very cool. Kind of a Hideki Kaji meets Takako Minekawa meets Cornelius sound, except not. Their new album "the orange sun in my room" comes out in August.

Sample: Digest version of their previous album "laboratory products" (MP3)
CDJapan link to the album: Yucca - "the orange sun in my room"

In the same vain,

noodles:
I absolutely fell in love with the sample I'm about to play you. Noodles (official site) is more guitar pop with both female and male vocals. Pillows fans will be glad to know frontman Sawao Yamanaka is responsible for producing this album. You can find more samples in noodles discography page (look for the music note logo to the left of the song title).

Sample: "Lemon grass foo foo" from their previous album "ivy" (RM)
CDJapan link to the album: noodles - "cover me shakespeare"

Mecha Nero:
Similar to the previous bands but farther on the side of pop. However, Mecha Nero (official site) is equally amazing. You can hear more samples here if you scroll down to the bottom. Their second full-length album "Sekai no Higure" comes out July 19.

Sample: First track from their previous album "Mekurumeku Sekai" (WMA)
CDJapan link to the album: Mecha Nero - "Sekai no Higure"

Finally, sometimes you find the most interesting things while cruising the indies section . . .

Pistol Valve:
Take one of those nine-member teen girl idol groups, make them play live horns and violin, give them a DJ, and have them rap over a kind of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra sound and somehow you end up with Pistol Valve (official site). I don't know how to express how I feel about this band except to say that, while their vocals could use a little work, I'm absolutely charmed. If you like the samples check out their discography page for more (click the pink buttons next to what appear to be song titles to download).

Sample 1: "Tube Tune" from their upcoming mini-album "Pistol-Whip" (MP3)
Sample 2: "Pull The Trigger" music video (Quicktime video)
CDJapan link to the album: Pistol Valve - "Pistol-Whip"

. . . and now, a very belated moment of silence for the Spinner.com "NeoJapan" station.