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The Japanese Popstars - We Just Are
The Japanese Popstars are riding a wave of great live gigs, major festival bookings, and media praise off the back of their recent single, 'EP1'. In their debut album, 'We Just Are', they have a collection of 12 tracks that will really take them places.
Native to Northern Ireland (any fetishists expecting cute Japanese girls can leave now), and consisting of Declan McLaughlin, Gary Curran, and Gareth Donoghue, The Japanese Popstars are signed to bespoke indie label, Gung-Ho Recordings (Gus Gus, Zoo Brazil) in the UK, and Beatink in Japan (home of Underworld, Aphex Twin, Cinematic Orchestra).
The Japanese Popstars' only parallel with rock music is that they'd built up a sizable live following before releasing their first major single - some might even say cultish, judging by the amount of clips on Youtube. Their gigs are typically raucous affairs, with an energy that crackles with each beat, chord, and keyboard stab.
However, let's get one thing straight about the music - The Japanese Popstars aren't indie rave, or any other sub-sub-sub genre, theirs is big room, cool as f**k electronic music built for festivals and stadiums. They're not dance kids aping indie kids, nor are they indie kids dropping synths and calling themselves 'ravers'.
'We Just Are' is a glorious debut. Tracks including 'Delboy's Revenge', 'Sample Whore', 'Face Melter', and new single, 'Rise Of Ulysses' (the video features footage of cult cartoon series Ulysses 31), give some basis to reviews citing them as "the British Justice/Digitalism", but listening to the likes of 'B.C.T.T', 'Dr Frenchy Bernard', 'Anthepic: We Have Taken Over', and 'The Smile', the realisation dawns that this trio are heading for territory once held by Orbital, Chemical Brothers, and Underworld. The Japanese Popstars - back to the future dance music for today, tomorrow, and forever, and it's coming to a field near you very soon.
Also See: ilikemusic.com










Sharleen Spiteri: ilikemusic because... it takes me to places that life can't
dasps: ilikemusic because... it's make me cool and numb n i love to hear music.
Darren: ilikemusic because... It makes me dance like a motherf**ker
Hard-Fi: ilikemusic because... what else is there to like?!
Dave: ilikemusic because... Without it there wouldnt be a Global Gathering
KT Tunstall: ilikemusic because... It makes me feel alive!
Danny: ilikemusic because... It's my life
Jacbob: ilikemusic because... It's very VERY good
James Blunt: ilikemusic because... conversation is so limited
Lady Sovereign: ilikemusic because... I do!

