The Pop Corporation

Shintaro Sakamoto has been quietly blowing minds for musical magpies for a while though, but for those not with their ear tuned to Japanese rock, the name might not be familiar.

More’s the pity, because Sakamoto is one of the most prolific artists on the planet right now, channelling psych, AOR, funk, slo-mo ’80s soul, and even echoes of dub – all cut with his own idiosyncratic vibe that has won a legion of fans around the world.

Prior to his solo outings, he was a founding member for the underground Japanese band Yura Yura Teikoku, who seemed to thrive in some kind of chaotic whirl. Since then, the inventiveness hasn’t gone anywhere, even if the music is more calm.

Independently produced and released, Sakamoto has been creating a one-man genre all by himself, much like the way you might say of someone like Mac DeMarco or Tame Impala, although for our money, Shintaro is in a league of his own.

Here, on his fifth LP, he’s as good as he’s ever been, grabbing all the best bits of your record collection and stirring it into the pot, to serve up something so uniquely his own, it couldn’t be anyone else.

Album opener ‘Dear Grandpa’ shows us exactly what we’ve been missing since his last release. Then, as the album progresses, we’re treated to chuggy grooves, spacey brass sections, Library synths, and tape-worn guitar to satisfy those who like their rock and pop a little off-kilter.

‘Yoo Hoo’ was preceded by ‘Numb’, which shows Sakamoto’s funkier edge, with cosmic grooviness and minimalist riffs.

As you’d expect, the whole album is an absolute treat from start to finish, from an artist that never misses.

Shintaro’s particular word choice and the rhythms within them, remind of the way Brazilian artists use lyrics rhythmically, and to that point, you can hear a world of music through Sakamoto’s work, rather than being penned in to one scene.

That’s precisely why Shintaro Sakamoto is always worth listening to, and that once again, he’s made an essential album for anyone with an adventurous taste in music.

Brilliant.