Release Date: 22 April 2026
Song Count: 8
Duration: 39 minutes, 54 seconds
Rating: 7.3/10
Description:
Song Count: 8
Duration: 39 minutes, 54 seconds
Rating: 7.3/10
Description:
A pull from seemingly out of the blue, and another very recent release: Remains, the fifth original album of the Japanese band Tokyo Shoegazer - their genre being rather self-explanatory. Taking full advantage of the rock instrumentation provided, this album transforms itself into a shoegaze experience that differs significantly from a lot of other works of the style that we have seen before. Rather than being atmosphere-based in nature, it structures itself track-by-track, partially falling into the norms of its musical category whilst breaking away in key directions.
The "wall of noise" sort of effect typical with shoegaze is used in a particular dose here to let oneself mentally drift into the music without completely drowning out the melodicism and details. The almost angelic sounding vocals of the singer weave through the tracks and pave the direction for the powerful guitars and percussion to follow, creating a unique and pleasant sound profile. The generally highly energetic tone present throughout the album is, on occasion, broken up by softer and gentler moments that smooth out the way in-between and offer a break from the action.
Most certainly one of the more differing and captivating shoegaze albums I have experienced in full, Remains is a near 40-minute long ride that keeps itself from being overly self-indulgent whilst still embracing the strengths of its stylistic foundations. Particularly the opening few tracks really leave a strong impression, and though not every single one stands out as its own distinguishable piece, the sum of it all ends up well into the positives regardless. A worthwhile listen for those interested overall.