Monthly Listening: August 2022

This month's round-up of great new Japanese releases from Tokyo Girls' Style, 4s4ki, Mass of the Fermenting Dregs and more

Hi! This is August’s Monthly Listening list, a quick rundown of new Japanese albums I checked out this month that I enjoyed. You can browse past Monthly Listenings in the archives.

Such an eventful month here at the This Side of Japan HQ! I’m still in disbelief that I got to interview Perfume, my favorite pop group ever and the one that got me into Japanese music in the first place, and write a story on their new album for the Japan Times. I also got to review 4s4ki’s new album, Killer in Neverland, for Pitchfork—my first byline for an album review at the site! The all-nighters might continue a little longer as I try to catch up with my main newsletter stuff (Idol Watch is still underway! This Friday is the scheduled date!), but it feels great to know all that work writing about the music paid off into something incredible.

Here are the new releases I enjoyed this month. You can also check out a Spotify playlist of the top 40 of August here.

Killer in Neverland by 4s4ki

hyperpop | ► “LOG OUT”

Weather EP by B.O.L.T.

pop punk / idol | ► “BY MY SIDE”

Subworld Communication by Dayzero

techno | ► “People”

From a Suburb by Foursidewalks

indie rock / emo | ► “1995”

Awakening:Sleeping by Mass of the Fermenting Dregs

indie rock | ► “MELT”

Guidance by Miyuna

pop | ► “Kanku”

evergreen EP by Moon in June

indie rock / shoegaze | ► “Summer Pop’97”

Sun Kissed Lady by Natsu Summer & Ryusenkei

funk / city pop | ► “Twilight Shadow”

4 phenomena by Photon Maiden

EDM / pop | ► “Akatsuki (Fruits Mix)”

Best wishes by RILISREVERSE

post-rock / idol | ► “Amaterasu”

After Hours / After Life (Extended Version) by (((Sssurrounddd)))

dance pop / deep house | ► “After Life” / “After Life (XTAL Dance Version)”

Nocturnal by Tokyo Girls’ Style

R&B / pop | ► “Corner Cut Memories”

“The AOR music of Nocturnal feels so casual in its lightness, the experiences within it unfold as an everyday, almost mundane matter. The idols, too, sound defeated but not broken, their stories sullen but not a tragedy—lifelike.” Read more about the album in issue #55.

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Next issue of This Side of Japan is out August 31. You can check out previous issues of the newsletter here.

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