Bandàpart

The Band Apart is a mighty staple of the Japanese indie rock scene, having the knack to both score on the charts and wow critics and colleagues with their elaborate blend of pop-punk, light jazz, chamber pop, surf, '80s pop, and even the occasional bout of bossa nova. The group is no stranger to catchiness, but the hooks are combined with a meticulous rhythmic interplay between all instruments, executed with math rock precision. Beyond that, the band sticks to English lyrics exclusively, being able to handle them without mangling the language (the vocalist Takeshi Arai is said...