Various Artists

Beatwave Japan (Sonic 360, 2005)

The Japanese musicians included in Beatwave Japan have mastered the art of electronic grooves. Beatwave Japan is an intriguing collection of the hippest electro pop acts from Tokyo and Osaka. The album opens with the bouncy "Midnight Samba," by Elektel [featuring Tamoko]. The group creates a captivating electronic orgy of samba grooves combined with pop vocals, accordion-like melodies (samples?) and creative keyboard solos.

On "Ganesha" Pyokn takes the listener to electropop territory with digitally processed vocals. The electronic beats and loops have a truly hypnotic effect.

The third track, "Microdiver", by 7 O'Clock Shadow, takes the beats and repetitive vocals to a breakneck speed, surrounded by haunting harmonies.

TreMoReLa plays powerful grooves, which accompany a campy whistling melody on "Sound Goes On."

Pyokn returns with straight ahead electropop song entitled "Usuzumi-Iron-Zensen."

The world sounds return with Elektel. "Garota de Toquido" presents electronic Brazilian beats and infectious loops, together with Brazilian vocals.

Kosuke Ogawa brings the album to the realm of ambient music on "Tom Vac," which features hypnotic grooves and synth loops.

TreMoReLa gets a little more creative on thir second serving, the highly percussive "Go Out in the Rain."

Yasuhiro Yamanda uses dance beats and looped Spanish vocals on "Ease."

Beatwave Japan concludes with "Junpilichy," an addictive piece that combines masterful jazz piano and synth solos with smoking electronic grooves.