I didn't make a post for last month, so this will need to be extra special. Over the last couple of months I've been exploring a lot of Japanese post/math rock, experimental electronic music, and jazzy things. Here are my selections for the best artists I hadn't heard of before.

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Mouse on the Keys

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Post-rock, math rock, jazz

These are top pick for this month. Out of all the Japanese artists I listened to, these ones stuck with me the most. What makes them particularly exciting is that they forego the usual guitar based instrumentation of their peers, instead combining two keyboardists with a drummer. And what a drummer. The guy (Akira Kawasaki) actually used to play drums and keyboard simultaneously in an early incarnation of the band; at the time it was just a duo.

The rhythms are bold yet intricate. The dual piano/keys combine to produce a huge sound as well as offering opportunities for the characteristic counterpoint of math rock. There's even some ridiculous saxophone solos. And all of it is tinged with a jazz styling which, when combined with everything else, affords the band quite an incomparable sound.

It is essential listening.

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Kinkajous

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Electronic, jazz, nu-jazz

Named after a rainforest dwelling mammal, this ones for fans such acts as The Cinematic Orchestra, Portico Quartet, and Matthew Halsall. This is delicious 5 track EP full of cinematic compositions tinged with all sort of interesting influences. This band shines brightest when they break out of their smooth groove core and gets a bit tangy. When the pieces reach that stage where they're grooving but you're not quite sure how. It holds you in rhythmic trance.

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Fis

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Experimental electronic, IDM, noise

This New Zealand based composer is part of a new wave of electronic composers who have a deconstructionist approach to the core precepts of dance genres such as Drum & Bass, Jungle, and Hip-Hop. What I'm sure will strike you first is the uncompromisingly distorted sound world that this guys work inhabits. However, if you listen through the haze you will soaring pads, rhythms that lurch in and out of any concept of time constraint (yet somehow still work), and curious sound design. Listening to his debut album 'The Blue Quicksand Is Going Now' could be said to be an unsettling experience, but if you're fond of those that try to find order in chaos then you should be sure to check this one out.

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Toe

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Post-rock, math rock

This is second of the Japanase post-rock bands I'm featuring; the genre made up a majority of my listening this month. By the way, the reason I keep making the distinction of Japanese post-rock is that they seem to do it like no other. At least a far as I can see.

This is another act with an insanely good drummer. What makes this one interesting is that a lot of the times it seems the compositions are carried by said drummer. The music surrounding often juxtaposes his driving and complex rhythms. It makes an amazing combination.

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Thanks for reading.