Released:
Rating:
If you thought you had The Japanese House sussed then think again.
Label: Dirty Hit
Released: 23rd June 2017
Rating: ★★★★★
There’s something undeniably exciting about seeing an artist grow in front of your eyes. From shimmering ear-catching beats and across three varied and expansive releases, The Japanese House has become somewhat of a leading example of that. Last year’s ‘Swim Against The Tide’ was a voyage into an artist incorporating new sounds and horizons, so it’s no surprise that ‘Saw You In A Dream’ takes that one step further, laying out a daring yet instant kick of Amber Bain becoming the bonfire pop star we knew she was destined to become.
If previous EPs were experimental in their broad range of styles and structures, ‘Saw You In A Dream’ feels like The Japanese House locking into a stride that still feels other-worldly but grounded in life’s twists and turns. It flicks across drive-time 80s chimes, like on ‘Somebody You Found’, and doesn’t let up on grabbing your heart and swinging it around the room in one joyous unison of styles and swagger. ‘3/3’ wraps its way into a life-affirming strut that could sit as one of The Japanese House’s best tracks yet, playful and breathing with the sound of an artist enjoying the light that now shines on her. More than anything, it’s the sound of confidence breaking down any barriers or constraints on what’s possible (see the nine-minute gravity of ‘Count To Nine’ for a prime example of that) and the results are a door opening on an enthralling new chapter for Amber Bain.
If you thought you had The Japanese House sussed then think again. Not just soundtracking life, but rolling in its every enticing moment – we’ll be talking about these moments for years to come. And that’s what makes it so exciting. Jamie Muir
