Tashaki Miyaki #8 - Cool Runnings

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I've only been offline for almost 48 hours (the reasons for that will be following in the very next blog later) and I've missed a whole pile of stuff from a lot of my favourite acts, the catch up starts immediately and in order that I saw them, Tashaki Miyaki are a trio that have been around for a while now with a series of tracks drenched in starry-eyed melodies and super-chilled vocals. They return with a new single ahead of their debut album due later in the year...

I'm not sure if the title is purposely meant for now at the start of the Winter Olympics or coincidental, with the whole Jamaica in the Bobsled  / Disney film of the first, infamous incident, either way "Cool Runnings" is another slice of their trademark dream-pop swoon where hazy, languid guitars combine with Lucy's gorgeous vocals now with the added accompaniment of serene strings, smooth, laid-back perfection.

A super limited vinyl version of the track (with exclusive track opportunities) is released on the bands own label February 25th and can be pre-ordered now via Bandcamp.

Tashaki Miyaki #7 - I Can't Stand The Rain

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I've featured the ongoing covers series of tracks by the marvelous Tashaki Miyaki on this blog a few times now (here or here for starters). After a little break the LA based trio return with another, an exquisitely delivered tribute to Ann Pebble's "I Can't Stand The Rain", transformed from a 70's velvet smooth soul number to a hazy, dream-gaze beauty with big languid guitars and syrupy harmonies enough to make you all weak at the knees.

Looking at the bands Facebook page prior to this post I  discovered an equally wonderful live session for Blip TV with delicious versions of "Somethin is Better Than Nothin" and "Keep Me In Mind" that you should definitely check out too. The interview in the middle states their debut full-length is almost done - that's news to my ears indeed and if it all takes your fancy too, like it should, head to their Bandcamp for more.

Tashaki Miyaki #6 - I Only Have Eyes For You / Keep Me In Mind (Alt. Version)

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Tashaki Miyaki already have a long line of successful cover versions, from their opening singles' version of The Everly Brothers "All I Have to do is Dream" to an entire albums worth of covers late last year (still available for FREE via the LA trio's bandcamp), the band have seemingly found great enjoyment adding their signature hazy daydreams to some old classics.

Now, never one to rest on their laurels, the band have added another cover to their portfolio, this time a syrupy cover of "I Only Have Eyes For You". A track recorded on numerous occasions, arguably never better than The 50's doo-wop Flamingos version. Here their sweet, dreamy vocals and languid backing is soft and irresistible, gently lulling you to a blissful state of happiness - something Tashaki Miyaki have proven time and time again that they have the perfect knack of - check out their version of Roxette's "It Must Have Been Love" if you need further proof.

The band have also shared an alternative version of "Keep Me In Mind" from their debut EP which does very much the same thing, removing the fuzzy, stomping beat and scuzzy guitars of the original and adding in the most serenely beautiful strings and a wistful, soft acoustic - to put it succinctly - it's bloody gorgeous.

Tashaki Miyaki #5 - Covers

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I keep posting about Tashaki Miyaki and with good reason, their debut releases, an EP and 7" single both oozed with gorgeous, languid harmonies, both wistful and sentimental that instantly seduced heart and mind, "Get It Right" the perfect example, relaxed and dreamy, instantly wrapping you in warm, fuzzy goodness.

The band have a habit of turning in amazing cover versions too, I've previously mentioned their beautiful cover of "All I Have To Do Is Dream", the Everly Brothers classic and the thick layers of distorted guitars on Buddy Holly's "Heartbeat", both of those have since been released in one form or another and if you aren't familiar with them are well worth checking out. The reason for this blog though, wasn't a trip down memory lane but to say that one my return from End of the Road yesterday I discovered the band had posted some new covers, most recently a typically hazy, slow-motion beauty, transforming the power pop ballad of Roxette's "It Must Have Been Love" with shimmering soundscapes and pure, sweet vocals.

Known to most of you from the Pretty Woman soundtrack it has a completely different association with me, I'm a Stafford Rangers fan and in the mid 90's the club played the same mix tape at every (and I do mean every) home game, this was one of the tracks alongside the Belinda Carlisle 'classic' "Heaven Is A Place On Earth" and Foreigner's "I Want To Know What Love Is" - with so much sing-a-long potential before the match it's no wonder we were so shit!

That's not all though, a pretty faithful rendition of The Troggs "I Want You" sees searing, droning guitar lines of take the place the original rock & roll 60's and on Father John Misty's "Hollywood Forever Cemetry Sings" there are more of the bands signature sun-drenched grooves oozing from the seams, all portraying the sort of charm and simplicity that's led them to become an act I can very much describe as a blog favourite.

Tashaki Miyaki #4 - Tonight

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I was really gutted to miss Tashaki Miyaki's London shows a few weeks back, sandwiched between moving home, my daughters birthday and also my own they came at a time which was just a little outside of scope for my pleasure. Those shows saw the LA duo joined on tour by Dora from fellow blog favourites SNEAKPEEK and were met with rave reviews from a few of my friends who were lucky enough to see them, for my benefit, I hope they'll be back in London sometime soon...

For now though, I'll have to make do with their latest 7" single, which I picked up from Resident in Brighton on Monday and can be streamed in full below, a double a-side releaed through luv luv luv, the lead track "Tonight" continues Tashaki Miyaki's perfect run and sees stomping drum beats combine with the bands signature hazy daydreams, fuzzy guitars and sweet, seductive vocals, as ever, a potent combination to fall helplessly in love with.

The flip side is a track I talked about in its demo form, "Best Friend", languid, breezy and oh so perfect on a day like today as the sun shines down on us, if I was eighteen again (I'm not, though I'd snatch your hand off for a second chance) this would be the soundtrack for my (feeble) attempts to get the girl, just gorgeous.

Tashaki Miyaki #3 - Demos

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A late night post, I'm shattered so hopefully when I read this back in the morning it makes some sort of sense. For those of you who read my earlier post, I ran the half marathon and then had a late lunch in a local pub which meant I fell asleep on my return home and unfortunately abandoned my gig planning evening (Bethnal Green is about 75 minutes from my house so it's not just a pop along gig), which is a bit annoying but enough, or this will start turning into some sort of online journal!

Tashaki Miyaki have been a favourite of mine since I discovered their sweet, languid fuzz-pop last March, a wonderful EP followed with highlights "Get it Right" and the reappearing "Somethin' Is Better Than Nothin'" the perfect summation of the bands Best Coast meets slowed down shoegaze, a random play of the former led me to search for new material by the Californian duo and I'm delighted to say that not only did I find some but it's just as magnificent.

"Best Friend" takes the relaxed vibe almost to the next level, lacking almost as much urgency as I did on my run today, the track slow and melancholic gently sways along with honey-honed vocals bathed in hazy reverb, metronomic drum beats and jangle guitar riffs, it's tranquil pop candy and just gorgeous (apparently the track is 10 months old - no idea where I've been!).

Heading to bandcamp I discover to more, "City" is equally woozy and fuzzy, the guitar almost howls and creates a somwhat spookier, creepy ambience while I probably don't need to tell you their version of "If Not For You" is similarly lazy day perfection, a crawling guitar solo brightens the middle section and the harmonious "ah ah ah" in the chorus adds syrupy dreams. I'm certainly looking forward to the full-length, I suspect many others are too.

Tashaki Miyaki head to Europe with dates still being finalised so keep an eye out for them.

Tashaki Miyaki #2 - Tashaki Miyaki EP

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Tashaki Miyaki sent the blogging world into frenzy early this year with their spellbinding track "Somethin' Is Better Than Nothin", a gorgeous fuzzed up feel good track that deserved every bit of praise it received, my post on that and the equally beautiful cover of The Everly Brothers "All I Have To Do Is Dream" can be found here.

I don't know much more about them than I did back in March, they've played a London date a while back but it was a Wednesday which ruled me out of,  they're a girl (Lucy) / boy (Rocky) duo who presumably don't want us to know their surnames.

They recently released their debut self-titled EP and I'm happy to say it doesn't disappoint at all. Continuing with the nostalgic, woozy fuzz-pop that earned those snowballing blog posts, "Somethin' Is Better Than Nothin" kicks off proceedings, the dreamy, nonchalant vocals remain as optimistic and uplifting as ever backed by prominent scuzzy guitar and solid drums its still a genuinely outstanding track. The highlight though is saved for last, "Get it Right" shrouds its beautiful melody in a melancholic haze, the guitars thick and the pacing languid, it's simply irresistible.

As well as the four tracks that make up the EP there are a few bonus tracks available via bandcamp, one of them, Buddy Holly's "Heartbeat" gets covered in a thick layer of distorted guitars while Lucy's vocals remain as alluring and soft as ever. You can buy the limited EP (just 300 copies) on 12" vinyl for just a fiver direct from The Sounds of Sweet Nothing now.

Listen:
Tashaki Miyaki - Heartbeat (Buddy Holly Cover)
Tashaki Miyaki - Get It Right

Tashaki Miyaki - New Music "Introducing"

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Tashaki Miyaki is an artist I'd not heard of until Monday, though judging by the blog posts I've read before posting this it did the rounds about three or four weeks ago, so another behind the times post from me... They (I'm not sure if it's a they) apparently (I've no idea) hail from California (no conclusive evidence other than this blog post) and fit into the lo-fi // dream-pop // nostalgia-pop // surf-pop (whatever you want to call it) vibe that's pretty popular at the moment (as I'm on a roll with the brackets - understatement!).

So far there are only two tracks to judge on but both are pretty impressive. Firstly "Somethin is Better than Nothin" with it's slow paced, fuzzed up jangly 60's girl group feelings - you know the drill  by now - it's a real belter of a tune with it's gorgeous "Whoa, yeah, its gonna be alright" repetitive cries until its ending, sure to brighten your moo. The other, a beautiful cover of "All I Have To Do Is Dream", the Everly Brothers classic which would be a perfect track to hear coming out of beach-side bar on a hazy, dreamy sunny day with a nice cold beer or pina colada if you'd rather. Download for free from bandcamp / listen below:

Tashaki Miyaki - Somethin Is better Than Nothin

Tashaki Miyaki - All I Have to Do Is Dream