Lullatone, the Japan based musical and new media duo of Shawn James Seymour and his wife Yoshimi, delighted us in March 2011 with the release of their short electronic instrumentals album called Elevator Music.
Six months later they are back with a far more ambitious set of tracks, called Soundtracks for Everyday Adventures. This time there’s less of a focus on the machinations of elevator music and a greater emphasis on chamber pop, guitars and classical music.
The most striking aspect of this new set is how similar the tracks sound to the Penguin Café Orchestra, the project throughout the 70s and 80s of the late Simon Jeffes.
‘The best paper plane ever’ in particular could have easily have slotted onto Jeffes Neonfiller Top100 Album from 1984 Broadcasting from Home, with its warm and floaty mix of piano, violins and mandolin.
To be similar to Penguin Café Orchestra is no bad thing. They still find time to prove they are their own band though and there is the same Lullatone whimsy on this release that made Elevator Music such an enjoyable listen.
‘Growing up’ for example is unmistakable Lullatone, mixing a traditional Japanese melody, with acoustic guitar, a hint of electronica and a nice brushed drum rhythm.
Other tracks have a similar sense of fun and are aimed to provide a soundtrack to our every day ‘adventures’, whether it be track 5 ‘Finding a leaf in your girlfriend’s ear’ or track 8 ‘Riding a bike down a big hill and taking your feet off the pedals.
Lovely stuff again from one of Japan’s most innovative and friendly acts.
8/10
by Joe Lepper
For more information and to buy Soundtracks for Everyday Adventures click here.
Related Posts
