Short and sweet. Not as easy a trick to pull off as you might think. Light, fluffy but not insubstantial. All descriptions which could be easily and accurately applied to Before Sunrise, an album by Nana Yamato which came out a week or so back.
Nana is Japanese, to state the obvious, lives in Tokyo, and doesn't trust anyone. Not even her parents. She sings in English and Before Sunrise is an exquisite concoction of the sounds of artists she may never have heard of, Young Marble Giants, Lush, Strawberry Switchblade .
It's a strangely hypnotic record. Lo Fi for sure but never insubstantial though of course it's never a good idea to overdose on confectionary. This seems fully formed to me, not just an artist of promise, but someone who has made a noteworthy and realised statement first time round.
It's strangely nostalgic for an initial album from a young artist but it's interesting how quickly we get nostalgic on leaving the vistas and gentle slopes of childhood. There's not much to Before Sunrise, twelve songs and less than thirty minutes but to my mind it's a deeply satisying feast. This may not get onto many end of the year lists but I hope it reaches the ears that deserve it. An enchanted forest.
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