Tsuki No Wa - Moon Beams (2025)

Tsuki No Wa's third album, Moon Beams, originally released in 2003, is an eccentric blend of electro-acoustic elements with jazz, avant-rock, tropicalia, and folk. This reissue features a fresh mix by the band, new mastering by Josh Bonati, and updated album art with unseen photos.

Recorded in an abandoned Meiji-era ballet studio, the album showcases the band's experimental spirit, incorporating bizarre synth effects and hypnotic processes into their pop-infused compositions. The group, led by Fuminosuke (vocals/guitar), included bassist Takuyuki Moriya (Ghost), drummer Yuta Suganuma (Shintaro Sakamoto Band), and multi-instrumentalist Takumi Ito. Engineer Hiromits Shoji's unique recording techniques and contributions from collaborators like Yoshihide Otomo, Ami Yoshida, and percussion group Mi-ne add to the album's distinctive sound.

Tracks like She. Rain feature glitchy beats and chaotic cabaret grooves, blending ASMR synths with indie-exotica influences. Plein Soleil pairs ritualistic percussion with moody accordion and bass, while I'm wandering cowboy presents a poetic, stripped-down soundscape that evolves into a dreamy folk-country fusion. The title track highlights minimalist piano interwoven with subtle buzzing interference, reflecting the band's avant-garde approach.

Two decades later, Moon Beams remains a unique, boundary-pushing masterpiece that continues to captivate with its genre-defying sound.

Tracklist:
1 She. Rain
2 Air Ship LZ 129
3 Plein Soleil
4 On Mother's Day
5 I'm wandering cowboy
6 Brown warm farm
7 Moon Beams