Springing from Osaka, Japan’s cultural centre and historical heart, comes HYPER GAL, a two-piece band consisting of visual artist Koharu Ishida on vocals and noise artist Kurumi Kadoya on drums. The minimalist duo make maximum impact – stripping music down beyond the bare essentials, to create shimmering, no wave pop from blastbeat drums, glittery keyboard loops and ethereal bubblegum vocals – laced with velvet and firecrackers.
Kar Pouzi: Helen Papaioannou’s solo project melds baritone saxophone & electronics into singular, all-consuming textures which move between thunderous, fractured beats, ecstatic drones and minimalistic, evolving repetitions. Heavy, playful, unrelenting.