CD haul! - April 2026
These are CDs I bought in the first months of the year, but only arrived by mail in April.
If you're interested, I added links to online stores where you can purchase them (either digitally or physically), or listen to them on Bandcamp (where possible). They are often also on popular streaming services, but since I don't support them I won't link to them from here (but you do you!).
Summary
I got 10 new CDs in April, most being from Asian alternative rock bands. My favorite new record is Kids Return. The best track in my opinion is a tie between Daybreak by Wang Wen and Ocean In The Night by Elephant Gym.
國 (Kuni) - Kids Return
Release year: 2025
Genre: Shoegaze
Label: 2st Records
Country: Japan
Favorite track: Huge Moon
I discovered this band shortly after their first album was released, and was immediately mezmerized by its nostalgic 90s rock sound in Huge Moon. When I got the digital album, it only got better, as the album in its entirety is rock solid from the first track to the last.
I loved it so much that months later, I found it on their label's website and bought it again, this time the physical release (along with the 2 next records in the list).
You can buy the flac files from OTOTOY or the disc from 2st Records.
Timmy - Fractal
Release year: 2026
Genre: Alt Rock
Label: 2st Records
Country: Japan
Admittedly, I didn't know this band, nor listened to any of its tracks, before adding this to my cart. I did listen to some previews and vibed with it, and on my first listen when it arrived, I did not regret buying it.
For sale on OTOTOY (digital) or on 2st Records for the CD.
Keeshond - Keeshond
Release year: 2025
Genre: Alt Rock
Label: 2st Records
Country: Japan
People who live in a Dutch speaking country like me will be surprised to hear Keeshond is in fact a Japanese band. I found out about them on a Japanese music blog and wasn't disappointed. It's tippytap rock reminiscent of midwestern emo. So if you're into bands like Tiny Moving Parts, you might like this band too!
Digital purchase via OTOTOY and physical via 2st Records.
Shonen Knife - Free Time
Release year: 2010
Genre: Pop Punk
Label: Damnably Records
Country: Japan (band), UK (label)
Favorite track: Capybara
I listened to Shonen Knife for the first time when I was 17 (half a lifetime ago...), after hearing it was one of Kurt Cobain's favorite bands. I didn't stray much further than Banana Chips, but it planted a seed which made me interested in Japanese culture and the language. It's difficult to not smile when listening to this group, and I hope to (1) once own all of their albums and (2) see them live once.
You can stream it or buy either a digital or physical copy on Bandcamp.
Shonen Knife - Osaka Ramones
Release year: 2011
Genre: Pop Punk
Label: Damnably Records
Country: Japan (band), UK (label)
Favorite track: Sheena Is a Punk Rocker
This cover album is also pure gold, turning already catching Ramones hits into even more catchy versions!
This one's also available on Bandcamp.
Shonen Knife - Pop Tune
Release year: 2012
Genre: Pop Punk
Label: Damnably Records
Country: Japan (band), UK (label)
Favorite track: Pop Tune
This one's on Bandcamp too!
Quest Master - Lost Songs of Distant Realms, Volume Two
Release year: 2019
Genre: Dungeon Synth
Label: Out Of Season Label
Country: Australia
Going to almost a polar opposite of Shonen Knife, Dungeon Synth is a gloomy ambient electronic genre that probably would serve best as the soundtrack for a dark 90s RPG video game, or an evening of DnD. Surprisingly, it still has a lot of emotion in it, and while I could not get my favorite record in this genre (as a CD), this one is a close second.
For sale on Bandcamp
Elephant Gym - Underwater
Release year: 2018
Genre: Jazz Fusion / Math Rock
Label: Space Circle
Country: Taiwan (band), China (label)
Elephant Gym is a math rock band that in other records sounds more upbeat and quirky, while this record is more serious, and makes them fit in a playlist along with Toe, LITE, Covet, et cetera.
You can check it out on Bandcamp.
Elephant Gym - Balance
Release year: 2013
Genre: Jazz Fusion / Math Rock
Label: Topshelf Records
Country: Taiwan (band), US (label)
Favorite track: 夜洋風景 (Ocean In The Night)
Balance is a pretty short record, an EP with just 4 tracks on it. But the first two tracks are amazing, with track 2, Ocean In The Night, being one of my favorite tracks on all of my new CDs.
You can find it on (You guessed it!) Bandcamp.
Wang Wen - Invisible City
Release year: 2018
Genre: Post-Rock / Math Rock / Progressive Rock
Label: Space Circle
Country: China
Favorite track: Daybreak
Hearing track 1 (Daybreak) of this album hit me in a way that songs rarely do these days. It's the kind of song that sends you in an existential crisis, thinking about what dying would be like.
For sale on Bandcamp.
Next up
I still have a couple of CDs on their way in the mail, but I know I will have to calm down soon because I don't have infinite room for CDs and collecting Asian CDs is pretty costly. To be continued!