“On Rotation” is a feature meant to take the seriousness out of reviewing and enjoy music simply as it is. no scores, no big problems, the music here is what i’ve been listening to for the past month. i get to talk about it, and why it’s on my most listened to list. i won’t go through every song, but i will talk about those i found a close connection with. you can find the full playlist at the bottom of the page. not every song is a killer, but these songs are definitely not filler.
[review-body]
“Echoes of the Past” - is not a song i thought i would be writing about. maybe ever. but i really enjoy it’s late 80’s/ early 90’s Sting-style spiritual essence sort of music. in much the way Enya or Enigma evoke that long lost early 2000’s Euro soul electronica blend, so does this song. pretty solid.
“koe (声)” - is a Chiaki Sato song i’ve been stuck on for a while. i enjoy how pop it is, and the right blend of R&B. it’s pretty emotional, with its sweeping orchestration and building strings, the song scratches the itch the same way “My Will” by Dream scratches an itch.
“amuletum” - Ichiko Aoba has been oddly divisive with me lately. but when she hits, she hits. her music that centers around a story in a folk-ish manner really encapsulate her alluring sound. i still don’t think anyone does it quite like she does. my frustration only comes from the contrast of how much i love her best works. this song has a “Tarry Town” Zelda Breath of the Wild feel to it.
“shell for mew” - in some ways is my favorite song from the album. it showcases the greatness of the vocals for a band like SCLL. the song has a great flow and a rhythm. see my review for more.
“ice track” - SCLL really scratches my brain when it includes artificial static and feedback noises. in that way, they remind me most of School Food Punishment, one of my favorite bands of all time. great track.
“Sutekina Holiday” - Chance showed me this one one our most recent site meeting. what a revelation! it’s the kind of song you want to create a dumb memory over with significant other… or your writer. in any case, i found the Christmas Japanese song a wonderful chance for hilarity and fun. not only that, but Mariya Takeuchi NAILS the song. i have a feeling this one will be coming back up on the site very soon.
“Taboo” - oh my gosh. Chance sent me this woman’s music one late night before bed. needless to say i stayed up for another 45 minutes replaying her music. especially “Taboo”. i love a good pop / R&B track. give it to me 100 times in a month and i’ll enjoy every one. just a great genre for feels, energy, and love topicals.
“Miyako” - from my review of the album Lux by Suichu Spica. on top of a surprisingly great album, this song REALLY tied off the album in style. “Miyako” is such a baller song. it showcases music reaching a zenith and it is constantly engaging, particularly after full album of math rock.
“Never Leave You feat. Stephanie” - is an underrated song on an album that struggled to reach great heights. but why should that be a loss over a potential victory? if i keep revisiting this song, then it must be pretty good. even if the rest of the album didn’t lock in for me, “Never Leave You” certainly makes up for it by being quite memorable.
“Yuudachi ('99 NHK Hall / Live) (夕立ち)” - comes from the Boogiepop Phantom background. but it really nails in the feeling of the OST, not by proper assimilation, but by natural chemistry. the song is so unlike anything from the OST, but also manages to fit in with the vibe of the project. a really really cool and solid song.
“Shigoto (仕事)” - Gestalt Girl’s new album will be covered on the site soon, but needless to say the momentum of “Shigoto” is undeniable. i’ve been collecting modern female Japanese R&B music, and Gestalt Girl fits sweetly at home in this category. one i am excited to share more with the site soon.
“Fools in the Rain” - XinU is another new find in this female driven R&B category. and she makes for a Category 5, love interest! for all the few weeks i’ve spent in this realm of music, XinU keeps coming out on top. her style is poppy, upbeat, and impossible to drown out. her newest single “Fools in the Rain” is such a bop. from here on the list is much much more of this trend in genre. stick around to find something interesting.
“罠 (Wana)” - XinU’s older track solidifies the case for her music. in much the way SZA or Hope Tala once had to justify their sound, so too does XinU. not that it takes a titanic movement of heart. her music is so easy to enjoy and to understand, it’s no wonder she has ignited a great deal of my October R&B listening spree.
“Unaru Hodo no Netsu (唸るほどの熱)” - aki’s newest track this season was the perfect blend of natural instrumentation and modern pop sound. the light blend of guitar meets up with aki’s ballads quite well. it is a song that has been very easy to enjoy this past month. simple as that. one of those gems you forget about in a month or two and find again in April with a short “ah” of recollection.
“タイムマシーン (Time Machine)” - i genuinely feel like Chiaki Sato’s album Butterfly Effect reinvented my taste in music for a bit here in October. her album felt so fresh and nostalgic all at the same time. like 2026 embracing Y2K in a loving embrace. “Time Machine” was this unique blend of music encapsulated. of course it didn’t help my heart that Sato sampled Utada’s Automatic. once a simp, always a simp i suppose.
