Following 2015's The Flowers of Romance, Japanese sound hybridists mouse on the keys are making their return with a new mini release. Due out on January 25, the EP is called Out of Body and will arrive via the band's newly formed Fractrec imprint and Topshelf Records.
Like all of the Tokyo band's work, the release promises to be an eclectic one, with a press release stating the record will traverse "dark and avant-garde electronica, minimalist neo-classical, whilst also continuing to develop on their math-rock tendencies with rapid-fire time signature changes, angular rhythms and melodic yet frenetic piano work."
It also adds that Out of Body carries a more sombre tone than past releases, with each track centred on the theme of near-death experiences.
Speaking on the concept behind the new record, the group's Akira Kawasaki said, "After the disaster of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011 and through my experience of suffering from asymptomatic brain infarction, I came to feel death familiar. I have been influenced by the book Near-death Experience by a Japanese journalist Takashi Tachibana and the documentary TV program about it."
For a taste at what's to come, you can hear the premiere of the EP track "Earache" — a song loaded with leftfield time signatures, eerie horror synths and skewed electronics. That said, it's also one that comes held together by a solid melodic thread. Hear the song for yourself at the bottom of the page.
In support of the new EP, mouse on the keys have lined up an extensive North American tour that is heavy on Canadian dates. You can see all the stops below, where you'll also find the EP tracklist.
You can pre-order the release here.
Out of Body:
1. Intro
2. Earache
3. Dark Lights
4. Afterglow
5. Elegie
6. Out of Body
Tour dates:
02/16 St-Hyacinthe, QC - Le Zaricot
02/17 Sherbrooke, QC - Centre culturel de l'Université de Sherbrooke
02/22 Jonquière, QC - Café-Théâtre Coté-Cour
02/23 Québec, QC - Le Cercle
02/24 Shawinigan, QC - Maison de la culture
02/25 Trois-Rivières, Qc - Centre culturel Pauline-Julien
03/01 Rimouski, QC - Espace Scène da la salle de spectacles Desjardins-Télus
03/02 Carleton, QC - Quai des arts de Carleton
03/04 Cap-aux-Meules, QC (Iles de la Madeleine) - Pas Perdu
03/07 Saint Catharines, ON - Robertson Theatre | FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
03/08 Toronto, ON - Harbourfront Centre Theatre
03/09 Ottawa, ON - TBA
03/10 Montréal, QC - L'Astral (Montréal en Lumière)
03/11 Joliette, QC - La Mitaine
03/13 Detroit, MI - The Loving Touch #
03/14 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall #
03/16 Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage #
03/17 Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle #
03/18 New York, NY - (Le) Poisson Rouge #
03/19 Boston, MA - The Sinclair #
# with LITE
Like all of the Tokyo band's work, the release promises to be an eclectic one, with a press release stating the record will traverse "dark and avant-garde electronica, minimalist neo-classical, whilst also continuing to develop on their math-rock tendencies with rapid-fire time signature changes, angular rhythms and melodic yet frenetic piano work."
It also adds that Out of Body carries a more sombre tone than past releases, with each track centred on the theme of near-death experiences.
Speaking on the concept behind the new record, the group's Akira Kawasaki said, "After the disaster of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011 and through my experience of suffering from asymptomatic brain infarction, I came to feel death familiar. I have been influenced by the book Near-death Experience by a Japanese journalist Takashi Tachibana and the documentary TV program about it."
For a taste at what's to come, you can hear the premiere of the EP track "Earache" — a song loaded with leftfield time signatures, eerie horror synths and skewed electronics. That said, it's also one that comes held together by a solid melodic thread. Hear the song for yourself at the bottom of the page.
In support of the new EP, mouse on the keys have lined up an extensive North American tour that is heavy on Canadian dates. You can see all the stops below, where you'll also find the EP tracklist.
You can pre-order the release here.
Out of Body:
1. Intro
2. Earache
3. Dark Lights
4. Afterglow
5. Elegie
6. Out of Body
Tour dates:
02/16 St-Hyacinthe, QC - Le Zaricot
02/17 Sherbrooke, QC - Centre culturel de l'Université de Sherbrooke
02/22 Jonquière, QC - Café-Théâtre Coté-Cour
02/23 Québec, QC - Le Cercle
02/24 Shawinigan, QC - Maison de la culture
02/25 Trois-Rivières, Qc - Centre culturel Pauline-Julien
03/01 Rimouski, QC - Espace Scène da la salle de spectacles Desjardins-Télus
03/02 Carleton, QC - Quai des arts de Carleton
03/04 Cap-aux-Meules, QC (Iles de la Madeleine) - Pas Perdu
03/07 Saint Catharines, ON - Robertson Theatre | FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
03/08 Toronto, ON - Harbourfront Centre Theatre
03/09 Ottawa, ON - TBA
03/10 Montréal, QC - L'Astral (Montréal en Lumière)
03/11 Joliette, QC - La Mitaine
03/13 Detroit, MI - The Loving Touch #
03/14 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall #
03/16 Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage #
03/17 Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle #
03/18 New York, NY - (Le) Poisson Rouge #
03/19 Boston, MA - The Sinclair #
# with LITE