Taking their cues from Devo, Yellow Magic Orchestra and The Plastics, Japan’s hardest-touring band, Polysics, have a way with retro-futurism. From the looks of their amazing “period piece” music videos and fashion sense, you’d just assume this was a Japanese New Wave group from the 1980s that you never heard of, but no, that’s not the case, they formed in 1997. Much of the time they sing in a made-up “space language” so you don’t even have to speak Japanese to appreciate the lyrics. Their briskly played tunes and odd time signatures also sound like The Fall (to me at least) in a playful mood, so what’s not to like here?
Here are a couple of great examples of the what Polysics do. First up is “New Wave Jacket.” I love this song and video:
Below, “Each Life, Each End.” The Devo influence is rather unmistakable here…
Polysics tour outside of Japan frequently. Don’t miss their energetic show when they’re in your neck of the woods on their next tour.
