Shugorei‘s stunning live performance at the birthday bash of their esteemed label 4000 Records way back in 2021 first brought the experimental duo to my attention, and Backseat Mafia premiered their single ‘Meet The Sun’ back in 2023. They have now released the utterly enchanting single ‘The Charm’, in collaboration with vocalist Shêm Allen and guitarist Karin Schaupp which we are honoured to premiere.
In ‘The Charm’, guitars dapple like sunlight on a swelling ocean and Allen’s vocals, in English and Japanese, are delicate and exquisite, yearning and melancholic with an aching beauty. They are delivered on a bed of pattering keys and synths that swirl and revolve like an eddy, drawing in the listener and creating a delightful fugue. The result is something like an immersion bath, all enveloping and hypnotic.
The lyrics have an elegant beauty and mysticism to them, and when Schaupp’s classical guitar enters, the result is euphoric:
Cast a spell/Like a sphere of light and heat/So you, and everyone, can tell/The world is new when our eyes meet/I’m going to cast a spell/A sphere of warmth will grow in you/The sun in our mouths will dwell/And all the myths were true
There are certainly elements of Sigur Ros in the orchestral majesty of the track:
Released through Meanjin/Brisbane’s magnificent 4000 Records, ‘The Charm’ casts its spell on 10 July 2025 and will be available to download and stream via all the usual sites. It comes off Shugorei’s forthcoming 2025 album, Memories of Magic—魔法の記憶—Mahō no Kioku. A vivid and experimental tapestry of sound, the album merges electronic innovation with mythic storytelling, urban animism, and ancient dreams. The album features artwork by nine-year-old Izumi Omote Harmsen (Nozomi’s daughter), which were supplied to Tom in sketches, ready for him to colour them in. These pictures are integral to the musical journey, representing the mystical, magical themes represented throughout the album.
Nozomi Omote – percussion, backing vocals, lyrics
Thomas Green – synths, electronics, backing vocals, lyrics
featuring
Shêm Allen – vocals
Karin Schaupp – guitar
Camille Barry – violin
Dan Curro – cello
