Japanese Television don’t surf, but if they did, it would be on a swirling wave of reverb-drenched organ, garage-rock guitars, hypno-motorik bass and pounding, ritualistic drums. The band formed in 2018 through a shared love of fuzz boxes, Joe Meek and UFOs and together they invented ‘Space Surf’. Upon discovering it already existed, they reinvented it. Taking the primal stomp of early garage bands and the wild, sonic wheeling of later psych oddballs, Japanese Television mix in strange, rare instruments and homemade effects pedals to create something as alluring as it is unique.
On 4 September they will release their brand new 5 track slice of motorik space twang, once again partnering with Chicago label Tip Top Recordings. Preferring to work in a cold, dusty, village hall somewhere deep in the wilds of the east British countryside, Japanese Television once again recorded live to an old 8 track machine with The Wytches’ Kristian Bell following the success of EPs I & II which both sold out first and second pressings immediately.
EP III kicks off with the otherworldly psychedelia of lead single ‘Bee Cage’, an expansive, groove-laden astral treat that encapsulates the bands rhythmic jams and dramatically sets the tone for the full release. Follow-up’s ‘Martian Soup’ and ‘Falling Spikes’ lean into their more slacker, laid-back noise-outs but at no point do they relent. ‘Hot Sauce’, an immersive live favourite, revels in its own delirium before closer ‘Moon Glider’ sees us off with intoxicating headiness.
Their 2019 Marc Riley BBC 6 Music Session spread their cosmic, beachy gospel far and wide and they also made ‘Best of the Year’ lists by the likes of Gideon Coe and Amy Lamé. They sold out shows across the UK on their last two tours, along with highly-billed festival appearances across the UK & Europe, including Lewes Psych Festival and Rotterdam’s Left of the Dial.
JTV are growing and changing, but their cosmic glow remains as extraordinary as ever. Only Japanese Television are 100% Space Surf.
