Flannel - Dear Something, Dear Someone

Flannel is a one man lo-fi indie pop artist from Japan that has recently been signed to Series Two Records in Nebraska. STR is a CD-R label that I have grown quite fond of since they continually send me some top quality material by artists that I have never heard of.


Flannel, (aka Tomohiro) recorded Dear Something, Dear Someone from start to finish in his bedroom, and his gifts become immediately recognizable on the first track Spill, which has a definite Smiley Smile in its melody, and a precious amateur muffle in its delivery. Track three is called You Should Take Your Time, and it reminds me of some of the work that M83 has done this year, paying homage to some of the great music of the 80's. (Yes, I know that the 80's, for the most part, was not something to brag about, but I'm sure you get which 80's output I'm talking about.) The song immediately transports me into a John Hughes movie, and you can mock me all you want, but that's one place where I always feel welcome. Saving This Moment is a slow dance, with a slight ringing surf guitar chiming in from time to time. Spring Time is a contrast in that it is a fast dance, sounding like a unique mash up of some song lifted from a 60's British Invasion band, smooshed together with some New Wave synths. Those very synths show themselves again in Where Before The Water Becomes The Stream, displaying a Charlatans sound, while Light and Slow Waltz is a little bit more OMD.

Basically, this CD is something that could be very inaccessible left in more incapable hands, or way too radio friendly left in others. The strange combination of easy to absorb melody and pretty much indecipherable lyrics, makes Flannel's debut an immediately likable release that is still shrouded in enough mystery to keep you coming back.

Currently, 'Dear Something, Dear Someone' is available for limited release from Series Two Records. The best way to get it is by sending 13 USD paypal to seriestworecords [at] gmail [dot] com (with the dot's and at's filled in the normal way of course.)

Myspace: Flannel
Download: Light mp3

Download: Where Before The Water Becomes The Stream mp3