Takkyu Ishino is all over the board in electronic music, from chirpy pop to minimalism to the sort of dirty repetitive trance you’re supposed to space out to on a beach in Thailand. But I first noticed him for his pop music, which is usual for me since I don’t like to space out on beaches in Thailand. This one, Stereo Nights, is great electronic pop like Four Tet filtered through some J-Pop light goofiness/kitsch.


He got his start with technopop group Denki Groove, then gained a following in Germany when he started working solo. Here’s a glimpse of what to expect from him for a festival crowd (and I was surprise at him being profiled on Japanese TV–I thought he was all underground and stuff : )

I’m not making any promises, but if he can get blondes in bikinis dancing in Berlin, surely we can expect as much at Fuji? Anyway, I defy you to watch this clip and not pine for a hastily poured paper cup of beer with globules of mud in it.
Ishino’s been playing FRF every odd year for the past couple of years now. Here’s a report of his performance in ‘05 at Orange Court and some photos from Red Marquee ‘07.
Kern