Audio Safari

Audio Safari is a mellow electro-shoegaze band from Kyoto Japan. Originally a duo (with computer backing), they've diversified over the past four yeas and now include a drummer and bass player. In that time they've only recently released a single full-length album, 2007s Urunosora.

Actually, calling them "electro" is a bit misleading. Much of Urunosora reminds me of Highvision era Supercar. They are very soft but full of bubbling synths and solid bass-lines, with an overall positive yet melancholy feel. Mami Sakurai's vocals are equally soft and clear, a bit like Chara meets Bjork. Pleasant yet unique enough to stand out in a crowd full of similar singers. There are also echoes of Sigur Ros sprinkled throughout, largely due, again, to Mami's wonderful delivery over the twinkling pianos and synths. A sort of slow but insistent quality. "Don't tell anyone," it says "but I have something important to tell you."

Audio Safari are one of those bands that you must actually listen to in order to fully understand. It's often too easy to just skip through a song looking for the good bits, but with Audio Safari, the good bits are sewn through the entire work. This is a rare feat. Hopefully they won't wait another four years for the next album. Then again, it would certainly be worth the wait.

Sharin



Official Site
MySpace

Mami Sakurai - Vocals
Daisuke Yoshiga - Guitar, Programming
Shintaro Kawamoto - Drums

Major Releases
Urunosora (ウルノソラ) - 2007

Nami no Moyo (波の模様)


Awa ni Hibiku (泡に響く)