Mandopop/rock: Mayday (五月天)

Mayday from Taiwan has been around for a quite a while and they actually even have some videos with english subtitles, which is nice. But then orckers usually lasts much longer than other musical groups... ^_^
The sound is a soft rock/pop that is quite international in its approach to song construction.

• Mayday - Star (星空,movie theme)
• Mayday - Washing machine (洗衣機)
• Mayday - People who are sad shouldn't listen to slow songs (傷心的人別聽慢歌)
• Mayday - Don't want you to be alone (我不願讓你一個人)
• Mayday - Clenched teeth (牙關)

Jpop: Una - Juicy Juicy

Well, I just had to share Una's debut as it just makes my eyes water from garishness and an general visual overload. Its obviously 80s retro which should attract me who grew up then, and it *is* in some sense fun, but a bit to much even for a fan of Japanese culture (even though some of it is explained as it will feature as an ad for Menthos candy).

• Una - Juicy Juicy

Kindie: Casker (캐스커)

This Korean indie duo is one music group I actually prefer live recordings from, which is not at all usual for me. The clean and clear sound is my thing, but in Casker's case the live versions livens up the borderline boring/background sounding originals.

• Casker - Wonderful (live)
• Casker - Just this much (꼭이만큼만, live)
• Casker - Hour of light (빛의 시간)
• Casker - Polyester Heart (live)
• Casker - Nabi Buin
• Casker - Cat and Me

Malaysian pop: Pastel Lite

I usually don't review acts here that don't feature "real" videos, but I will make an exception with Malaysian duo Pastel Lite as they have a sound worth listening to.

• Pastel Lite - Gold
• Pastel Lite - Have Me
• Pastel Lite - Heart Drum (live)

Music: IAMX

IAMX equals Chris Corner's solo project into electronica/dance music.

• IAMX - I Come With Knives
• IAMX - After Every Party I Die
• IAMX - Nightlife
• IAMX - Bernadette
• IAMX - Missile
• IAMX - The Unified Field
• IAMX - Ghosts of Utopia
• IAMX - Think of England
• IAMX - Volatile Times
• IAMX - This will make you love again

Kpop: 4minute - Is It Poppin? (물 좋아?)

After 4minute's hit last year, Volume Up, the return in April with "What's your name" was a disappointment in the relative sense. Therefore the new summer release "Is It Poppin?" is a welcome new chapter. It has a seemingly simple delivery but the video showcases the girls natural charms in a very nice way. I'm not sure the audio track will hold up that long on itself, but it's a step up from the spring set back.

• 4minute - Is It Poppin?

Russian pop: Tesla Boy

Tesla Boy from Russia does synthpop in its classic sense. It makes me equal parts sligthly embarassed and just bliss. Let me just cite "TourTheUniverse" from YouTube on Tesla Boy's "Spirit of the Night":
"This track, among other fine selected works by Tesla Boy, represents a phenomenal series of retro, synth heavy lo-fi tunes ripped from their self-titled debut EP. Few modern artists can derive such whimsically flowing complexities out of simple lines of layered beats, melodies and vocals like Tesla Boy can.Tesla Boy has mastered the classic retro-80's New Wave sound down to a science, in fact to its perfection.If tracks like this don't take you to another time and place, you're too damn young."
That rather well sums Tesla Boy up.

• Tesla Boy - Another Light
• Tesla Boy - SPLIT
• Tesla Boy - Runaway Man
• Tesla Boy - Rebecca
• Tesla Boy - Thinking of You
• Tesla Boy - Electric Lady
• Tesla Boy - Spirit of the Night
• Tesla Boy - Fantasy

Kpop: Vivid Girl / BBde Girl (비비드 걸)

The name of BBde Girl is both an acronym for Blessed Be de Girl but also (as is obvious from the spelling of "the") there is another way to read it - the korean spelling is "비비드 걸" which can be read both as "Bi Bi Doe Gael" ie BBde Girl, but also as "Vi Vi D(oe) Girl" ie "Vivid Girl". Just as an example of the world of fascinating korean-enligh naming of kpop acts... ^_^
Anyway, they follow up their comeback with "Halo" two weeks ago with "Breathless", which I would say is a more interesting offer with their special suits. To be honest, after sieving through their video material, it is obvious from the quality of the photography, settings and apparels that they don't have a strong backing.

• Vivid Girl - Breathless
• Vivid Girl - Halo
• Vivid Girl - Messing around