Mandopop: Nine Chen (陳零九)

The Tawainese has something going with retro funk videos, I have seen a number of them (Da Mouth, Cosmos People, Dizzy Dizzo) which I really like, and Nine Chen gives another great video together with Puff Kuo from Dream Girls, where they square off in various sports (with Miss Kuo mostly winning by cheating it seems...).

• Nine Chen ft Puff Kuo - So Now What (阿不然現在是怎樣)

Kpop: Kiha & The Faces (장기하와 얼굴들)

Jang Kiha and his band has made their own kind of retro sounding jazzy/funky/whatever music but with the new "The Smell's Gone" they really lifted themselves a step further with more passion, more catchiness and more fun. It's great and just so cool.

• Kiha & The Faces - The Smell's Gone (빠지기는 빠지더라)
• Kiha & The Faces - Blah (Kieuk/ㅋ)
• Kiha & The Faces - Blah (live. Must see!)
• Kiha & The Faces - The Most Beautiful Song (가장 아름다운 노래)
• Kiha & The Faces - Cheap Coffee (싸구려 커피, from 2008)

Austrian pop: Supermax

Supermax was the pet project of Austrian musician Kurt Hauenstein, and his "Love Machine" really is such a great piece of dreamy rock.

• Supermax - Love Machine
• Supermax - It Ain't Easy

Jpop: Oresama (オレサマ)

Oresama (a duo from Tokyo mostly active in Shibuya, Tokyo) does the ending theme for the anime Wolf Girl and Black Prince with their new song "Ookami (Wolf) Heart". The standalone video is a great comic styled 80s celebration which suits the sweet and funky synthpop perfectly.

• Oresama - Ookami Heart (オオカミハート)
• Oresama - Trip Trip Trip
• Oresama - Wonder Drive

Jpop: Especia - Kurukana (くるかな)

To be honest, when I first saw Especia's videos, I thought it was 80s retro, but if you read this excellent Japan Times article on them and their new album Gusto, it is the early 90s that is their and their producer Yokoyama's inspiration. With Especia he has gotten the chance to create the sounds fully he could only touch on with famous anti-idols BiS. I just love the laid back style of Especia and can't wait for each new song. It is a welcome pays from the usual high speed type of idol songs you mostly hear from that scene.

• Especia - Kurukana (くるかな)