japan

"Laura is Fading" is the dreamlike first single from Tokyo's Jesse Ruins' debut LP A Film, out May 21 via Lefse Records.

New Richard Law-directed video from Kyoto psych-pop weirdos Hotel Mexico, for their woozy, Ariel Pink-indebted new single "A.I. in Dreams," taken from the band's new record Her Decorated Post Love (listen to the whole thing on Spotify).

Here's a delicate, beautifully glowing duet from LA's Baths and Japanese pop artist Cokiyu: "Twinkle Way" is the opening track from Cokiyu's gorgeous/wintry new collaborative EP Haku, the rest of which can be previewed here. Haku is out next week on Tokyo's Flau Records...

Another promising track from the teenage production duo and Jessie Ware collaborators:

Japan's mysterious Jesse Ruins -- who we've talked about a time or two in the past few months -- have signed with the impeccably curated Captured Tracks, who had something of a banner year for themselves in 2011. Look for a new EP in February 2012, with a full-length to follow later in the year...

Dreamy, obscure deeeep jams from around the world abound in this stellar new mix of influences/favorites from L.A. sisters Puro Instinct, created for Japan's oki-ni. Hint: that Yukihiro Takahashi jam is a jam: