chewing cotton wool EP- The Japanese House: 'One the most sophisticated pop leaning acts around'

The Japanese House is becoming more and more one of the most interesting and beautifully sounding songwriters in the country, potentially down the road....the world.

Amber Bien has created one of the most delicate and beautiful sounds around under The Japanese House name. Her debut album ‘Good At Falling’ was an impressive body of work that cemented what she was all about and leaving most impressed with her songwriting. Since September of last year, we have been building up to her next body work that still sounds as beautiful as ever; which finds Amber at her most self reflective state of mind we have seen so far. Overall it is a progression of her sound that indicates that The Japanese House is one the most sophisticated pop leaning acts around.

‘Sharing Beds’ begins the EP that clocks in under two minutes, sounding very much of a Radiohead nod with its vocals. From the get go this EP sounds reflective and that continues with ‘Something Has To Change’ as Amber sings; ‘you're repeating yourself, and it's the same girl who's giving you hell, and it's the same face, your heart keeps breaking in the same place’. Theres a running soft rock guitar that goes alongside the beat on this track, with the melody also sounding like their label mates, The 1975.

‘Dionne’ begins so wonderfully with some spaced keys and vocals hitting you like a beautiful wave, the melody being just as lovely with the synths sounding spacey and ambient (George Daniels being a wonderful producer again on this). However then a self indulgent vocal mix of Justin Vernon comes along to really leave this song hanging by a thread. It’s a saving a grace that Amber nails her side of the song, luckily most of the song is mostly her.

This EP ends so hauntingly beautiful with the song of the same name… and wow this one hits hard. Softly we hear a keyboard running along with the singer sounding so elegantly tense while singing about the lose of someone who was very dear to them. Lyrics of ‘she's the dust upon the sill, she's everywhere’ just leaves you thinking about how easy it is to take someone for granted, as they are just always imbedded to what seems normal for you. It’s a great way to close the EP and leaves us thinking how strong the artist is and how she can truly become such a star with the direction she is going in.