Mahōgakkō: Limited Lilac Smoke Marble Vinyl LP

“Mahōgakkō” is the new album by Hakushi Hasegawa (They/Them pronouns) – a musician/singer-songwriter based in Tokyo, Japan, and the first Japanese artist signed to Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label. The record includes the singles ‘Mouth Flash (Kuchinohanabi)’ – featuring bass wizard Sam Wilkes (Leaving Records) – and ‘Boy’s Texture’ plus ‘Gone’ with rapper KID FRESINO. Consistent with Brainfeeder’s ethos of seeking out artists operating outside the confines of genre since the label started in 2008, Hakushi’s music is tricky to categorize as it straddles a few genres: alternative, electronic, jazz, pop/J-pop. Sometimes it’s pretty, at times it’s very intense and fast-paced. The FADER described ‘Mouth Flash’ as “wild-eyed free-associated beat poetry delivered through achingly beautiful melody”. Their music’s singular character has earned Hakushi plaudits from Crack Magazine, Needledrop (Anthony Fantano), XLR8R, Paste, Jazziz, Bandcamp Weekly, and Tone Glow.

Tracklist:

1. 行っちゃった Departed
2. 行つてしまつた Gone / 長谷川白紙 Hakushi Hasegawa & KID FRESINO
3. 口の花火 Mouth Flash (Kuchinohanabi)
4. 撤回 Repeal (Tekkai)
5. 蕾に雷 The Blossom and the Thunder
6. 恐怖の星 KYŌFUNOHOSHI
7. ねんねこころみ NENNEKOKOROMI
8. 禁物 Forbidden Thing (Kimmotsu)
9. 魔法インター (v2) Mahōinter (v2)
10. ボーイズ・テクスチャー Boy’s Texture
11. 焱ばみ Enbami
12. 外 Outside (Soto)