Canopies and Drapes: “The Door into Summer”

The recent Ç86 compilation offers an excellent snapshot of the contemporary Japanese DIY scene. Spearheaded by the Chiba-based outfit Moscow Club, it highlights bedroom artists fascinated with sample-heavy dance-tracks and indie-pop-leaning compositions, the mix as a whole bursting with color. Tokyo’s Canopies And Drapes, counts herself as part of this bright-lit movement – she enlisted Moscow Club to remix a track from her forthcoming And Putting Love Away cassette tape – yet new song “The Door Into Summer” sneaks hints of grey into the formula. The bass and the song’s minimalist construction say “twee,” but the channel-hopping synths coupled with Canopies And Drapes’ vocals add a layer of unease. Her singing, in particular, slides along softly with the music, while her words never overpowering the bare-bones surroundings but rather peaking out from a corner. Simple words like “how could I forget?/how could I help?/I still love you” turn into ennui-rich mumblings thanks to Canopies And Drapes’ delivery. “The Door Into Summer” is still pastel-drenched indie-pop, it just also hides some alluring touches underneath all the color.

You can hear more from Canopies and Drapes on her Soundcloud

Written by Patrick St. Michel