I’ve been hitting the road so hard lately that I can barely keep up with buying things that I’m interested in. And then there’s the time to actually listen to them! Case in point, The last two Fridays have seen two singles issue on Bandcamp from the direction of Fluid Japan; a band I follow closely. On the 13th, I was flying to Orlando, so I missed the Rainsurfer EP which featured backing vocals from Fluid Japan’s Todd Lewis and Heather Heimbuch. It was only Fluid Japan adjacent, but the band have taste to spare, so if they lend their voices to another artist, it pays to pay attention. And how!

Rainsurfer: In A Different World – UK – EP [2025]

1. In A Different World
2. The Prophet’s Reflection

The cleanly mixed track had a slow tempo and a loping beat with pitch bent synths from Rainsurfer that got right into a pedal steel groove for a slightly Hawaiian vibe. And then the vocals hit and I was paying rapt attention, because Rainsurfer had a presence here that sounded like a phalanx of John Cales as his voice was multiplexed with chorus vocal production effects. At that point, the mind couldn’t help but notice that the rest of the music bed was hitting Eno-esque marks with adroit aplomb. Making “In A Different World” feel like a long-lost track from the Eno/Cale classic “Wrong Way Up.”

Then the buoyant chorus allowed for the influx of Lewis’ and Heimbuch’s backing vocals to add even greater impact to the track. Ms. Heimbuch in particular, added much warmth to the already quite warm [Rainsurfer uses vintage analog gear on this music] and shimmering track. Where the collision of memory, simplicity, and the pleasure of the past chafe against the darker times of the present. With the past coloring the music more than the lyric. The B-side, “The Prophet’s Reflection” was an altogether more radically abstract sound collage. Not quite music; proffering instead cinematic atmosphere. Brief and unsettling with shards of tangy synths making for a vibe of unease before taking its leave after a brief 90 seconds. The DL is in better than CD resolution at a “name you price” so don’t forget to make it worth the artist’s time. DJ hit that button.

Fluid Japan: [Sometimes I Feel] I Just Can’t Carry On – US – DL [2025]

1. [Sometimes I Feel] I Just Can’t Carry On

Meanwhile, Fluid Japan released their new single the next week, when I was on the road to Charlotte. This outing was one where Walt Wistrand of the trio dealt all of the cards since he wrote, played, mixed, and even designed the artwork for the song all on his own. “[Sometimes I feel] I Can’t Carry On” was a cool, elegant track that was steeped in a vibe that felt like it was airbrushed onto the “tape.” The band cite “Wrapped Around Your Finger” by The Police as a jumping-off point, and while I can certainly hear that happening the gear used here actually made good use out of digital synths for a change. The glassy, bell tones of the keys rubbed shoulders with synths that evoked Art of Noise’s classic “Moments In Love” for these ears. But applied instead to an altogether more complex composition that was far less repetitive.

And vocally, Wistrand was really hitting a zone where I was hearing that late 60s Association sound as captured on “Cherish.” With synths doubling with his vocals to subsume them in a velvety swirling mist. A touch of clean guitar on the middle eight receded to once more cede the spotlight to his vocal before the drum fills of the climax heralded the final fade. That all of the soft, even featherlight music and vocals were in service to such a potentially depressing and nihilistic song, one that decried all notions of hope and represented a surrender to the void, was delectably ironic.

This was another name your price Bandcamp offering, and while I recommend buying this, I should point out that Fluid Japan are offering their entire digital discography [18 releases] for an almost maddening $4.61 currently, which I highly recommend topping off most generously. So if that seems like a good thing to you [I’ve bought on the installment plan] then DJ hit that button!

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