It’s been four years since Amber Bain – aka The Japanese House – released her sumptuous debut Good At Falling, and she’s been pretty much radio silent since her Chewing Cotton Wool EP came out in late 2020.

Official word on the follow-up is still forthcoming, but she’s finally returned with new music in the form of the new single “Boyhood”, built on a steady synth pulse and acoustic guitar strum, with accompanying equestrian video. Of the song – and visuals – Bain offers:

When Katie and I were young and in love, we fantasised about riding off into the distance on her horse Bam Bam, away from all the problems that came from being gay and in love back then.

This song talks about how sometimes, however hard you try, you can’t help but be a product of the things that happened to you or held you back earlier on in life. But also, and more importantly, it’s about hope for overcoming those things. Look at us now: not riding away, but towards… something.

This horse was very lovely to us, but I think deep down Bam Bam was the horse we were riding all along, and wherever I’m recklessly galloping off to in my life, Katie will be riding bareback behind me like a lunatic, arms around me, like we’d always planned. Rip Bam Bam xxx

Amber Bain
The Japanese House returns with new single ‘BOYHOOD’ @ NME

Good At Falling remains a heavy rotation record for me, so the prospect of imminent new music is good news indeed.