Uchuu Nekoko are a duo from Kanagawa, Japan whose name translates to “Universe Neko”, which should mean “Universe Cat”? Or “Space Cat”? And they could very well be a couple of intergalactic felines named Nemuko Yamanaka and Kano because they’ve opted to keep their identities hidden behind a couple of anime avatars by artist Tomoko Oshima (though they do play live). Which, after you’ve been listening to Japanese music for a while, isn’t odd at all.

They get slotted into the J-gaze/dreampop genre for their wispy vocals and grindy guitars, but that really only applies to their second album Kimi No Youni Ikiretara; 2016 debut Hibo No Awa was more genre-hopping pop, and 2022’s Hino Ataru Basyo Ni Kiteyo is dreamy but decidedly chill. Both have some great tunes, but 2019’s Ikiretara – which translates to “If I Could Only Live Like You” – and is the first with current vocalist Kano – hits the sweet spot.

The album is getting a vinyl reissue this week courtesy of Clever Eagle records but at $50 USD plus shipping for a 22-minute running time, it fails my minute-to-dollar calculus spectacularly, but it’s a regretful fail. So I’ll stream it, and enjoy this free demo version of the album the band are offering on Bandcamp, And also this video for album’s title track, which while it doesn’t feature the band, is offering a little more than simple animations of their hand-drawn selves.