Gig-going wasn’t the primary purpose of going to Japan earlier this year – it ranked somewhat below taking my son to see a giant Buddha statue an hour outside of Tokyo – but I was still thrilled to be able to manage both a huge arena show – Hitsujibungaku in Yokohama – and a little club show in my time there.

The latter was the monthly Total Feedback shoegaze showcase at Koenji High, and it was pure luck that my last day in Japan coincided with the event (always the last Sunday of every month). And it was extra-lucky that the night was headlined by Tokyo shoegaze outfit Collapse, who are the literal embodiment of “beautiful noise”, and have been one of my favourite new discoveries this year (and there’ve been a lot).

The band just a new video from their 2022 album Black Sheep Is Still Dreaming, which is unavailable to stream in Canada save for on Bandcamp for some reason and so I was happy to be able to pick up a CD copy directly from the band at the show.

I appreciate that Tokyo is over-touristed at this point – Fodor’s just added it to their “No List” – but of course I yearn to return ASAP. Hopefully I won’t count as being part of the problem if I just spend all my time in little clubs in Koenji and Shimokitazawa; those are my temples.