TAFFY: Record Store Day single: 7″ sparkly clear vinyl, April 21st // “Smile-inducing bubblegum pop with punk riffs” NYLON
aaamusic | On 11, Mar 2012
To celebrate Record Store Day on April 21st, ClubAC30 are releasing the debut UK single – ‘So Long’ – from Tokyo quartet taffy. Bringing together the best parts of fuzztone, bubblegum pop, psych, shoegaze and a sprinkling of Britpop, taffy are a welcome Japanese import to the UK music scene. Taffy’s UK debut album ‘Caramel Sunset’ is out May 7th.
With its soaring chorus and deliciously fuzzy guitar lines, ‘So Long’, serves as the perfect introduction to taffy’s distinct brand of sugary guitar pop.
Fresh from splits with previous bands, singer and rhythm guitarist, Iris and bassist, Koichin bumped into each other and formed the nucleus of their early incarnation – Salt Water Taffy. Having tried out numerous lead guitarists and drummers, they finally found the perfect fit in friends on the Tokyo scene Asano and Ken. A quick name edit later and Taffy were born.
With a sound channelling the punk-pop of Shonen Knife and Bis through to the art-noise tendencies of Melt Banana, Taffy soon gained a fervent live following in their native city. The Japan Times wrote a gleaming review placing them alongside The Primitives, Teenage Fanclub and The Apples in Stereo.
Setting their sights on the UK, taffy spoke to label-on-the-rise Club AC30, and with a killer roster that includes Ringo Deathstarr and The Megaphonic Thrift, it seemed like the perfect fit. A quick deal later and here we are.
