Ready to count? Enjoy this selection of our favourite complicated rock music our Asian experts have collected over the recent years.
You can watch all the videos below in one YouTube playlist.
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tfvsjs
Hong Kong
Unforgettable track from now almost-classic math rockers tfvsjs. By playing a specific Japanese sounding type of rock, the band boasts technical chops that few local bands can compete with. While they do wear their influences on their sleeves, the band clearly has a talent and chemistry.
Info: Facebook.
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sub:shaman
Singapore
One of the most inventive bands coming out of Singapore at the moment, sub:shaman infuse elements of progressive rock and math rock with bits of jazz and soul. This five-piece is difficult pin down, but their shape-shifting blend of structures and groove is always compelling. The single “A-Hole” is still one of their most immediate and most intriguing compositions to date.
Info: Soundcloud, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, www.
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Elephant Gym
Taiwan
Elephant Gym (大象體操) are a unique three-piece math rock band from Kaohsiung, formed by talented brother Tell (guitar), sister Tif (bass) and Chia-Chin (drums) in early 2012. Heavily influenced by the famous Japanese band toe, Elephant Gym explore and combine guitar/bass with human voices and keyboards to achieve their very own special sound.
Info: Soundcloud, Twitter, Facebook.
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Uchuu Conbini (宇宙コンビニ)
Japan
Uchuu Conbini come from Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, but their namerefers to a convenience store in outer-space. And their sound is indeed as magnificent as the space. Emi Ohki’s intimate vocals are combined with complicated structures and omnipresent guitars, which results in something we could call math-pop. This was certainly one of our favourite Japanese bands of the recent decades – so sad they stopped.
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GDJYB
Hong Kong
Even outside of Hong Kong you wouldn’t find anyone sounding like the all-female quartet GDJYB, who match math-rock’s precision with beautiful vocal themes and an exceptional musical imagination. This particular song is a story about a funeral and the song actually includes some ambient sounds of a real burial ceremony.
Info: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube.
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Stuck in November
India
Stemming from Bangalore in India, the instrumental trio Stuck in November might be one of the most imaginative acts of this century with their crazy fusion of jazz, math rock, and humour. Seeing a title like “Polyrhythmic Synth Jazz Simulation’ might get you thinking you already know what to expect, but we promise you’ll be surprised – even on the third listen.
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aire
Thailand
Somewhere between Bangkok, Kyoto and Tokyo, the Thai-Japanese quintet aire have been developing their own vision of modern instrumental rock for several years, but two years ago they announced hiatus. Which is a shame, as their post/math rock inspirations have been always paired with a great melodic talent, which showed up in every bar of their guitar-filled music.
Info: Facebook.
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Lili Limit
Japan
One of our all-time favourite bands from Japan, Lili Limit started in Yamaguchi as a math rock / alternative act. But later they moved to Tokyo, and opened up for other inspirations, including more pop-oriented styles. Here’s one of their earlier songs, also one of our all-time favourite discovery here at beehype.
Info: Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud, www.
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Foster Parents
China
Playful, melodic, breezy yet instrumentally skillful and astute, the Shanghai duo are a worthy addition to the growing list of instrumental bands making their mark on music scene in China. Far from grim, the album wears its heart on its sleeve, pulling at those heartstrings while nimbly pulling at those guitar strings.
Info: Bandcamp, Facebook, Xiami, Douban.
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Milos
Hong Kong
Milos is a young math rock trio from Hong Kong shows that big things do sometimes come in small packages. In “Stutter . so hard”, expect everything from time signature changes, beat changes, syncopation, and a whole lot more, all in under three minutes.
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블락스 Blocs
South Korea
Repeated, exquisite but cohesive sound of this track by Blocs (블락스) brings both pleasure and distress. Their music combines 1990s math rock with abstract sounds and alternative pop in the most seamless way.
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Scaller
Indonesia
Scaller is a duo of Stella Gareth and Reney Karamoy, stealing the spotlight with immense ambition in production and arrangement. Chasing for perfection in the first album “Senses” is unusual but the maturity of every personnel making it happen.
Info: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.
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JYOCHO
Japan
Math-rock combined with multicolored pop melodies and cinematic flute parts is what Kyoto-based JYOCHO’s mastermind Daijiro Nakagawa offered us on the second mini-album, “Day in the Bluish House”, recorded in less than one year since the project’s first release.
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Run Dorothy
Philippines
Ever-changing rhythms, guitars tacking between math-rock’s complexity and indie pop’s immediacy, and Dee Cruz’s calming vocals make up a very distinct sound of the Manila-based quintet Run Dorothy. It is gratefully exemplified in their unforgettable song “Ghosts”, which you could call a miniature suite.
Info: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook.
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Zenguin
India
Ambient, fresh and intricate. That’s Zenguin in a nuthshell. The duo employ the use of subtle tempo changes, unconventional drumming and math rock-esque guitars, all while maintaining an all encompassing atmosphere through the wise use of electronic elements that gels brilliantly with the foreground.
Info: Soundcloud, Instagram, Facebook.
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Amberhill
Singapore
Somewhere between pop and math rock, the bright guitar sounds and mellow vocal melodies of Amberhill made their 2017 EP “Songs From Summer” more than worth its title. A little bit of sunshine with every consecutive listen.
Info: Facebook.
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Chinese Football
China
Effortlessly creating twinkly post emo rock jams, Chinese Football embrace their pop sensibilities with a gentle touch. Last year, the math rock / emo rock group came back with a brand new collection of songs titled “Here comes a new challenger!”, which further solidified the band’s tight musicianship.
Info: Facebook, Bandcamp, Douban.
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7nightsatsea
Singapore
7nightsatsea have dedicated themselves to explore all of the possible shades of instrumental guitar music. “Terra Firma”, their last year’s debut album, is often heavy, always mesmerizing. And it can be emotionally devastating and uplifting at the same time.
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