plenty

I cannot read Japanese, and Google translate has done nothing for me. This band is so small known so I can't really find much English material about them. Google says that the song means "Gin, sing for me." Now, knowing the Japanese that could totally be the name of a song, BUT I doubt it. But the info is in the video description if you're interested. I found this band a while ago, thanks to BounDEEtube on Youtube, and their songs grew on me. And kept growing on me till I was a bit swollen. However, only just NOW have I found their album! So I've yet to give it a proper listen, but it's good so far. Only..this song isn't on it? Hmph.
      From what I can gather, they're in the same league as andymori in terms of their indie cred, and I'm pretty sure their fanbase has grown and is growing quite well. So let me just say, this video does weird things to me. I don't know what about it, but it makes me feel odd. I adore the androgynous beauty of the singer, the foggy atmosphere, the play of light and shadow. Also the song is great (give it more than one listen, if you can). All together it just gives me chills, but that could be my sentimental nature. It makes me miss Japan, that's for sure.
     I think what I love about a lot of Japanese music, particularly the rock/indie rock is that the musicians are not afraid to use weird or complex chord structures. You can see it demonstrated here especially in the chorus - even the baseline is quite interesting too. That extra technical musicianship just makes the song meatier for me and will almost always make me a fan.

http://www.plenty-web.net/

Quruli

I love Quruli. I...could listen to them for ages. Only now am I getting off my lazy butt and...years after having a bunch of their music am I combing through to make sure I have it all. And I don't. Bad fan. What I do have of theirs, I loveee. Every track, I tells ya. So invest in Quruli. There's not much to say about them. They're quite successful, one of the top pop bands in Japan. The sound is nothing spectacular in and of itself - simple guitars, drums, singing, etc. But there is magic to their work, I think. Just the right emotions, solid songwriting, carefree singing and technical instrumentation: it all works so well.
     I haven't bothered to watch many of their videos, but from what I see they're fun too! I'll post another good one below, but make sure you listen to much more than this!

Einstürzende Neubauten - Stella Maris

     If this song doesn't take your breath away you may as well quit this tab and never return. Now, I know German is quite a divisive language (at least in my experience). People call it abrasive and guttural, ugly, etc. I take no stock in that personally, but of course I am amazed by most languages and their respective beauties. German sounds like the pit-patter of rain splashing into puddles on the street; it's so full in the mouth and satisfying to speak and hear. Like Arabic. Anyhow, even if the language itself might turn you off, Einstürzende Neubauten (translated "Collapsing New Buildings") ought not to be ignored if you're a fan of world music in any sense or rock, avant-garde, industrial/post-industrial  music in any sense for that matter. I don't know just how popular this band is now, let alone in their hey-day, but I'm guessing they're pretty well known for an alternative, post-industrial band. I don't have much music from them, but I have this song and the album it's from and they are definitely a treasure. They experiment a lot with their sound, especially known for incorporating home-made or home-tweaked instruments. This song is just amazing as it climaxes over and over with the streaming electric guitar pulling you up with it. I love the deep male and pointed female voices first alternating and then coming together at the end. Was that a pun?

I was also pleasantly surprised when I sat down to watch one of my now-favourite documentaries "Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul" (directed by one of my favourite Turkish directors Fatih Akın) was presented by Alexander Hacke, the bassist, guitarist and vocalist for this band. As well, isn't Blixa Bargeld the best name you've ever heard? Anyhow, I know some of their albums are difficult to find, but get what you can. They're still present today, had hoped to stop in America in late 2010, so we'll get in the future.