REVIEW: The Japanese House 'Saw You In A Dream'

The Japanese House’s fourth EP, Saw You In A Dream is, to put it simply, music for introverts. True, on the surface it seems little more than a tiny, perfectly formed slice of sparkling dream-pop, but it only takes a second listen to reveal the endearing weirdo spirit underneath. Given that The Japanese House is actually just the namesake taken by solo artist Amber Bain, it isn’t surprising that this offering feels designed to be consumed in isolation, but there’s another element too.

Essentially, Saw You In A Dream feels like an EP to be enjoyed alone, together; a highly polished, charmingly lo-fi piece that slots effortlessly alongside Bain’s previous work, while taking an assured step beyond.

Lead single and opening gambit Saw You In A Dream is delightfully romantic, with a blissed-out, bedroom pop feel that invokes just the right amount of schoolgirl crush. The floaty melody only serves to make the lyrics glide straight past the listener until, like biting into a sherbet centred sweer, their true torch-song nature is finally revealed.

Somebody You Found delves further into electronica, with twinkly, layered vocals melting into comparatively warmer instrumentation. The harmonies are ultimately the driving force of the track, but the jukebox bassline adds a summery, HAIM-esque edge that provides atmosphere to what is a pretty barebones song.

3/3 and Count To Nine are definitely the more self indulgent tracks on the EP, with both absolutely swimming in both synth and melancholy, but while the former’s nursery-rhyme yearning is offset with some very 1975 guitar riffs, the latter is left to meander through several, lilting phases before coming to a stop. Common to both though is an enduring feeling of looking from the outside in, a theme present on The Japanese House’s previous work, but more fully realised here than ever before.

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