Japanese pop, EPCOT Center ambience, and (of course) indie rock: Eric Schuman’s Ears We Trust picks

I’m always happy to take time from listening to music to tell people about the music I’ve been listening to. It’s quite literally my job! For this round, I wanted to showcase some new things you might have heard on Indie Rock Hit Parade and some other things you might have heard somewhere else.

Sweeping Promises – You Say I Romanticize

The ferocious Kansas-based combo, who happen to be veterans of our IRHP in-studio sessions, released their third album this year, and it’s a major leap forward. Previously, guitarist/producer Caufield Schnug swathed every element of the band’s punk anthems, including bassist Lira Mondal’s commanding voice, under a web of lo-fi, paint-peeling noise. With newly adopted clarity, songs like “Cocoon” and especially “Abduction on Camera” hit even harder.

Haruomi Hosono – “Sports Men (スポーツマン)”

A mere week from when this list goes live, I’ll be traveling to New York to attend a rare North American concert put on by Haruomi Hosono. The pioneering Japanese artist was a founding member of Yellow Magic Orchestra and boasts an extensive and adventurous solo discography (a new release, Yours Sincerely, is out this week). The 79-year-old legend is an unpredictable character, but I’m hoping this 1982 ode to athletics makes the setlist.

Isolde Lasoen – “Egoland”

I must credit my friend Andy Zax for introducing me to the wild world of Belgian singer/percussionist Isolde Lasoen. Her 2023 album Oh Dear is an ear-catching blend of jazzy rock and orchestral pop. The just-issued follow-up, My Kind of Drama, adds electronics to the mix, resulting in a set that’s danceable and artsy in an irresistible fashion.

Plum – Bodies In Motion

Sometimes a new album comes along that feels like it was tailor-made just for me. Bodies in Motion, the second LP by Chicago’s Plum, is one such deeply Eric-coded release. Rubbery rhythms, improvised melodies, and lyrics derived from Tarot card pulls; the album scans as a head-on mutation of Talking Heads, Pylon, and Gang of Four.

David Arkenstone – “Papillon (On The Wings Of The Butterfly)”

This one might require a little explanation. When I need to concentrate, particularly when writing, I can’t listen to music with lyrics. Some of my go-tos are the background music loops from Disney theme parks, namely the 1994 Tomorrowland loop and the mix from EPCOT Center’s defunct Innoventions Plaza. These futuristic-yet-nostalgic soundscapes are largely built around rearranged songs from Disney movies and attractions, but a few selections from established outside artists found their way in. This multi-movement piece from David Arkenstone’s 1991 album In the Wake of the Wind immediately sends me back to standing in the shadow of Spaceship Earth, contemplating which pavilion to visit next.