Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2014

No one translates the U.S. indies sound into a Japanese context better than Aiha Higurashi. Her formative ’90s outfit Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her took inspiration from New York and transplanted raw, emotive downtown rock back into Tokyo—notwithstanding the band being named after a track from Britain’s XTC. Higurashi now celebrates 18 years in the biz with 18, a sprawling retrospective album that focuses mainly on Seagull, but also includes choice tracks by later outfits Loves and The Girl. The most surprising and delicious news is that Higurashi will be taking the Seagull songs out of the closet for a one-off live concert this week.
May 5, WWW.