Japancakes release first ever song with vocals, provided by Orenda Fink! Debut video on Stereogum!

Athens, GA’s Japancakes have been layering melodic instrumental music together since their formation in 1996. Since then, they have garnered international attention for their unique and woozy brand of spaced-out instrumental music.

While the band has mentioned the idea of introducing vocals to their music through the years, it has never quite happened… until now. From Athens, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Taiwan, Japancakes have put together three versions of their single "Behind The Mountains." With the comforting airy vocals from Orenda Fink (Azure Ray) on the English version, accompanying Japancakes soundtrack style, some beautiful and simplistic visuals are drawn. These visuals come to life in the first ever video from Japancakes, directed by Ryan Berg. Stunning and simple, this video captures a glimpse of the beauty that comes to mind when thinking of all involved in the project. Even more so, another beautiful vocal version is available. With lyrics written and performed in Mandarin, by Moon (Miss Stocking), this unique version is equally beautiful in all areas. And keeping with Japancakes true instrumental roots, an instrumental version is also available.

Check out the video for "Behind The Mountains" on Stereogum!

Japancakes (currently consisting of Eric Berg, Nick Bielli, Brent Rackley, John Neff (Drive-By Truckers) & Heather McIntosh (Instruments, Circulatory System, Gnarls Barkley, Lil’ Wayne)) have released 7 full length albums. Engineering on all titles was handled by Athens’ own Andy Baker, and recorded at Athens’ Chase Park Transduction or at Andy Baker’s studio. The band’s first three efforts were released via the Kindercore imprint: “If I Could See Dallas”(1999), the “Down the Elements” EP(2000), and “The Sleepy Strange” (2001). An “extended EP”, “Belmondo,” was released on the band’s current label, Darla Records, in 2002. 2004 saw the release of “Waking Hours” on the Athens-based WARM Recordings label. Japancakes would realign themselves with Darla Records in 2007 for that year’s back-to-back full-lengths, “Giving Machines”, and a song-by-song interpretation/re-interpretation of My Bloody Valentine’s “Loveless.” The band’s highly acclaimed first three records, long out of print, were reissued on Darla in February 2008.