Watch: Kero Kero Bonito - "Kero Kero Bonito"

05 August 2014, 09:14 | Written by Russell Thomas

(Tracks)

(Kero Kero Bonito)

It’s almost (almost) about time to stop the focus on the sound of particular countries and cities. We’ve got the internet to play with forever and ever, and thanks to that it’s become easier and easier to bridge musical and cultural gaps and simply BE international. One such exponent of this veritable movement is the London-based pop trio that is Kero Kero Bonito.

Led by Japanese/English singer and rapper Sarah Perry Midori (who’s also lent her vocals to other music makers, such as LA-based Spazzkid), Kero Kero Bonito’s totally unique and accessible fusion of kawaii sounds, J Pop and groovesome beats are inspiring. Having unleashed their debut album, Intro Bonito, at the end of last year the three-piece have returned with a video for new cut “Kero Kero Bonito.”

Sarah herself created these entrancingly colourful visuals, perfectly matching the vivid stream-of-consciousness nature of the song beat-for-beat. Its drum machine aesthetics follow a minimalist, party-time dancehall pattern that are in turn joined by a set of kazoo-esque synths and Sarah herself who raps in call-and-response style; distinctly and endearingly nonchalant. Between calls of “Kero kero!” she reels off a list of things – from spaghetti, soda and サラリーマン (“salaryman”), to gun crime, techno and MC – effortlessly skipping between two languages. It’s not indicative of a “London sound”, nor a Japanese one: it is a gem of our ever-connected world.

As it says in the song: インタネットにのってるよ！ (“You are riding on the internet!”)