Japanese psych-rock band TEKE::TEKE announced their debut album Shirushi, out May 7 via Kill Rock Stars. The band also shared their single & video for “Meikyu” – animated by the group’s guitarist Serge Nakauchi-Pelletier along with vocalist and visual artist Maya Kuroki. “When plans with a hired animator fell through, Maya and I decided to take things into our own hands,” Nakauchi-Pelletier says. Kuroki adds, “I’ll make some drawings or paintings and then use whatever tools we have, learn new software on the spot and ways of working as we go.’’ Premiered by Under the Radar, “Meikyu” (“labyrinth” in Japanese) cuts to the chase with ferocious guitar and bass above a raw tribal beat, with distant blows of flute and trombone. “Musically, we wanted a fast-paced repetitive pattern that would have a hypnotic and unnerving effect,” the band explains. Kuroki continues, “the song tells the story of a young character trying to escape the grasp of a twisted spirit that took the form of a labyrinthe-like mansion in a psychedelic atmosphere, slightly inspired by visuals from Japanese art-horror flick ‘Hausu.’”

After initially forming as a tribute band for Japanese guitar legend Takeshi Terauchi, TEKE::TEKE learned that they had to tear up their surf-tinged covers and build something new. Since then, the Montreal-based seven-piece have expanded their already wide scope into a dazzling journey through classic Japanese balladry and Brazillian psychedelia alike. Fusing everything from traditional Japanese instrumentation to punk guitar.

Pre-Order Shirushi by TEKE::TEKE via Kill Rock Stars HERE