FAREWELL, MY L.u.v Are the Bright Funky Soul These Times So Desperately Need

/ DAEMON

There is no question that 2020 has so far been full of dark days with signs of more to come. Parts of the world are retreating into another round of COVID lockdowns, the US may be just days away from going into full-on “Purge” mode and Hachigatsu-chan just left Oyasumi Hologram.

Into this bleak landscape, FAREWELL, MY L.u.v have dropped a bright, shiny groove-and-reggae-infused nugget of joy in the form of their second EP, GOLD. And just in time too. The only thing that’s been getting me through the day lately is this track on repeat:

For those who are unfamiliar with our bright, soulful saviors, FAREWELL, MY L.u.v is a Nagoya-based duo consisting of Ritsuko Kodama and supporting member Kikomaru Mori a.k.a. Tyrone Woods. Gold is the follow-up to their outstanding 2019 debut EP, Don’t Touch My Radio, that is already being hailed as a classic. That infectious fusion of vintage R&B, funk, reggae and groove made my short list for Best EP of the Year thanks in large part to Chikki☆Cheeky☆Daisy, which I had pegged as runner-up for Best Song.

Gold continues to focus on the unit’s musical theme of “OLD TO NEW”, incorporating influences from past decades when Soul and Rock were much closer cousins and using modern hip-hop techniques to infuse them with reggae up-beats, funk and even dubstep and jazz flourishes. The result is a bright, new yet nostalgically groovy  sound.

In short, FAREWELL, MY L.u.v have created the perfect music to immerse yourself in when you’re in need of something infectiously upbeat and yet warm and familiar. Add them to your prepper playlist today!

In addition to Gold, FAREWELL, MY L.u.v have recently contributed to lo-fi, hip hop unit O’CHAWANZ‘s Collaboration album (also featuring 3776 and SAKA SAMA).

To promote both of these new releases, FAREWELL, MY L.u.v are leaving the familiar confines of Nagoya this week for some rare Tokyo appearances including a couple that will be livestreamed.  You can catch them live via Loft Project livestream with debut-of-the-year contenders NELN and  Kaika-kaika- whose acapella version of “Nerve” was one of the highlights of TIF 2020. 

FAREWELL, MY L.u.v will close out their week in Tokyo by broadcasting a birthday live for Ritsuko on the Moonromantic channel.

So whenever it all feels a bit much this week, you will be able to mainline FAREWELL, MY L.u.v until it all (hopefully) gets better. It is not humanly possible to feel bad after listening to this: