False Alarm

Formed in Kitakyushu in the late 1990s, False Alarm are a Japanese experimental punk trio whose combination of ferocious rhythms, abrasive guitar work and disarmingly sweet melodies has earned them a devoted international following.

At the heart of the band is Mika Ishikawa, whose extraordinary ability to combine rapid-fire drumming with lead vocals has become central to False Alarm's unmistakable sound. Her delivery moves effortlessly between sharp, mischievous Japanese and English shouts and moments of almost bubblegum-pop sweetness.

Guitarist Kenji Morita is an equally important creative force, responsible for much of the band's songwriting and the jagged, electronically distorted guitar textures that define their recordings. Bassist Yumi Tanaka completes the trio, anchoring their unpredictable arrangements with remarkable precision and an infectious enthusiasm that has made her a favourite among live audiences.

False Alarm broke through internationally in 1999 with Tiny Disaster, which spent four months at number one in the UK and Ireland. Their career has since encompassed nine studio albums, five top-ten singles and two Mercury Prizes, alongside a reputation for exhilarating and technically accomplished live performances.

Their ninth album, Tiger Blast!, continues the band's restless exploration of noise, melody and rhythm. From the frantic opening of Last Train to the unexpected tenderness of After the Rain, it captures a group whose creative curiosity remains undiminished.

Nearly three decades into their career, False Alarm remain as unpredictable, inventive and compelling as ever.