cambelle - Magic Moments

The first album by cambelle, a three-piece indie pop band from Tokyo.

Artist：cambelle
Title：Magic Moments
Format：LP
CAT#：OLDJ2
Barcode：4560452133085
Price：$45
Label：OLD JOY RECORDS
Japan Release Date：November 3rd, 2026

The first album by cambelle, a three-piece indie pop band from Tokyo. Crossing soft rock, bossa nova, neo-acoustic, and retro soul, this ambitious work paints a picture of retro-modern pop that connects the past and the present.

cambelle is a three-piece indie pop band based in Tokyo. Formed by Yoshitomo Kumagai from Kumamoto, Ryo Ichihara from Tokyo, and Haruka Kawakami from Ishikawa, the band brings together members from different places and musical backgrounds, continuing their activities around a shared love of pop music.

On their first album "Magic Moments," released in 2025, cambelle set out from a concept of retro-modern pop, drawing inspiration from 1960s and 1970s soft rock and pop, neo-acoustic music, bossa nova, and retro soul, while creating a sound world that feels natural as contemporary indie music. Their sound brings together the lineage of pop left behind by Todd Rundgren, Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach, and others with a sense of affinity for current artists such as Clairo, Alice Phoebe Lou, and Men I Trust, creating a feeling that is both nostalgic and fresh.

The songs are built from each member’s individuality: Kumagai’s approachable and delicate melodies, Ichihara’s editing of references and production, and Kawakami’s flexible arrangements shaped by a background in jazz and Latin American music. Throughout the album, there is a gentle sense of uplift and an intimate atmosphere. While the music reflects influences from neo-acoustic, chamber pop, and sophisti-pop, it is not confined to any particular genre, instead sounding clearly as pop music in the present tense.

Another important element in cambelle’s creative process is collaboration with many friends. "Magic Moments" features numerous musicians close to the band, and the album was created as they brought together ideas for performances and arrangements. At its core is an admiration for pop music born from the meeting of different talents and sensibilities, something that also connects to the A&M Records works the members love. Rather than being completed through the authorship of a single writer, the band values the rich resonance that emerges through relationships between people, which can be seen as one of its defining qualities.

With soft electric piano and acoustic guitar tones, carefully layered chorus work, and ensembles with real depth, cambelle’s sound connects gently with the context opened up by Japanese pop acts such as Lamp, KIRINJI, and cero, while reflecting everyday life in Tokyo and memories of time spent with friends. Moving back and forth between past and present, the city and private landscapes, cambelle continues to explore pop music in its own way.

Tracklist:
Side A
01. Magic Moments
02. Gloom
03. A White Heron
04. Giddy Parades
05. Interlude

Side B
06. Dream in Bossa
07. Our Suburban Friends
08. Christopher
09. Sleep Warm
10. Akegata