Fried Banana Shop Invite Listeners Into Their Own Little World With Goldenrod

Tokyo trio Fried Banana Shop rework their five-track instrumental project into a warm, psychedelic escape, blending jazz, funk, soul and ambient textures.

Tokyo-based trio Fried Banana Shop are offering a fresh perspective on their immersive instrumental sound with Goldenrod, a remixed and remastered version of their five-track project, originally released in May.

Out now, Goldenrod drifts between psychedelic funk, sun-soaked soul and hazy jazz, creating a transportive sound built on atmosphere, fluid musicianship and understated grooves. Drawing comparisons to Khruangbin and Kikagaku Moyo, the trio carve out a world of their own, letting shimmering guitars, wandering saxophone lines, warm keys and loose rhythms breathe.

Across tracks including ‘Blow’, ‘Fabric Rain’ and ‘Raccoon’, the project moves effortlessly between laid-back warmth and psychedelic haze. Rather than treating its five tracks as separate statements, Goldenrod unfolds like one continuous journey, rewarding both close listening and the simple pleasure of switching off.

For Tomo (guitar), Ryuju (drums, bass and keys) and Yoji (saxophone), that sense of escape is central to the project. Having first connected through Tokyo’s jazz and big band scenes, the trio began playing together during the pandemic, bonding over a shared appetite for everything from Pink Floyd to Sam Gendel. What started with informal jams and a handful of gigs has since taken them into clubs, record shops, restaurants, house shows and even high-end fashion spaces.

“We’re not interested in” making music simply to chase social media impressions, the band explain. Instead, Fried Banana Shop want to create something that offers a little distance from the noise of everyday life — music that gives listeners room to dance, drift or leave their worries behind.

With Goldenrod, they sharpen their identity as an instrumental outfit, finding common ground between their constantly evolving musical interests without being tied to one genre. And with a second EP due in November, this latest release feels less like a full stop than an invitation further into their world.

Listen to Goldenrod here.