"C-Beem's newest EP is a mystical journey into another world. TALES FROM TONO proves he has mastered the creation of sophisticated soundscapes for storytelling purposes. It is an original album that must not be missed out."
JPeg Chief Reviews

"We are lucky enough to be listening C-Beem’s EP with good earphones, and I am beyond impressed! It has the intriguing sound of experimental dream-pop like The Radio Dept. or Sigur Rós. It’s futuristic yet it still has this melancholic approach when listening to the whole project.This five-track collection Tales From Tono is a roadmap of his journey on his epic post-punk road trip of synth, bleeding music genres on his sound that can be described as experimental, and which included different features of dream-pop, electronic, soundscape and vocal exploration. From the early days of building his project, his inspiration was focused on millenary legends from Japan. What a journey!
The ancient village of Tono is an ancient Japanese region where magic, dreams, beauty, and terror are woven together into the rich folk tales of the island. Having a vision, passion, and talent for what he wants, and with a love for art, C-Beem’s latest synth-driven release was born and brings 5 ways for the pleasure of synth-rock lovers everywhere.
This EP is a soundscape journey into this mystical plane inspired by Kunio Yanagita’s 1910 book publication, The Legends of Tono. C-Beem is here to show what synth music has always been about: Inspiration, experiment, good vibrations and good music beyond genres.
Tales From Tono is as unique as it is exciting. The track, “Bow To The Kappa” starts off with an almost minimal approach, very Japanese. It consists of slow haunting notes, slowly building up to a polyphonic ambient EDM style drop in the chorus. This style continues throughout the song and makes for a very interesting listen. The synth-rock style is truly what makes the overall concept superb and enchanting. However, the soundscape synth beats are my favourite aspect of this record. They’re captivating and really push its alternative sound forward. This is the kind of project that is very welcomed by the film industry. Remember the movie’s soundtracks, C-Beem’s production matches with mysterious ambiences and futuristic scenarios."
Will Lisil – MW3.biz International

"The EP has a total of 5 songs inspired by TONO, an ancient village in Japan 'Where magic, dreams, beauty, and terror mingle within the island’s rich store of folk and fairy tales.' These tales the artist came across were originally inspired by “The legends of Tono', a book by Kunio Yanagita published in 1910. The synths, bass sound, and electronic sound effects dominate the overall tracks with a Japanese theme. It starts with 'Those Hills' which opens with a subtle bass line and synths playing a motif on loop, then moves to an interesting percussive line influenced by Japanese tunes. Several different sound effects and instruments are introduced throughout, like the Tambourine. The vocal line is recitative, telling a story with music in the background. 'Far Away Village' is the only instrumental track in the EP, opening with a common Japanese melody and then an elaborated line of synths and sound effects giving it a more modern vibe. The third track is 'Bow to the Kappa', a different vibe with a groovy bass line and a disco dance beat with minimal lyrics and the line ‘bow to the kappa’ on loop. 'Mayoiga' has a hypnotic-like sound and mood with a very interesting, distorted noise improvisation. The last song is 'Oshirasama – Star Crossed Lovers'. This one is stacked up in layers of sound as the backing vocals play a significant part, and the main vocal recites a story through singing and a marching percussive line effect close to the sound of a Timpani. The lead vocal moves to a scatting improvisation part which adds a jazzy aesthetic. After listening to this EP I’m curious to find out more about this artist’s background, influences, and musical skills. It might not be the kind of music to play on a road trip but it’s undoubtedly interesting and different, and it’ll make you experience the Japanese music elements in a fresh and modern way."
Systra Reviews

"An authentic music creation ... a musical UFO between indie pop and electro pop. An original EP inspired by Japanese history and culture with a western influence."
InfoMusic Reviews

"'Tono' is an old Japanese village full of magic and fantastical stories, mixing beauty and terror. This five track e.p mixes synthesizers, keyboards and other instruments to create a project meshed into the culture of ancient Japan. His musical story-telling from folk legends of a small, very old village was inspired by a 1910 book, 'The Legends of Tono' by Kunio Yanagita.
It starts with 'Those Hills' which introduces local mythological history. The music is a little somber and connects with the singer's voice which is deep and red like the industrial style of the 80s, having as an instrumental a base with synthesizers and synths.
'Far Away Village' is very similar to Japanese songs and even being all instrumental it is possible to visualize what the village and the people who inhabit it would be like.
'Bow To The Kappa' has a more modern dance style enhanced by electronic drums. 'Mayoiga' is slower and follows a more industrial sweep of electronica. You could say this song is more clearly vocalised than the others, charged strongly by the fantastical stories of mythogical Japan.
We finished the EP with 'Oshirasama' which is denser than all the others - more dramatic and melodic. The Japanese elements within deliver a very beautiful track.
To take full advantage of the entire album experience, listen with headphones to capture all the sounds and melt into this beautiful and unique experience."
Gleison Junior, Roadie Music

"C-Beem has taken us through metaphors in ‘Tumbleweed in Tinseltown’, only to shoot us into space and bring us back with the grounded single ‘Angel Hill’. He is now inviting us on a journey into misty beauty and magic terror with his EP, Tales from Tono. Inspired by the ancient Japanese village of Tono, he taps into the island’s rich folk and fairy tales, while touching on the 1910 book by Kunio Yanagita ‘The Legends of Tono’.
Packing the sparks of magic into his synth and keyboard driven sound, C-Beem easily transports us out of our daily lives and into something truly magnificent. There is an experimental touch to the track, adding to the mysticism that has been artfully woven into each note. Combining ancient stories with modern tones, he has created an EP that is quite the listening experience.
‘Those Hills’ opens the EP with a misty sound that increases with a sense of grandeur. It is like you are on a misty lake and the island slowly reveals itself as the fog dissipates. The percussion adds to the sense of wonder, while the synths bring a slightly retro edge to the track. The vocals push you forward toward the growing island and draw your eyes to the beauty of the hills being unveiled. The lyrics have a storytelling vibe to them and make you feel like you are listening to the opening chapter of a book. The small instrumental section shimmers with light that further enhances the mysticism of the track, while setting the tone for the rest of the EP.
‘Far Away Village’ is an instrumental track that delicately plucks at your senses to grab your attention. The light and bright tones that open the track have an ancient undertone that draws you into historic folk movements. Beneath these notes is a wash of sound that sweeps around your ankles, while the beats slam from a distance. It is a wonderful single that mesmerises you and has you relaxing into the layered sound. As the track progresses, there is a feeling of it building to something as the warbling lines enter. Some traditional folk instrumentation adds to the majesty of the track, while relaxing your muscles with their beauty. You can’t help but imagine rolling hills with low-hanging clouds reaching out as far as you can see as you listen to this song.
The beats that open ‘Bow to the Kappa’ have a darker edge to them, that is countered by the glittering cascade of electronic notes. The pulse that enters meets the beats, getting your heart racing and pushing you forward into the vintage synths. The vocals bring another retro hit as they push against your shoulders. There is a really great push to the vocal delivery that mimics shouted orders that temper the paced forward momentum of the music. Later in the track, the music takes on a jittery feeling as the higher levels shiver as they lead you back into the opening beats. The vocals further their marching vibes at this time, making your feet tap to their movement.
‘Mayoiga (Phantom House)’ uses some interesting notes to get your attention before washing your senses with a gentle melodic line. This line is like the breaking of dawn and the filling of your lungs with the fresh morning air. Peaceful and relaxing, the music perfectly sets the stage for the vocals that whisper a traditional folk adventure into your ears. The gentle whisper of his performance turns into an earthier folk movement that brings the blaze of fire and the search for something deeper to the track. While a generally soft single, it is extremely addictive as you get seriously lost in the story it has to tell. There is a slight change in the melody later in the track that adds a wonderful texture to the sound. Between the storytelling lyrics, captivating vocals and enveloping melody, you will be hopelessly caught by the track.
The EP comes to a close with ‘Oshirasama (Star-Crossed Lovers)’ which uses a contrast of rich tones and electronic pulses. The vocals have a misty feeling to them as they lightly hover over the music. It feels like the vocals are coming from a distance, carried on the wind, to tease you with their words. The main vocal line offers more solidity, while the melody continues its rather delicate movement. Through the track, C-Beem fills you with the affection of the lovers and the knowledge that it will probably end badly. The softness of the melody turns halfway through the track, losing the hazy vibes and gaining an organic twang. This new movement will have you bopping to the rhythm, while still riding the high of the star-crossed lovers woven into the vocals.
Through the tracks of Tales from Tono, C-Beem transports us to a new world packed with misty synths, magical stories and captivating vocals. Each track tells a different story but carries the majestic mix of synths, instrumentation and storytelling vocals that make his music so enjoyable. There is a softness woven into the track that is tempered by the almost novel-like storytelling flow of the lyrics that are brought to life by his vocals."
Claudia Mendes, The Other Side Reviews

"'TalesFromTono' is the new 5-track EP from Leicester Based artist C-Beem. This artist has worked hard on his craft to bring us 5 uniquely intriguing tracks ranging in influences from EDM to landscape and even world music.
The project opens with a track entitled 'Those Hills'. This creation intrigued me instantly in the way that the sound grew in the opening moments. This piece is highly mindful, packed with sounds that go from singing bowls to experimental rock and cinematic soundscapes. I was highly interested in this piece.
'Far Away Village' literally swept me away from my West Midlands home and into East Asia. I love the way that this track has infused eastern music with the experimental electronic elements of the west. Both sides of the spectrum seem to work, almost like a yin and yang symbolism of the other - rather than good and evil, this is East and West that work together to provide something interesting, highly skillful, and unique. 'Bow To The Kappa' is completely different from the first two tracks (although these were both different from each other too) this track implements electronic EDM with funk and sprinkles of 80s synthpop. The vocals fit into the genre of alternative 80s pop and indie rock. The lyrics are catchy and so is the instrumentation here.
'Mayoiga (Phantom House)' sweeps you back into a vast soundscape full of hope and dreams of bell synths. Again, the indie rock sound embeds itself into the foundations of the piece through the vocal style and steady drum kit.
Concluding this EP is a track named 'Oshirasama (Star Crossed Lovers)' - as you can imagine, this piece is very dreamy, based on 80s synth-pop packed with reverb and electronic key synths. I really enjoyed the vast range of influences, sounds, and lyrics found in this EP and I definitely want to hear more from C-Beem very soon!"
Tamara Jenna, TJPL News

"The glisteningly experimental synth driven record by Leicester based C-Beem feels like a pleasant assault on the senses. Inspired by the region it draws its title from, Tales from Tono has an air of mystique about it, a shroud of mystery, and a mist of sensory bliss. Tono is an ancient Japanese village where magic, dreams, beauty and terror mingle within the island’s rich store of folk and fairy tales. Directly inspired by Kunio Yanagita’s 1910 book publication, ‘The Legends of Tono’, the EP draws from an array of 80s influences to piece together a five track record filled with bits of rock, pop, dance, and a kerfuffle of it all.
The magic of the music for me comes out most resplendently in the more hypnotic melodies. Perhaps best exemplified in the EP’s second piece, the instrumental ‘Far Away Village’, C-Beem is able to exude so much emotion and sensory unravelling of a culture and space purely through just simple beats and instrumental overlaying. There isn’t a word that needs to be said - it would just reduce the effect this piece has. The beauty of the soundscape allows you to visualise an entire landscape that Tono would be. There’s also a surprisingly diverse collection of genres and styles that C-Beem uses. The more mystically serene Far Away Village is followed by a more futuristic and dance driven ‘Bow To The Kappa’.
An experimental adventure that’s bound to have you inspired to search for your own adventure."
Kartik Sundar, Find No Enemy


"C-BEEM LAUNCHES THE NEW GENIUS EP.
C-Beem releases the new EP 'Tales From Tono', his second work released this year. It follows his previous three-track EP, 'C-Beem and The Winter Thickets'.
'Tales From Tono' bears a synthpop musical style with elements of dream pop. The first track 'Those Hills' takes us on an 80s inspired journey with touches of something like cans beating in the background, plus sounds reminiscent of violins and a mysterious vocal - more whispering and serious - while a second appears a more acute voice. The song is super hot to listen to with a truly conquering melody. It mixes light (instrumental parts) with darkness (vocals), finding a magnificent balance.
The second track 'Far Away Village' starts keyboard lines in the Japanese Oriental style, giving us a tranquil, peaceful introduction until beats, electronic-like, offer a transcendental aspect. The song rings deep with some brilliant saxaphone phrasing. Electronic beats impose a futuristic aspect on the song.
The fourth track 'Mayoiga (Phantom House)' is like dream pop wrapped in synth pop with Oriental trends, whilst taking us to the future with electric sounding beats. The keyboard melody is charming, keeping us involved and connected with the music, and the unique vocal impacts us with reminders of Tears For Fears - the chorus infectious with a sense of hope.
The last track 'Oshirasama (Star Crossed Lovers' is heavily 80s in the opening, with vibrant synthesizer, serious beats and expressive vocal. This track ends the EP with a different sound to much of what we hear these days ... something solid, retro, futuristic, with a harmony between the arrangements of synthesizer and repeating vocal verses. There is also has a keyboard solo in the background, becoming continuous in the second part of the song.
This new work by C-Beem presents a very, good, authentic sound, striking balance between dark pop and commercial 80s pop, and conveys a new, futuristic retropop synth vibe that sounds fresh in today's world.
Victor Matheus, IndieOClock

"Escape of the day. hello! Today, we take you into a universe apart from C-Beem who has offered us the fabulous 'Tales From Tono'.
This is above all a project with extraordinary creativity. Its creator offers a tasty recipe between dream pop and ambient sounds, all colored with a retro touch, sometimes even psychedelic.
Synths, soundscapes, aerial voices - the EP is designed to send you into an ocean of beautiful sensations."
IndieChronique