Japanese rock bands have found it difficult to crack the international market, with the token English phrases dropped into the typical throwaway J-Pop song sounding tired and cliched to the average music fan in the west.
But one band that's fast gaining respect on the global stage is Love Psychedelico, a stylish duo who effortlessly blend English and Japanese lyrics over a background of rock'n'roll heavily influenced by 1960s sound.
Kumi (vocals and guitars) and Naoki Sato (guitars, bass and keyboards) have provided the soundtrack for countless chic boutiques in Hong Kong since 2001's ironically titled debut, The Greatest Hits, and will treat local fans to a long-awaited performance at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Tuesday.
'We know our fans in Hong Kong have been waiting for us, and we're glad we can finally come and meet them,' the duo says in an e-mail reply.
'We are also looking forward to it because Hong Kong will be the last stop of our Asian tour.'
They pair have performed all over Japan and across South Korea in recent weeks.