Extra incentive, as if any was needed, to get down to the Friendly Fires shows in Osaka and Tokyo comes in the form of opening act Chad Valley, the moniker of British solo artist Hugo Manuel.
Over the last 12 months, Oxford-born Manuel has via the Cascine label released two E.P.s — "Chad Valley E.P." and "Equatorial Ultravox," full of exquisite, sun-kissed dreamy electronica, making good his aim of "recreating the feeling of the beach".
Plaudits have arrived from all quarters, earning Manuel comparisons with Washed Out and Toro y Moi, the acclaimed leaders of the so-called chillwave movement.