f Esperanza, a band that has been supporting and sustaining the Hiroshima scene for 13 years and is only now releasing its first 12″ vinyl. They are direct descendants of the generation that saw the world burn and had to rebuild from scratch. “Esperanza” ("hope" in Spanish) is a word that few people understand, and it carries more weight in their homeland than elsewhere. Hope is the only possibility—almost a biological one—to move forward after being a primary factor in one of the greatest injustices in the history of our planet. Less pleasant feelings like anger, frustration, and decay also coexist in their songs. Even if you don’t understand Japanese, you can really feel the vibe when you listen to their songs. While the band has a classic Japanese sound with a strong UK82 influence, what stands out most about Esperanza is their honesty and their explicit belief in the music they make.