March 16-20
BO-PEEP
US Gigs/SXSW
Mar 16 - The Bordello - Los Angeles, CA
Mar 17 - The Big Spill Festival, Rock Bottom - San Antonio, TX
Mar 20 - Girls Rock Camp Austin, Whole Foods roof patio (SXSW) - AUSTIN, Texas
Mar 20 - Lamberts (SXSW) - Austin, TX
Source: MySpace
March 15-21
Natccu
LA and SXSW Gigs
Mar 15 - Whisky A Go Go - Los Angeles, California
Mar 17 - The Big Spill Festival, The Warhol - San Antonio, TX
Mar 18 - SXSW @ Brush Square Park - Austin, TX
Mar 18 - SXSW @ The Parish Downstairs - Austin, TX
Mar 21 - SXSW @ SESAC Day Stage - Austin, TX
Source: MySpace
Japan Nite Tour
3/20(fri) Elysium (Austin, TX)
3/22(sun) - Bowery Ballroom (New York, NY)
3/23(mon) - T.T. The Bear's (Cambridge, MA)
3/24(tue) - Empty Bottle (Chicago, IL)
3/26(thu) - Bluebird Theater (Denver, CO)
3/27(fri) - High Dive (Seattle, WA)
3/28(fri) - Independent (San Francisco, CA)
3/29(sun) - Knitting Factory (Los Angels, CA)
Black & White Europe Tour
4/8(wed) - Glazart (Paris, France)
4/9(thu) - Stereo Wonderland (Cologne, Germany)
4/11(sat) - Clash (Berlin, Germany)
4/12(sun) - Schützenhaus (Hohenstein, Germany)
4/15(wed) - Dürer Kert (Budapest, Hungary)
4/17(fri) - Klub Uljanik (Pula, Croatia)
4/18(sat) - Spunk (Pula, Croatia)
4/19(fri) - Channel Zero (Ljubljana, Slovenia)
4/22(wed) - Printemps de Bourges (Bourges, France)
4/23(thu) - Deep Inside (Dijon, France)
4/24(fri) - Le Rat Pack (Clermont-Ferrand, France)
4/25(sat) - La guinguette Lautrec (Rodez, France)
4/26(sun) - Estraperlo Badalona (Barcelona, Spain)
Source: Official Site (Thanks to ax-xa for the tip!)
Only one day left before the February poll wraps up! Other than band profiles, what kind of posts would you most like to see on the blog? Right now it looks like you constant readers out there would very much like to see more album reviews. A distant second are the calendar posts, with a sprinkling of new video posts.
Have you voted yet? If not, time is very quickly running out. The poll will close March 1st, so make your voice heard! Thanks!
March 6-8
Zazen Boys
New York
3/6 - Cake Shop, New York
3/7 - The Saint Asbury Park, New Jersey
3/8 - Pianos, New York
Source: MySpace
DOWNLOAD EPISODE 76 AT JAPANATOR!
Random updates via my Twitter.
Track-list and links after the jump!
00:00 OP: Shiina Ringo x Saito Neko - Gamble (Inst.) - Heisei Fuuzoku [BUY]
01:04 Andymori - Follow Me - Andymori [BUY]
03:36 Beat Crusaders - Phantom Planet - Very Best Crusaders [BUY] [Check out the new video here]
08:35 Lillies and Remains - Wreckage - Single [BUY]
11:46 Break - Streat Fighter IV OST [BUY]
12:33 Megumi Hayashibara - Front Breaking - Single [BUY]
16:11 Morning Musume - Naichau Kamo - Single [BUY - JapanFiles.com]
20:40 Susumu Hirasawa + InhVmaN - Tetragrammaton - Tetragrammaton [BUY]
24:04 Break - Streat Fighter IV OST [BUY]
Artist Spotlight - Buck-Tick
25:34 Buck-Tick - Les Enfants Terrible - Memento Mori [BUY]
28:58 Buck-Tick - Nakayubi - Mona Lisa Overdrive [BUY]
32:20 Buck-Tick - Long Distance Call - Kyokutou I Love You [BUY]
36:46 Buck-Tick - Umbrella - Memento Mori [BUY]
41:02 Break - Streat Fighter IV OST [BUY]
42:05 Omodaka - Kokirikobushi - Cantata No. 147 [BUY - HearJapan - Also, get it for free!]
45:33 Group_Inou - Status (Matsu & Take's Paradise Mix) [BUY]
50:54 P-Model - Lab=01 - P-Model [BUY]
53:30 ED: Shiina Ringo x Saito Neko - Sakuran (Terra ver.) (Inst.) - Heisei Fuuzoku [BUY]
April 10-12, 2009
Takuya Angel (DJ)
Anime Matsuri 2009, Houston, TX
Source: Tainted Reality
February 19, 2009 - Japanese fashion legend Takuya Angel, will be making his US Debut as both a clothing designer, and a DJ at Anime Matsuri in The Woodlands, Texas, courtesy of Tainted Reality. His appearance at the convention includes a DJ set at the convention rave, and several of his personally designed outfits being featured in the convention fashion show. In addition to these main events, he will be participating in autograph sessions, fan Q&A panels, and selling merchandise, including his debut CD being released through Darkest Labyrinth Records.
About Takuya Angel:
Takuya is a respectable fashion designer and DJ who is capturing the hearts of the visual and cyber generation. Born in Osaka, Japan in 1967, Takuya always wanted to create something different and unique. He thought it should be possible to combine old Japanese fashion with modern Japanese fashion. Takuya Angel clothes and accessories are a huge combination of colors, patterns and shapes. Traditional and modern materials put together in a stylish way with wild exotic colors that will blow you away. In 1985, Takuya started the original brand Takuya Angel wanting to bring Japan back into fashion, and he followed his artistic instincts to create an amazing line that has captivated the eye of not only the Japanese crowd, but all around the globe. Takuya's inspiration came from various sources, such as bringing old Kimonos into the 21st century, taking inspiration from his own environment, historical events, childhood, and anime. Takuya looks beyond what is
right or wrong, and all of his ambitions and efforts have made him the Takuya of today.
Takuya started playing as a DJ in 1986, and worked on many different genres. Takuya himself is a huge techno fan, and creates his own club music. In 2007, Takuya toured outside of Japan and played shows in Paris, Germany, Holland, England, Spain, Switzerland, and Belgium. Takuya collaborates often with the Tokyo Decandence, one of the hottest events in Tokyo, and participates in special club nights where he often DJs.
Takuya Angel Links:
http://homepage.mac.com/takuya_angel/Menu1.html
About Anime Matsuri:
Anime Matsuri is a Houston based convention dedicated to anime, manga, gaming and Japanese culture. Continuing to combine many aspects of the Japanese culture to its line-up, Anime Matsuri 2009, held on April 10-12, 2009, features Import Reactor (a rooftop Car Show), an outdoor theater, and a wide range of cultural activities. Once a year, the beautiful Woodlands area turns into a world of anime, a meeting place for thousands of fans, enthusiasts, celebrities, industry personnel and artists. Anime Matsuri is an annual Anime and Japanese Pop Culture convention held in Houston, Texas. The 2009 convention will be held on Easter weekend, April 10th – 12th, 2009at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.
Anime Matsuri Links:
www.animematsuri.com
About Tainted Reality:
Tainted Reality is the premiere source of Japanese rock (J-Rock) entertainment in the United States. Tainted Reality hosts their own internet radio network dedicated to Japanese musical programming and produces radio shows such as Tainted Reality & The Tainted Reality Talkshow. Tainted Reality often conducts interviews with some of the biggest musical artists of Japan like Yoshiki of X Japan, Die of Dir en grey, Miyavi and MUCC. They also manage and organize tours for prominent J-Rock bands such as BLOOD, Versailles -Philharmonic Quintet-, The Candy Spooky Theater as well as producing media such as the Darkest Labyrinth Vol.1 DVD and the Darkest Labyrinth CD.
Tainted Reality Links:
http://www.taintedreality.net
www.myspace.com/taintedrealityradio
Viridian is an unassuming Japanese folk/indie-rock trio. Their debut album Sangenshoku (サンゲンショク), released in early 2009, is a solid offering of groovy indie-rock tempered by singer Sano Hitomi's more mature voice and acoustic guitar. Miyaji Kimura's electric guitar playing is treated with plenty of raw power and stripped down effects, and the same goes for Kamiya Yuu's drumming.
There is very little technical wizardry to get in the way of the band's pure song writing talents. With the exception of the band's first single "Little Soldier," the songs are rather soft and sparse, not exactly down-tempo but also not overly energetic. The lack of a bass player also adds a tenseness to the music. Without the bottom end to provide a warm and rosy glow, the songs stand out as being a bit cold and angular.
On the other hand, they are also able to keep the mood light and playful. While they still retain an overall morose feel, some songs do venture into an easy going, toe tapping groove. While they may sound a bit light on tape, in a live setting they really ramp up the volume and manage to inject more life into their songs.
With only a single release from the band so far, it's tough to know what to expect in the future. Sangenshoku shows not only a lot of promise, but the ability for Viridian to go in just about any direction the choose. We shall just have to wait and see.
The new single from the great new gothy/post-punk band Lillies and Remains is up on iTunes (as is their first E.P.)
"Wreckage" is the first single from the band since their very first release, the superb Moralist S.S. E.P. Much of that debut is full of very dark, yet rather energetic goth/indy-rock ala Bauhaus (their namesake) and other early, angular acts. "Wreckage," the first look at what the band might be gravitating toward on the next album, is much softer and tame by comparison. It still has that slightly muffled and brooding atmosphere, rife with reverb and delay, but the melody is very pretty and gentle, as opposed to the more confrontational tone on Moralist S.S. It's very much like Bloc Party's softer ballads, with its heavily delayed and clean guitars and thick chorus of sighing vocal harmonies. It's not lethargic by any means and still retains the band's danceable groove, but all of the rough corners have been rounded off.
It's obviously too early in the game to say that the rest of the next album from Lillies and Remains will fall in line with the softer tone set by "Wreckage." It could simply be that they are putting their more palatable foot forward before revealing the ax behind their back. Let us hope that is the case.
You can listen to the song on their MySpace page, and buy it for $.99 on iTunes, which I highly recommend.
So, this week I am sick. Late show is late, but at least I managed to soldier on and turn this mutha out. Make sure to crank up the bits where I'm talking. Those parts are great.
Anyway, this week we've got new music from Kanon Wakeshima, Reach Up to the Universe and MEG, and the always awesome Straightener with a new album in the Artist Spotlight.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'll just let you grab the show while I go over here and lay down for a few days.
DOWNLOAD EPISODE 75 AT JAPANATOR!
Random updates via my Twitter.
Track-list and links after the jump!
00:00 OP: Shiina Ringo x Saito Neko - Gamble (Inst.) - Heisei Fuuzoku [BUY]
00:01:13 GO!GO!7188 - Antenna - Antenna [BUY]
00:05:18 Viridian - Little Soldier - Sangenshoku [BUY]
00:09:38 Reach Up to the Universe - Faster - Mistake - You & Me [BUY]
00:13:07 Street Fighter IV OST [BUY]
00:13:45 BlindPlace - Control Burst - BlindPlace
00:18:47 sgt. - Mowe - Perception of Causality [BUY]
00:23:40 Student A. - Reticule - S.F. [BUY]
00:29:57 Street Fighter IV OST [BUY]
Artist Spotlight - Straightener
00:30:57 Straightener - Butterfly Dreams - Nexus [BUY]
00:35:59 Straightener - Sad Code - Dear Deadman [BUY]
00:41:07 Straightener - Lightning - Nexus [BUY]
00:45:27 Straightener - A Songs Runs Through World - Lost World's Anthology [BUY]
00:48:57 Street Fighter IV OST [BUY]
00:50:13 MEG - Toxic (The Lowbrows Gimmie Five Remix) - Freak (Single) [BUY]
00:54:38 Kanon Wakeshima - Monochrome - Shinshoku Dolce [BUY]
00:58:12 Speaker Gain Teardrop - Giving Tree
01:04:14 ED: Shiina Ringo x Saito Neko - Sakuran (Terra ver.) (Inst.) - Heisei Fuuzoku [BUY]
In a sea roiling with wave after wave of icy salt water, it's understandable that a person would eagerly grasp at any handhold proffered up by the briny deep. In the sea of idol after frigid, vapid idol, the cello slinging Kanon Wakeshima is a welcome life-preserver.
Allegedly only 18 or 19 years old, Wakeshima started out her career with hopes of being a singer. She had a lifetime of training with the cello, but almost let her unique talents fall to the wayside when she was preparing a demo. She reconsidered and used her cello playing along with her singing, and Song snatched her up.
Don't let the slightly dark/vis-kei look fool you though. She is first and foremost a pop idol, just in a slightly different setting. Her 2009 debut album Shinshoku Dolce is pure pop with a layer of dark chocolate and lace. Her singles also give a slightly false impression, being the more gothic of the songs offered. Sure, they are full of the requisite organs and reverby hallways, but the production makes it obvious that her songs are about her voice above all else. Produced by vis-kei god Mana (Malize Mizer, Moi dix Mois,) the album is also jam packed with his disdain for "real" instruments and is instead rife with his usual cheesy pallet of fake drums, stings and hokey synths. This drains much of the lifeblood out of what might otherwise be very rich and pretty songs.
Stripped down to the bone, when Wakeshima is allowed to flaunt her unique traits, i.e. her lower register voice and her cello playing, the songs really do shine with a dark light. All too often it seems like she is being pressed into the standard j-pop mold. While she is guaranteed to appeal to those with a darker world view, the shallowness and overall low-rent production might turn off those with truly refined pallets.
July 2 – July 5
Morning Musume
Anime Expo 2009
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Convention Center
Source: Anime Expo
[Full details after the jump]
ANIME EXPO® ANNOUNCES MORNING MUSUME AS FIRST OFFICIAL GUESTS OF HONOR FOR
2009 CONVENTION IN LOS ANGELES
Nation’s Largest Anime and Manga Convention Welcomes Japan’s Top Female
Group from Hello! Project
Anaheim, California and Tokyo, Japan (February 12, 2009) — With excitement
beyond belief, Anime Expo® proudly announces the attendance and performance
of Japan’s most celebrated and top all-girl music group MORNING MUSUME (also
referred to as “Momusu”) to the nation’s largest anime and manga convention
held July 2-5, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. More information
can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org
The MORNING MUSUME (モーニング娘. Morning Daughter) is a one of a kind
all-girl group whose story began in 1997 when Japanese producer TSUNKU♂ held
auditions for a female rock vocalist for his band SHARAN Q held on the
Japanese TV show ASAYAN. With the five runner-ups from the contest, Tsunku
decided to create an all-girl group that sold 50,000 copies of their indies
CD single “Ai no Tane” and debuted as MORNING MUSUME. They are the lead
group of Hello! Project
MORNING MUSUME’s first single “Morning Coffee” made a huge splash by hitting
the #6 position in the Japanese pop charts within its first week of release.
In August of 1998, MORNING MUSUME reached the #1 spot in the Japanese pop
charts with their 3rd single “HOLD ON ME”. In 1999, the group had their
first nationwide tour with 19 performances in 7 cities for 40,000 fans.
In September of 1999, MORNING MUSUME released their smash hit “Love Machine”
that sold 2 million copies and held the first place spot in the Japanese pop
charts and stayed 17 weeks on the Oricon Karaoke Chart.
MORNING MUSUME is famous not just for being Japan’s top female group, but
also for its unique approach with the shuffling of members. Producer
TSUNKU♂ creates freshness by graduating band members and adding new members
to create different units and adds fresh new faces for fans old and new.
In 2007, MORNING MUSUME made a historic impact within the Japanese music
industry as the band welcomed new members Jun Jun and Lin Lin from China and
began to reach an international audience. In 2008, MORNING MUSUME
celebrated their 10th anniversary. MORNING MUSUME is definitely the world’s
most famous and successful Japanese all-girl group.
MORNING MUSUME consists of band members Ai Takahashi, Risa Niigaki, Eri
Kamei, Sayumi Michishige, Reina Tanaka, Koharu Kusumi, Aika Mitsui, JunJun,
and LinLin.
Images available upon request and/or via the Anime Expo® 2009 Online Press
Kit.
Attendees, Press and Industry Members are also encouraged to view the video
coverage site of the 2008 convention at www.AXBackstage.org
www.anime-expo.org
In coordination with this event, JapanFiles.com will release Morning
Musume's digital catalog on its website, beginning with the release of the
group's new single "Naichau kamo" on February 18, 2009. JapanFiles.com will
also open a special Morning Musume store for fans with official goods from
Japan.
About Anime Expo®
Located in Los Angeles, California - Anime Expo®, the nation’s largest
anime/manga convention, serves to foster trade, commerce and the interests
of the general public and animation/ comics industry. This event serves as
a key meeting place for the general public to express their interest and
explore various aspects of anime/manga, as well as for members of the
industry to conduct business. AX 2009 will be held July 2 – July 5, 2009 at
the Los Angeles Convention Center in Southern California. More information
can be found at its website (www.anime-expo.org).
About Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit
organization with a mission to popularize and educate the American public
about anime and manga, as well as provide a forum to facilitate
communication between professionals and fans. This organization is more
popularly known by its entertainment property – Anime Expo®. More
information can be found at its website (www.spja.org
The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are
"forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are based on
current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that a
number of important factors could cause Anime Expo®/SPJA’s actual future
results to differ materially from those expressed in any such
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation,
product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and
industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of
relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers,
international economic and political conditions. The Company may change its
intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon
any changes in such factors, in the Company's assumptions or otherwise. The
Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
If you took Asian Kung-Fu Generation and Sakanaction and turned them both down a notch or two, you might have something closely resembling Reach Up to the Universe. In fact they fall into the sort of slippery gray area inhabited by other slightly softer yet poppy bands like Base Ball Bear and Winnie (who they have shared the stage with.)
What sets them apart from your standard rock outfit is their use of both keyboards and cello, as well as the occasional boy/girl vocals. None of these elements are overused to the point where they overshadow the usual rock formula, but they are instead used to bring a bit more depth to the sonic pallet.
Formed in 2002, the band has released one mini and one full-length album. Most notable here is that they started off the first few years with a Caucasian guy singing and playing guitar. There's no word of why he left in 2007, but it may have been for the best as current frontman Hirokazu Notomi brings a bit more power to the role.
In a way, it's a shame that they don't play up their more unique features, adding a bit more definition to their own personal atmosphere. Songs like the dreamy "Faster Mistake" and instrumental "Chiisa Na Ongakukai" show that they can mix these elements into something beyond the norm, but they seem distracted by their more natural pop tendencies. As it stands, the sporadic mix of electronics, strings and vocals alongside their solid pop-rock guitars and drums is enough to keep things interesting, but they'll need to keep searching for something more to propel them up into the universe they are reaching for.
Straightener is an indie rock band, a very influential and powerful one. Originally formed in the late '90s, their core line up of front man Atsushi Horie and drummer Shinpei Nakayama shifted over the years and now includes two ex-members of the similarly themed Art-School.
Unsurprisingly, their sound has evolved a matured a bit over the pest ten or so years, yet they haven't moved too far from their early loud and powerful indie rock. Instead, they've developed their natural resources and pushed their sound into much more lush and expansive territory. This has also rounded the corners to their previously harsh delivery. Much like Mo'some Tonebender, this could either be seen as an improvement or a loss, depending on what you're hoping to get out of the experience.
Overall, they write powerful songs filled with the earnest emotion you might expect from similar bands like Foo Fighters, but present it with a slightly harder edge and without any of the melodrama. There is very little trickery or showmanship in any of their work. They are simply very catchy and well written songs that will rock your teeth out. On the flip side, they are also no strangers to the rock ballad, with their Nexus album being host to a few softer, piano tinged tracks.
As mentioned above, the band is currently one half ex-Art-School members, but the incestuous band affiliations don't end there. Atsushi and bassist Hidekazu Hinata are both in the mostly instrumental side project Fullarmor, along with Jun Izawa of Lite/Seabara and Oniy of The Zoobombs. Hidekazu was also the bassist for Zazen Boys. Drummer Shinpei is also in The Predators, along with The Pillows vocalist Sawao Yamanaka and Jiro from Glay. None of these other project stray far from the any of the other band's general indie-power-rock sound that all of the various members seem to champion. Are you still with me?
Long story short, Straightener is like a hub to a giant indie-rock wheel. While their albums are all solid and top quality, their spokes reach out and form a wheel that's more than the sum of its parts.
Hi there! Back from the dead, it's another episode of Japanator Radio!
Last week I had a bit of a computer SNAFU. In the end, it took a bit of the old nuke and pave and a good talking-to before I could clear it up. Yet my resolve did not waver even in the face of rather dire conclusions, and we're back in business!
This week we've got new stuff from GO!GO!7188, Onmyo-za and Shiho Fujisawa, and a look at what's to come at Katsucon with YMCK and Aural Vampire in the Artist Spotlight.
Grab it, and remember kids, back up your stuff. Enjoy!
DOWNLOAD EPISODE 74 AT JAPANATOR!
Random updates via my Twitter.
Track-list and links after the jump!
00:00 OP: Shiina Ringo x Saito Neko - Gamble (Inst.) - Heisei Fuuzoku [BUY]
0:01:00 Blooddthirsty Butchers - Yeah#1 - Guitarist wo Korosanaide [BUY]
0:06:17 Usotsuki Barbie - Zekkei Kana Zekkei Kana - Mondai no Second [BUY]
0:09:49 Hikashu - Radioactivity - Musique Non-Stop: A Tribute to Kraftwerk
0:16:50 Break: Final Fantasty Dissida OST [BUY]
0:17:52 GO!GO!7188 - On the Mayuge-Kirisugite - Antenna [BUY]
0:22:18 Onmyo-za - Soukoku - Single [BUY]
0:26:09 Lillies and Remains - Alone Again Or - Moralist S.S. [BUY]
0:28:46 Break: Final Fantasty Dissida OST [BUY]
Artist Spotlight: YMCK/Aural Vampire (Katsucon)
0:30:00 YMCK - Gourmet na Aitsu - Family Cooking [BUY]
0:33:39 Aural Vampire - Darkwave Surfer - Aural Vampire EP [BUY]
0:38:28 YMCK - I Can Be Happy (Endou Kenzi) - YMCK Songbook Songs Before 8bit [BUY]
0:41:44 Aural Vampire - Vampire Ecstasy - Vampire Ecstasy [BUY]
0:47:17 Break: Final Fantasty Dissida OST [BUY]
0:48:33 K-> - Summertime Blues - Squarewave Surfers Memory of 8bit [BUY]
0:52:25 Shiho Fujisawa - Sentimentalizm - Funky Girl [BUY]
0:57:34 Aira Mitsuki - Sayonara Technopolis (Traks Boys Mix) - Sayonara Technopolis [BUY]
1:02:13 ED: Shiina Ringo x Saito Neko - Sakuran (Terra ver.) (Inst.) - Heisei Fuuzoku [BUY]
Finally, the results are in! The readers have voted, letting the world (well, just me, really) know what genre of music they (meaning you) would like to see more of on the blog.
The biggest vote was for keeping things "as-is," meaning just allowing me to go about my usual totally random path, letting my whim be my guide. While I'm very happy to see that result (I mean, that should be part of why you're reading the blog regularly in the first place, right?) I'd still prefer to at least try and find things that people want to read.
With that out of the way, the next most popular choice was a tie between indie rock and vis-kei. This is also a pretty nice result. Since we know that vis-kei is pretty popular right now, it's good to see that old-fashioned indie rock is just as important to readers.
After that, it was electro, then punk. I know I haven't been really heavy on the punk coverage, so I'll see what I can do about that. Everything else came in distant places after that, with pop being dead last. Again, not entirely surprising since I don't think most readers are coming here looking for coverage of the latest idols. (^_^)
Overall, the results fell just about where I was expecting, and secretly hoping. It's good to know I'm hitting all the right notes with my readers, or that I'm at least getting close to the mark. As always, I'd love to hear anything you have to say about what you see here.
Finally, the new February poll is up! This month I'm looking to hear about what other kinds of posts you want to see on the blog. Do you like the calendar posts? Want more album reviews? Single reviews? Like to hear about new PVs? How about just any old music video that's cool in some way? General music news? Or should I just skip all that and focus only on the band profiles? Again, you can only pick just one, so choose wisely. You have until March 1st.
Thanks for taking the time to help make ZB's A-Z a little bit better for everyone. Make sure to pass the word on to anyone else you know that's into the Japanese scene. Thanks!
If the stark, digital landscapes conjured up by the likes of Perfume and Capsule leave you looking for something a little more human, then the slightly soulful strains of Shiho Fujisawa might be what you're looking for.
Having been a DJ and producer for a few years, Shihio Fujisawa released the first full length of her own material in 2008. Featuring a host of guest vocalists, her music is a mix of slamming club beats, spiced up with some world beat flavor, occasional big-band samples and a decided lack of robotized vocal performances. Instead of running everything though the magic auto-pop-star box, Shiho lets her guests actually use their own talent to bring some original feel to her productions. A bit more reminiscent of the original funky house tunes of the early '90, Shiho's music is a bit more mature and fashionable than the average teen dance honed to an emotionless science by Yasutaka Nakata.
Her time as a DJ really shows with tracks like "Uniting of Gene" (Krupa, I'm assuming) "Music Rainbow" and "Drum Crazy for DJ." Maybe that's what sets her apart from other out-of-the-box acts. Her music, while at time just as wooden as the rest, still manages to sound like someone more interested in getting people to shake their asses than sell songs to TV adverts. Sure, her second album breaks all of these rules, with plenty of auto-tune and much more polished and compressed sounds, but the soul it still there. Yet the dark-wave synth-pop of "Sentimentalizm" and the delicate twinkling of "Freesia" prove that she's still much more than a one trick pony. Which makes it all the more interesting to see what she does next.
About Tess is an instrumental rock band based in Tokyo. On its own, that might be anything newsworthy. Add in the fact that the band is made up of not only two guitarists, but two bass players and to drummers and you have something a bit more unique.
Formed around 2004, the band has taken its time in releasing material. Swan Song, released in 2005, only contained three songs in both live and studio versions. It wasn't until 2008 that their first proper releases surfaced, and even then it was a six song mini-album. Part of the reason for this lag might be the fact that they run their own music even called Swan Song Council. Currently on their tenth event, it's a massive showcase of all sorts of indie bands, from School Food Punishment to The Telephones to Paperbag Lunchbox and far too many more to list here.
Putting public services to the music community aside, we are left with their music. First off, it's instrumental, slightly post rock but really more jammed-out and guitar fueled. They aren't real virtuoso players, but they obviously like to take their time showing you around their fret boards. There are also elements of blues, but only vaguely. They stick to the harsher sounds, tempering their heavier rock tendencies with the aforementioned bluesy jams and prog rock atmosphere. It's perfect for those who wouldn't normally touch the blues with a ten foot pole, yet who like a little more groove in their brash rock and roll.
Overall, About Tess is a little more style than substance, with their songs meandering around, putting up stylish wallpaper and dim mood lighting. They can really rock out when they want, bringing plenty of clever tricks to the fore. While they may not provide much to grab on to, the win extra style points and will maybe push those more timid listeners into a search to something with a bit more bite.
February 13-15
YMCK & Aural Vampire
Katsucon 15 - Arlington, VA
Source - Katsucon
YMCK
Aural Vampire
Check out my band The Surfactants!
Visit our site and MySpace, and buy the album via Amazon and iTunes.
