Midori (ミドリ)

If Tokyo Jihen were a young, angry, undisciplined and totally crazy punk-jazz band, they would be Midori. Formed in 2003 in Osaka, Midori have since pumped out four albums full of frantic playing and impassioned screaming.

While the four piece band's instrumentation (bass, piano, drums and guitar) and proficiency (very high) may seem better suited to a jazz group, it's their passion and raw energy that make them more of an unpredictable punk band. Guitarist and singer Mariko Goto certainly can sing, but she seems more at home screaming her point across. When she calms down she does in fact sound quite a bit like Jihen's Shiina Ringo, high pitched and raspy like a cat. Similarly, the other members are excellent and meticulous players, but they often choose to drop any pretensions and simply beat the hell out of their instruments. Many of their songs seem to be a random jumble of notes and chords one minute, straight up swinging pop the next. It's all very tight, heavy and groovy, with Yoshitaka Kozeni's huge drums and Hajime's pounding piano riffs fueling Goto's fire.

Much like another experimental, gorilla art band Kiiiiiii, Midori confronts their audience and brings them into the performance rather than being a still life on display for the audience's adoration. Many of their videos are just as confrontational, showing a young school girl shooting up an empty classroom before jumping off the building, or (rather humorously) beating up each member of the band before running away. It's obvious that, unlike other, more fashionable and marketable pop bands, Goto's school girl uniform is meant to be ironic. Like the big bad wolf in Little Red Riding Hood, Goto is simply trying to fool you into coming closer and letting your guard down before she eats you all up.

More often than not, it seems that Japanese bands strive for perfection on both their music and live performance, something that can stifle not only the creative process but any errant emotion. It's always nice to see a band willing to not only injure themselves and possibly the audience, but to also take risks that might expose the raw edges of their music. Midori not only exposes them, but celebrates them with their rage.

Doping Noise Kiss


Buy Midori releases here!



Official Site

Members
Mariko Goto - Vocal/Guitar
Keigo Iwami - Bass
Yoshitaka Kozeni - Drums
Hajime - Piano/Keyboards

Major Releases
Aratamemashite, hajimemashite, Midori desu (あらためまして、はじめまして、ミドリです。) (05/14/2008)
Shimizu (清水) (11-21-2007)
Second(heart) (セカンド♥) (04-04-2007)
Midori First (ミドリ　ファースト) (11-25-2005)

Yukiko-san


Howling jigoku


Romantic Natsu Mode


ANA


(Live)


(Live)


(Live)


(Live)


Osaru


Wasshoi


Pop


Aaiya