Smooth, dreamy, tight and funky. Those are the words that first come to the surface when listening to the upbeat, slightly electronic rock of Sakanaction. While decidedly dance-oriented, you'll never hear their music in a traditional club. It's more of a "lifestyle" sort of dance, more suitable for posh parties or an afternoon house cleaning.
Formed in 2005 and originally a simple guitar duo, they soon fleshed out the rest of the line-up and are now a full five piece band. Their most defining feature is their keyboard and synth sound, something that, while often subtle, sets them apart for similar bands like Base Ball Bear or Remioromen, or perhaps The Police and U2. Ichiro Yamaguchi's vocals often have a soft, folky quality which also adds a layer of calm and melancholy to the otherwise groovy songs. Their arrangements are rather straight-forward, eschewing complexity for sonic depth. This is also something that sets them apart from the generally more melancholy Supercar as well. While both bands have a mix of electro and indie rock, Sakanaction take a decidedly more upbeat and hopeful road.
The made up word Sakanaction ("sakana" means "fish") relates "how the members wish to act quickly and lightly, like fishes in the water." This also is a useful description of their sound, underwater, maybe a bit murky, but sleek and slippery.
セントレイ
Official Site
MySpace
Members
Ichiro Yamaguchi (Vocal & Guitar)
Motoharu Iwadera (Guitar)
Ami Kusakari (Bass)
Emi Okazaki (Keyboard)
Keiichi Ejima (Drums)
Major Releases
Night Fishing (1/23/2008)
Go to the Future (5/9/2007)
セントレイ (12/10/2008)
Shiranami Top Water
サンプル
Kazuki Sunset
1 comment:
Amazing!
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