The unrelenting powerhouse that is Ling Tosite Sigure is not only sonically challenging, but a bit slippery to pin down in the information department as well. First off, their name. While it is written on their official website as "Ling Tosite Sigure," the Roman translation of their name, "凛として時雨," is read as Rin Toshite Shigure, or "cold rain."
Following along with their distorted nomenclature, their music is equally twisted. While they are essentially a very abrasive indie-rock band, they seem to intentionally push their music to the breaking point. Specifically their vocals. Hopping between the dual male and female leads, their singing style is unique to say the least. Both TK (male) and 345 (female) seem to intentionally sing an octave or two beyond their natural range, resulting in almost uniformly missed notes and cracking voices. Not exactly screaming, nor artfully bended tones, they both seem hell-bent to turn off as many prudish listeners as possible with their call and response cacophony.
On the flip side, their music is masterfully played. Ranging from very frenetic and complex structures to tranced out, simplified drones, it's obvious that all three members can play the hell out of their instruments on many levels. Case in point, the opening guitar riff for "Telecastic Fake Show" would make many metal masters start to sweat. The fact that they then break into a straight forward garage rock beat shows their confidence and, perhaps surprisingly, restraint. The song goes through many other stylistic changes, from disco rock to something blistering into the realm of some of 9mm Parabellum Bullet's more complex material, and then into almost calming U2 territory, only to ramp it all back up again. Of course all of this is accompanied by the signature vocal screech. And this is only a single song.
Formed in 2002, Ling Tosite Sigure already has an impressive and more importantly consistently amazing body of work. They've released several singles and albums in their seven years together. Front man Toru Kitajima is the dynamo spinning and churning in the center of the Ling Tosite Sigure machine. He writes all of the music and lyrics, and he also spends time behind the mixing board as the band's producer, recording and mixing their albums. That the band has an author with such attention to detail and possessive command of the band's trajectory comes as no surprise. At times their music seems to be more the mad ravings of a single screaming force than that of a collective group.
Much like Midori, if they don't burn themselves out in a shot time, I predict, and certainly hope to see, great things for these guys.
Telecastic Fake Show
[Updated 5-2009]
Official Site
Members:
Toru Kitajima (TK) - Guitar, Vocals
Miyoko Nakamura (345) - Bass, Vocals
Masatoshi Nakano (Pierre Nakano) - Drums
Albums:
#4 11-09-2005
Feeling your UFO - (mini album) 07-19-2006
Inspiration is Dead - 08-22-2007
Moment A Rhythm - 12-2008
just A Moment - 5-2009
Jpop Xfile
Disco Flight (live)
Nakano Kill You
live
4 comments:
I am in love with this band.
They are all amazing musicians. I love the way their music is engineered as well. Some trippy stuff is done with reverbs and delays. I took notes and might steal some ideas from them in the future. XD
Thanks much. Keep 'em coming.
Lovely review, and amazing band~! It's a shame there is not much info on the net about these guys, who really have no equal. Your site will hopefully give them a little more exposure.
At least in the future i can take a look at another useful match whenever I search their name on Google. I also know the translation of their name now, thanks to you.
Much love. <3
This band is amazing!
I heard them in the Jtor radio 88 then saw the review.
you are awesome ZB!!!
Moment A rhythm is the best song on the album!!
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