group_inou

There's something very satisfying about seeing a couple Japanese kids list bands like DMX Krew, Cylob, Battles, and Kid 606 as influences. It's hard to describe, as if I feel proud of them or something. It's a strange feeling, because of course, why shouldn't they be into those amazing artists and bands? Maybe it's because I know that they had to do their homework in order to dig up some of the more obscure names. It's not as if they are unknown, but even in the States or the UK they are a little obscure. Add on top of the that the magic of seeing these guys rocking out in front of a small crowd of kids, in the middle of a field, and I can't help be feel some sort of kinship with them. They, in many ways, are an echo of my own musical discovery years ago, digging through rare albums and playing shows for a small crowd of enthusiastic friends.

But I digress...

group_inou is a duo consisting of Imai, the producer, and CP, the MC. Together the blend together old-skool 8-bit and retro synths with rap. The mix of slightly aggressive, certainly frantic rap lyrics over the top of music more normally associated with classic video games is rather unique. Most often you'll have other groups like YMCK, Halko Momoi or Perfume who either whisper or otherwise treat their songs as something pretty and precious and fun. group_inou definitely fall into the fun category, but they also bring in a little bit of punk and experimentalism. Their songs have plenty of noise and chaos to go along with the shimmering synths and precisely laid out beats. In a live setting, they bring a ton of energy, which also goes a long way in bringing that sense of unpredictability to their otherwise pre-determined tracks, something which can really be heard when comparing various live performances. Perhaps it's this engaging energy that also gets their crowds involved, something rather rare to see in other live Japanese performances where stolid, unmoving bodies are the norm.

This isn't to say that their songs are all noise and no musical content. In fact their songs are first and foremost cute little pop tunes. They would in fact find a fitting home in any of the aforementioned retro NES games, if it wasn't for all the rapping and screaming going on. Plus, they're not all simply cute little chiptune tracks. They also have some hints of Yellow Magic Orchestra in their slightly odd arrangements, or maybe Kraftwerk at times.

While, even after four or five years, their production has reminded suitably lo-fi and slightly under-produced, it fits well with their overall, grass-roots, art-house energy. If they manage to keep it together for a few more years, these guys could easily become the next huge electro movement to come out of Japan.

BUY GROUP_INOU RELEASES HERE

"Maybe" (Live)



Official Site
MySpace

Members:
Imai - Producer
CP - MC

Releases:
Fan - 2008
System Kitchen - 2007
Foods - 2006

"Ship"


"Coming Out"


"Coin"


"Status (Loss Version)"