sgt.

Much like sgt.'s sinuous music, the members of the band have interwoven themselves throughout their particular music scene. Active since 1999, they've had plenty of time to not only refine their sound, but to find many friends with which to share and collaborate. They've even been fortunate enough to run their own even called "seimei" featuring many fellow indie bands. Perhaps most notable, they are also the backing band for ex-Supercar front man Koji Nakamura's solo band iLL.

Perhaps it's not too far a stretch then to compare their sound, at least in passing, to that of Miki Furukawa's solo work. While nothing near as poppy as Furukawa, sgt. does at times have the same otherworldly sighing sounds provided by violinist Mikiko Narui's electrified playing. Being an instrumental three piece, it's also easy to compare them the much more similar sounding Downy. sgt.'s post-rock aggro-jazz space jams certainly have the same raw power and tightly synced drum and bass section. Over this are the aforementioned wailing strings and even the occasional saxophone and piano.

Similarly, their music weaves between slightly quieter and groovy sections, building to and punctured by extremely intense bouts of distorted bass and screaming strings, all piped through giant caverns of reverb and darkness. It's only through prolonged listening that one will pick up on the cues and be able to discern the song sneaking around underneath all that ephemeral weight, but once it's found, it is tough to lose again.

With so many years under their belt it's a wonder why they've only released a sum total of thirteen songs (not including a smattering of slip EPs.) Perhaps it's their outside involvement with other bands and events that has prevented them from solidifying their thoughts into recorded material. Regardless, what they've presented us with so far is certainly a feast, but in this case more is never enough.

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再生と密室




Official Site
MySpace

Members:
Kouji Akashi - Bass
Mikiko Narui - Violin
Hitoshi Ono - Drums

Releases:
Perception of Causality 2005
Stylus Fantasticus 2008