When it comes to expecting the unexpected, Hyacca (literally "100 mosquitoes") has cornered the market. A bit like Midori in the chaotic indie jazz department, a bit like Toddle in the lo-fi indie rock department and a bit like, well, just about anything. Covering heavy rock, indie rock, punk, post everything and even a little new wave, the band seems happy to jump into any style, as long as it is raw and hard edged.
Their songs can shift from soft, tinkering jumbles to full-on distorted rock-outs to something in-between. Utilizing both male and female vocals as well as some totally spastic guitars, the band seems determined to do anything other than stand still. Even to vocals change up from simple singing to all out screaming. Many of the band's photos seem to focus on the large number of foot-pedals the guitar players use and the general chaos of the stage, another sign that the band likes to throw everything they have into their music, letting the pieces fall where they may.
Active since at least 2005, the band is something of an enigma, with little info available either on their site, their label's site or their MySapce page. With all the constant shifting, pushing themselves to the breaking point, it's a little tough to find anything to hold on to. That might be the band's weakness, a lack of any real definition. While a band like Hyacca would never (and should never) try and write a radio friendly pop hit, they could use more of something memorable to keep listeners coming back. They do achieve that from time to time, like on both "ライオット," (which sounds a little like Mass of the Fermenting Dregs,) and "スカイライン," (sounding like the aforementioned Toddle) but for the most part they do their best to push the audience away. Again, that's OK when that's likely to be exactly what their audience is looking for. We'll just have to see what Hyacca does next. It's been two or three years since their last (and first) full length release, a lifetime for a young band.
ライオット (Live)
Official Site
MySpace
Members:
Goshima - Guitar, Vocals
Kajiwara - Guitar, Vocals
Harajiri - Bass, Vocals
Sasaki - Drums
Albums:
Sashitai 2006
Telephone Number (Live)
刺したい (Live)
ヘアヌード
チャーリー (Live)
Hyacca (百蚊)
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7 comments:
They sound pretty much nothing like midori or toddle if you ask me.
Also I think the fact that they have such great songs and such great variety is memorable enough without having to dumb down their sound into something more streamlined. The catchy pop songs and the dramatic "ballads" and all the shifts make for a really fantastic flow throughout the whole album.
I can totally agree with what you're saying about their album iacus. While I stand by my comparisons, I certainly wouldn't want them to dumb down their sound. I just feel like there's still something missing that's keeping them from being a really great band. I have no idea what that is though! But yes, all the raw materials are there.
I listened to their album a few months ago, and I'm tempted to agree with ZB on this one. They're a great band for sure and their music is enjoyable, but I haven't really had the urge to revisit their album at all. It could merely be my personal preference and listening habits, or perhaps a result of that "missing" factor that ZB mentioned.
I think I just want them to release a new album.
I just stumbled across this page by accident several months too late, but I figured I'd let you know that their second mini-album, "Hanazono" is out next month. I run their label and I'll post more info over the next couple of weeks.
Also, sorry for not having much info about them available to read online. There's not much to say really though. They're based in Fukuoka and they're all from there and the surrounding prefectures. They built up a small following in Kyushu and gradually one or two people from Tokyo got to hear about them. They put out a CD/R EP and then released their first album in a few indie record stores. A year later I re-released the album and got it out through more mainstream distribution channels (Tower, Amazon, etc.) and that's about it
Thanks for the update, dotdash! I look forward to hearing some new music from them.
imo sounds like combo of slint and pink floyd
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