Viridian is an unassuming Japanese folk/indie-rock trio. Their debut album Sangenshoku (サンゲンショク), released in early 2009, is a solid offering of groovy indie-rock tempered by singer Sano Hitomi's more mature voice and acoustic guitar. Miyaji Kimura's electric guitar playing is treated with plenty of raw power and stripped down effects, and the same goes for Kamiya Yuu's drumming.
There is very little technical wizardry to get in the way of the band's pure song writing talents. With the exception of the band's first single "Little Soldier," the songs are rather soft and sparse, not exactly down-tempo but also not overly energetic. The lack of a bass player also adds a tenseness to the music. Without the bottom end to provide a warm and rosy glow, the songs stand out as being a bit cold and angular.
On the other hand, they are also able to keep the mood light and playful. While they still retain an overall morose feel, some songs do venture into an easy going, toe tapping groove. While they may sound a bit light on tape, in a live setting they really ramp up the volume and manage to inject more life into their songs.
With only a single release from the band so far, it's tough to know what to expect in the future. Sangenshoku shows not only a lot of promise, but the ability for Viridian to go in just about any direction the choose. We shall just have to wait and see.
Little Soldier
Official Site
MySpace
Members:
Sano Hitomi - Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
Miyaji Kimura - Electric Guitar
Kamiya Yuu - Drums
Albums:
Sangenshoku (サンゲンショク) - 2009
Live
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