VIDEO: Kamomekamome "Excuse Me"

Here's a new video for "Excuse Me" from progressive punk metal band Kamomekamome. It's a pretty standard performance video, but the transition from total blankness to the reveal of the crown is nice.

"Excuse Me is on their new album Happy Rebirthday To You. It's a bit more intense and progressive than some of their previous stuff. The almost contestant changes and mix between the aggressive verses and open chorus keep the listener on their toes. It's definitely a crowd please, as you can tell from the group of Kamomekamome enthusiasts.

Kamomekamome

While the name Kamomekamome (literally "seagull seagull") may evoke romantic images of graceful birds gently floating over the sea for some people, those of use who live with the birds on a daily basis may have a slightly different interpretation. Sure, watching the animals drift over the water may be relaxing, we also know their darker, more basic scavenger nature. Also, their piercing shriek. Both of these images work well in describing the music of Kamomekamome.

On the one hand, singer Tatsuro Mukai's history as the singer of hardcore punk band Nunchaku provides the raw, scavenger edge, while the rest of the band brings the slightly more calming flight. Far from punk, the band is more of a progressive rock, or even metal, band. Certainly their elaborate guitar riffs and heavy syncopation brings the metal, and Mukai's restrained, almost conversational vocal delivery adds to the art-rock feel. Add the occasional electro beat and repetitious, almost trance-like section into the mix and the band evolves into much more than your average hard-rock project.

Co-founding member and drummer Masashi "MARCY" Shimada also brings in his experience playing for the very mainstream space-rock band Buddhistson. Joined by high-school friends Fumito Shirogane, Soichiro Oda and Kenzo Nakase, the band indeed sounds more like an art-school project than a band resigned to settling into a specific sound. Their first self-titled album is an exercise in genre jumping. Dark and sinuous, with several extend songs running near or over the ten minute mark, it nevertheless travels through plenty of lighter territory from time to time before diving back into the frothing waves.

Their second album Luger Seagull is a more tightly focused affair, with songs rarely topping three and a half minutes. Here, the riffs are much heavier and chug along in a straight line. In fact the album almost seems like a study based around a single uniform idea, something akin to a concept album. Perhaps this is their answer to their previous, slightly more rambling album. The beats are much more up-tempo and danceable, as are the guitar parts. Even Mukai's vocals are more rhythmic.

At this point it would seem that Kamomekamome is more than just another side-project for its already busy members. While Lugar Seagull is a bit less ambitious than their debut, it also has a stronger focus. Hopefully this is a reflection of the band's dedication to the project and we'll see more great stuff from them in the future.

Kotokire Temari Uta

Buy Kamomekamome releases here!


Oficial Site
MySpace

Members:
Tatsuro Mukai - Vocal
Masashi "MARCY" Shimada - Drums
Fumito Shirogane - Guitar
Soichiro Oda - Guitar
Kenzo Nakase - Bass

Releases:
Kamomekamome 2005
Lugar Seagull 2007

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