iLL

Being the solo work of Koji Nakamura, ex-frontman of the highly popular and influential indie-rock/shoegaze/electro band Supercar, it's perhaps understandable (if not inevitable) to want to compare the music of iLL to that of Supercar. This isn't helped by the fact that they are, in many ways, very similar. Similar enough to say with confidence that if you like one, you'll like the other.

Two of the largest missing pieces from the Supercar puzzle are bassist and vocalist Miki Furukawa, who brought the female voice to the Supercar equation and the more electronic slant that Supercar adopted later in their career (see Highvision.) iLL keeps the quiet and muzzy shoegaze vibe though, as well as the morose tone of Nakamura's own vocal delivery.

While Nyantora, another of Nakamura project, is almost 100% ambient electronic, iLL is rooted in rock, albeit very spaced out and simplified. Many of the songs are very repetitive and almost drone-like, though far from atonal. They often work themselves into a trance-like state with a wall of reverberant guitars and crashing drums. Again much like Supercar, the electronic elements are kept to a minimum, but when used are rather organic and raw.

iLL's output has greatly increased as of late, with two full length albums released in 2008. While many fans are still mourning the passing of Supercar, the can at least console themselves knowing that its shattered pieces are still spreading their own light into the music world.

BUY ILL RELEASES HERE!

Live



Official Site
MySpace

Releases:
ROCK ALBUM - 2008/08
Dead Wonderland - 2008/03
Sound by iLL - 2006/05

Flying Saucer


iLL TV 1


iLL TV 2

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.

BUY SGT. MP3S FROM HEARJAPAN | BUY SGT. CDS FROM CDJAPAN

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

Supercar

I often find it very difficult to write about bands that I love. I always think that listening to their music is the only way to truly to get across the awesomeness of a great band. Nevertheless, here I am, faced with Supercar. They started off their career as a rather noisy, guitar driven indie band with mellow lyrics delivered over the distorted rock songs. They slowly drifted into electronic territory with Futurama; (2000), eventually going almost totally electronic on their absolutely amazing High Vision album in 2002. Produced by Yoshinori Sunahara from Denki Groove, it is, in my humble opinion, the single best example of rock and electro fusion ever recorded (and I say that as a huge fan of OK Computer as well.) It also marked a turning point in their sound, which unfortunately lasted for only one more album. They stuck close to their very somber, dark feel, adding a slightly more dubbed out, almost psychedelic sound to their final album Answer; in 2004. They broke up in 2005, leaving behind their final very sad show on DVD. Luckily, most of their videos do an excellent job at capturing the essence of their music. While I'd like to post every video of theirs (and they have quite a few), I'll just stick to the best of the best. Enjoy.

BUY SUPERCAR RELEASES HERE!

Lucky



Official Site

Members
Koji Nakamura: Vocals, Guitars
Junji Ishiwatari: Guitars
Miki Furukawa: Bass, Vocals
Kodai Tazawa: Drums

Major Releases
Three Out Change (1998)
Jump Up (1999)
Ooyeah (1999)
Ookeah (1999)
Futurama (2000)
Highvision (2002)
Answer (2004)

Recreation


Strobolights


Yumegiwa Last Boy


Wonderworld


Love Forever


Drive


Last Scene