October 14-19
Next Music from Tokyo Vol. 2
Canadian Tour
MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS
uhnellys
susquatch
sgt.
Oct 14 Vancouver @ Biltmore Cabaret
Oct 16 Toronto @ The Rivoli
Oct 17 Toronto @ The Velvet Underground (all ages)
Oct 19 Montreal @ Club Lambi
Source: Next Music From Tokyo
Lots of great stuff on this week's Explore the Unexplored post. Stuff like the new sgt. album, a new mega-collection from Inugami Circus Dan, some fun new Vocaloid music, trance and even some more anime-metal from ex-Animetal member Eizo Sakamoto. Also make sure to check out the shoegaze sounds of SCARLET.
Check out the full post here. As always, comment here to let me know what you think!
The members of sgt. fall into a lineup a bit more like that of a jazz quintet than a traditional rock band. Drummer Hitoshi Ono and bassist Kouji Akashi form the band's solid backbone, proving the beat and pulse. Guitarist Hironori Taoka also falls into this role, merely fleshing out the band's sound rather than performing any virtuosic feats on the fretboard. Violinist Mikiko Narui most often falls into the role of soloist, taking the place of a saxophone or trumpet. She also takes the melody almost exclusively, in those rare cases when there is one to take.
sgt. isn't exactly well known for short, pithy and easily digestible songs. That's not to say that they're overly infatuated with creating inscrutable, million changes-a-second math rock or imposing sonic mountains. Their songs are more like a walk down a long, dimly lit path near stormy seas than any sort of road-map like the more universal language of verse chorus verse chorus bridge chorus chorus.
Having said that, Capital of Gravity, sgt's third mini-album (available now at HearJapan) is even more likely to get distracted and wander around that path than their previous releases.
Lite "The Sun Sank"
Up first this week we have a a brand new video from post-rock instrumental band Lite. This song is actually quite a bit different than their previous releases, featuring lots of synths and and a generally more pop sound. That doesn't mean it's any less complex, though! The video follows suit, being a pretty simple idea, but done in a very interesting way.
Hit the jump for the rest of this week's videos!
sgt. - Live
Since we're on the subject of instrumental bands, here's a live clip from sgt. Since they have a new album coming out soon, I thought it was time to take a look at them again. This clip is a performance from about a year ago. It really kicks in about two minutes in. I've had a chance to hear the new album, and i think we'll be hearing a lot more about these guys in the near future.
Skywings are a rather new epic metal band. I've been keeping an eye on them since their demo was released a while back. This is their first official PV from their debut album The Advent Melody which is out very soon. Fans of X-Japan, take note!
Mass of the Fermenting Dregs "D-Angle"
Here's a very cool live performance from Mass of the Fermenting Dregs. It's always nice to see a trio really rock out, sounding like a band twice their size. Also, there's something about a small, barefooted woman with a huge bass, shouting her head off...Anyway, if you like this one, check out the rest of the gig as well!
Dead Man's Bones "Name in Stone"
This week's non-Japanese video is a great one, in my opinion. Need something to get you into the Halloween spirit? Then this is the video from Dead Man's Bones for you! I was originally going to post something on their song "My Body's a Zombie for You," which is probably a more interesting song, but I think this video totally blows that one out of the water. I really need to look further into what these guys are all about.
OK, that's it for this week!
Without a doubt, 2008 was nothing short of amazing when it came to new albums. Not only were there a lot of new faces releasing thrilling stuff, but there were also many old favorites that continued to churn out fantastic records.
I could tell around the middle of 2008 that there was going to be way too much ground to cover in terms of a "Best Of" year end collection, so I put together my first list of 30 albums back on July. You might want to give it a quick read to get yourself up to speed.
We've finally lurched into 2009, so naturally it's time to take one final look back at some of the Best Japanese Albums of 2008. What a list it is! I've spent an incredible amount of time pouring over the list, mostly getting lost in the staggering number of great videos I've mostly forgotten about. Really, I could probably just keep listing to the stuff from last year all through 2009 and still be happy.
So, get comfortable, grab a tasty beverage and join me after the jump for the Best Japanese Albums of 2008 (Part 2)!
First off, I'll start with my absolute favorites. Just about any of these albums could have made the top of the list, so everything is simply listed in alphabetical order.
54-71 - I'm Not Fine, Thank You. And You?
While these guys might not be the most creative sonically (every song sounds very much like every other song), they more than make up for it in sheer intensity. They are extremely sparse and focused, with performances that cut to the bone. Think Rage Against the Machine, only with even fewer frills. [BUY]
9mm Parabellum Bullet - Vampire
Another furiously performed album from possibly the biggest name in the new wave of indie rock. These guys have done nothing but great things right out of the gate, and Vampire is both their most mature and most exciting album so far. [BUY]
Avengers in Sci-Fi - Science Rock
Combining their super-tight post-punk playing with spaced-out electronics and production, Avengers in Sci-Fi creating something unique. Both rock and dance, energetic and calming, they manage to push the boundaries without creating too much chaos. [BUY]
De De Mouse - Sunset Girls
De De Mouse is a rare example of an artist who not only creates amazing music, but also creates entire worlds. His purely electronic style is also totally organic and absolutely original, full of fuzzy memories of childhood set in a Lisa Frank world. Absolutely wonderful stuff. [BUY]
Denki Groove - Yellow
Leave it to house/prog/trance masters Denki Groove to step away for a while, only to come back with two full length albums in one year! JPOP already made it onto the previous Best list, and they're back again with Yellow, their second release in 2008. It's actually a much more solid album, and totally infectious from beginning to end. [BUY]
Mo'some Tonebender - Sing!
Mo'some Tonebender have come such a long way over the years, but they've always churned out great sutff. Sing! sees them at their peak, with both great sounding songs and some really new direction. Very upbeat, yet still kicking all kinds of ass, as always. [BUY]
Mutyumu - Ilya
Combining operatic vocals, nu-metal guitars, rock piano and classical strings, it's safe to say the there isn't anyone quite like Mutyumu. Their second album pushed their sound even further, but in the death metal department as well as the profoundly moving softer, extended strong sections. A little something for every, just so long as you like things very very dark and brooding. [BUY]
sgt. - Stylus Fantasticus
Just one of many spectacular instruments band to release something great in 2008. Yet sgt. stands way above the crowd with their featured violin player and truly epic song structures. Like many other bands in this list, the mix a trancelike intensity with equally delicate details. While they've been together for a while, this is their first album. Let's hope for much more in the future! [BUY]
Versailles - Noble
Few bands rise to prominence as fast as Versailles. With their very first song released, "The Revenant Choir," they instantly shot to the very top of the vis-kei scene. This is no doubt due to the fact that they are amazing players, packing in nothing but quality in each of their epic symphonic metal songs. Oh, and I suppose some people might like the visual side to them as well. [BUY]
Vola & the Oriental Machine - Halan'na-ca Darkside
Vola changed things up a bit on this album (essentially an EP.) While it's still very much the same band, they went in a slightly more dance-oriented direction. It's still pretty intense and fun though. The use of short electro tracks in-between the songs proper really makes for a solid release. This is another band that's really become an icon in the scene, so it'll be very interesting to see what they do next. [BUY]
Those are the top 10! Oh, but there's still so much more. In fact I had to sift though close to 110 albums just to make this list of the second half of 2008! Naturally there's just too much to go into great depth with. If you want to learn more about each band, click their names and check out more info and videos. They're all superb!
Art-School - Illmatic Baby [BUY]
Cruyff in the Bedroom - Saudargia [BUY]
DJ Sharpnel - Nijigen Satasfaction [BUY]
group_inou - Fan [BUY]
iLL - Rock Album [BUY]
Immi - Switch [BUY]
Ogre You Asshole - Shiranai Aizu Shiraseruko [BUY]
Omodaka - Favorite Games [BUY]
The Predators - Kiba wo Misero [BUY]
Saori@destiny - Japanese Chaos [BUY]
School Food Punishment - Riff-Rain [BUY]
Sex Machineguns - Cameron [BUY]
Sexy Synthesizer - Rock [BUY]
Shadow - Forever Chaos [BUY]
Té -Mashite, Kokoro to Gokan ga Icchi Surunara [BUY]
Unkie - Too Many Secrets [BUY]
Usotsuki Barbie- 増えた1もグル [BUY]
Wagdug Futuristic Unity - Hakai [BUY]
Zazen Boys - Zazen Boys 4 [BUY]
That's it! What? That's not enough? Sheesh, some people are never happy. Well, we'll all just have to wait and see what happens in the coming year. I expect great things.
Make sure to stay tuned to the blog and to Japanator Radio every week for more of the best music from Japan!
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.
