TWIN TAIL, not to be confused with the Japanese metal band Twintail, is a three piece improvisational, instrumental band. Made up of drums, bass and violin, they bring something of a unique sound to the table. That said, they do sound an awful lot like other bands featuring violin, specifically sgt. Violinist Yuji Katsui uses the same set of floating, delayed and syrupy effects as sgt's Mikiko Narui. The sound is so similar as to make one wonder if there isn't some sort of conspiracy going on amongst post-rock instrumental bands in Japan.
The sonic resemblance ends there though. It's obvious from the start that TWIN TAIL is all about improv and jamming out thorough extended passages. Their songs build (very) slowly, with tempos stretching and breathing along with the intensity of the music. There are really no "songs" or hooks per se. Yuji plays his violin like a screaming, psychedelic guitar more like a blissed-out solo from Jimi Hendrix than any sort of classical piece, while drummer Tatsuya Nakamura and bassist Toshiyuki Terui pound out a trance-like tribal backdrop.
One other element to their music is their fourth, off stage member Toshiaki Toyoda, their live cinematographer. As is often the case with instrumental groups, their live shows are enhanced by visuals project both behind and onto the band. In the case of TWIN TAIL this is a much need accompaniment, since their songs are ephemeral at best. They work much better as soundtracks or background wallpaper than an in your face group with a message. Something which the band is well aware of, blending sight and sound into one unpredictable package.
February 19, 2009 - Japanese fashion legend Takuya Angel, will be making his US Debut as both a clothing designer, and a DJ at Anime Matsuri in The Woodlands, Texas, courtesy of Tainted Reality. His appearance at the convention includes a DJ set at the convention rave, and several of his personally designed outfits being featured in the convention fashion show. In addition to these main events, he will be participating in autograph sessions, fan Q&A panels, and selling merchandise, including his debut CD being released through Darkest Labyrinth Records.
About Takuya Angel:
Takuya is a respectable fashion designer and DJ who is capturing the hearts of the visual and cyber generation. Born in Osaka, Japan in 1967, Takuya always wanted to create something different and unique. He thought it should be possible to combine old Japanese fashion with modern Japanese fashion. Takuya Angel clothes and accessories are a huge combination of colors, patterns and shapes. Traditional and modern materials put together in a stylish way with wild exotic colors that will blow you away. In 1985, Takuya started the original brand Takuya Angel wanting to bring Japan back into fashion, and he followed his artistic instincts to create an amazing line that has captivated the eye of not only the Japanese crowd, but all around the globe. Takuya's inspiration came from various sources, such as bringing old Kimonos into the 21st century, taking inspiration from his own environment, historical events, childhood, and anime. Takuya looks beyond what is right or wrong, and all of his ambitions and efforts have made him the Takuya of today.
Takuya started playing as a DJ in 1986, and worked on many different genres. Takuya himself is a huge techno fan, and creates his own club music. In 2007, Takuya toured outside of Japan and played shows in Paris, Germany, Holland, England, Spain, Switzerland, and Belgium. Takuya collaborates often with the Tokyo Decandence, one of the hottest events in Tokyo, and participates in special club nights where he often DJs.
About Anime Matsuri: Anime Matsuri is a Houston based convention dedicated to anime, manga, gaming and Japanese culture. Continuing to combine many aspects of the Japanese culture to its line-up, Anime Matsuri 2009, held on April 10-12, 2009, features Import Reactor (a rooftop Car Show), an outdoor theater, and a wide range of cultural activities. Once a year, the beautiful Woodlands area turns into a world of anime, a meeting place for thousands of fans, enthusiasts, celebrities, industry personnel and artists. Anime Matsuri is an annual Anime and Japanese Pop Culture convention held in Houston, Texas. The 2009 convention will be held on Easter weekend, April 10th – 12th, 2009at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.
Anime Matsuri Links: www.animematsuri.com
About Tainted Reality: Tainted Reality is the premiere source of Japanese rock (J-Rock) entertainment in the United States. Tainted Reality hosts their own internet radio network dedicated to Japanese musical programming and produces radio shows such as Tainted Reality & The Tainted Reality Talkshow. Tainted Reality often conducts interviews with some of the biggest musical artists of Japan like Yoshiki of X Japan, Die of Dir en grey, Miyavi and MUCC. They also manage and organize tours for prominent J-Rock bands such as BLOOD, Versailles -Philharmonic Quintet-, The Candy Spooky Theater as well as producing media such as the Darkest Labyrinth Vol.1 DVD and the Darkest Labyrinth CD.
9/4 sat LA (unfixed) 9/5 sun LA(unfixed) 9/6 mon San Diego CA(unfixed) 9/7 tue Scottsdale AZ(unfixed) 9/8 wed Tucson AZ(unfixed) 9/9 thur Alberquerque NM Burts Tiki Lounge 9/11 fri Austin TX Beerland 9/12 Sat Houston TX Rudyards 9/13 Sun new orleans (unfixed) 9/14 Mon Hattiesburg MI Thirsty Hippo 9/15 Tue Pensacola(unfixed) 9/16 Wed FL (unfixed) 9/17 Thur FL(unfixed) 9/18 Thur Tallahassee - The Beta Bar 9/19 Fri Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn - w/Peelander,The Captains, The Emeralds, Bakubeni 9/20 Sat Atlanta, GA - Anime Weekend Atlanta 9/21 Sun Atlanta, GA - Anime Weekend Atlanta 9/22 Mon Nashville, TN - Exit-In 9/23 Tue wed Knoxville, TN - The Pilot Light 9/24 Wed Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 9/25 Thu Baltimore, MD - Otto Bar 9/26 Fri Philadelphia, PA - The Khyber 9/27 Sat NYC, NY $B! - Knitting Factory - with:Falsies On Heat/ Notorious MSG etc. 9/28 Sun NYC Blooklin, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg - w/Zazen Boys, Peelander, Bakubeni, quaff 9/29 Mon Boston, MA- Middle East Upstairs 9/30 Tue Burlington VT - The Monkey House 10/1 Wed Buffalo NY - Bon Vivant 10/2 Thu Cleveland OH - The Matinee 10/3 Fri Columbus OH - Bourbon Rocks 10/4 Sat Columbia MO - Mojos 10/5 Sun Oklahoma OK - The Conservatory 10/6 Mon Dallas TX - The Double Wide 10/7 Tue Austin TX - EMO S
I recently had a chance to sit down with the electro-fueled psychedelic trio the day after their Anime Boston gig. I plied them with questions and tried to find out what they planed to do with their time in the States, their formative past and their future dreams. You can download an mp3 of the interview over on Japanator.
Did I indeed get a private show from them in my dreams that night? I think I'll just have to save my answer until they make good on their promise to visit Minnesota on their next tour. I AM WAITING.
Once again, huge thanks to the JapanFiles.com crew for the interview, and to tokyo pinsalocks for being awesome. Let's hope they come back soon!
The Telephones blend jerky new-wave riffs and synth burbles ala Polysics with straight-ahead disco beats much like Vola or Base Ball Bear. They have a decidedly more raw and indie feel than both of the latter, along with a clap-along atmosphere much like other fashionably fringe bands like Franz Ferdinand and The Kaiser Chiefs. While they ride the upbeat party vibe, they also bring in the darkness from time to time, with Akira Ishige's thinly distorted guitar awash in reverb and delay, his vocals swirling around it. Definitely an intense group, they bring a little danger to your standard house party.
The all female trio that is Tokyo Pinsalocks was formed in the year 2000 in Tokyo. The historically futuristic millennium was the perfect time for the band to form. Their sound encapsulates both the past and the future.
On the one hand, they seem to be influenced by the early 60s psychedelic scene, with ethereal vocals floating over a sea of bass and jangly drums. On the other hand, they focus heavily on lo-fi keyboard sounds and modern production tricks, which is much more in line with more modern new-wave techniques. There is very little guitar to be heard in their music, other than the occasional backing track to fill in the spaces. Instead they focus on the electro vibe as the main instrument. Their live shows are much more stripped down to the essentials, with the electronics creating just as much of a blissful wave of sound as the fuzzed out bass and trancelike drums. Through it all they are also rather poppy and upbeat. The hooks are downplayed in favor of the more dreamlike qualities, but the rhythms are funky enough to keep things from falling anywhere near jam-band self-indulgence. In fact they are more like a band of slightly strange aliens finding amusement in our primitive earthly instruments.
Simply put, Ayano Tsuji is one of my favorite singers. Her voice, as well as her music, is very quiet, calm and crystal clear. Often accompanied only by her ukulele, her songs are often melancholy folk tunes sung at a slow pace. While she might seem most at home doing solo shows in small coffee shops, on her albums she is joined by a full band, and actually plays some more upbeat, even happy sounding songs, like her song "Kaze ni Naru" that was used in the Ghibli film The Cat Returns. My favorite song of hers is her cover of "Cherry" by Spitz. It's done solo and live, and sounds like it was recorded in a park. You can hear birds tweeting in the background, as well as kids talking, the leaves rustling in the wind, and even the ring of a bell as someone on a bike rides by. It's just about as close to perfect as you'll ever hear.
"Maybe a little too fast, ya think? B-DASH! Might fall into a hole, ya think? B-DASH! Might crash into a turtle, right? B-DASH! The pipes have secret rooms, eh? B-DASH! You can breathe under the sea, can you? B-DASH! And jump over mountains, too? B-DASH! Maybe usin' Mario a bit much, eh? B-DASH! Luigi's sulking a bit, ya see? B-DASH!" There really is very little to say about one hit wonders Tongari Kids and their crazy and extremely simple "B-Dash" song. Very little to say other than it's one of the most awesome video-game songs ever. The lyrics explore the various social ramifications of what life would really be like if the little plumber was running around in the world today, as well as the frustration of parents who just don't understand. But really it's just a chance to yell "B-DASHU!" at the top of your lungs.
Let's just get this out of the way first; if you don't already know who Tomoyasu Hotei is, just skip to the first video "Battle Without Honor of Humanity." You'll go "Oh yeah! That song! OK." Considering that the song has its own Wiki entry, it's probably safe to say the song is more popular than the man who wrote it. But Hotei is far more than one song. Not only is he an exceptional guitar player, he's an accomplished actor and generally mean looking dude, a look which is what scores him his various acting roles. His musical style covers all sorts of guitar driven territory, from blues to rock and just about everything in between.
Battle Without Honor or Humanity
There doesn't seem to be an official video for this song, so why not watch along with some FFVII:AC visuals?
Quite possible the worst video ever made, but I really like the song, so what can you do?
I'll be honest, I don't know a hell of a lot about Tomovsky. I do know that he writes some good music. His style is a little folksy, a little dreamy pop, and a whole lot of Beatles. It probably helps that he sounds a bit like John Lennon at times, and the thick vocal harmonies and stripped down, melodic songs also go a long way into fab-four land. But he's got a style that's all his own, sonically playful and experimental, yet quiet and honest.
I've already written a bit about Tommy February6 and Tommy Heavenly6, the two alter egos of ex-and-now-current Brilliant Green singer Tomoko Kawase. In a nutshell, while BG was on hold, Kawase kept busy by going solo as two different acts. Tommy February6 was the '80 synth-pop inspired half, while Tommy Heavenly6 was the '00s inspired pout-rock half. Now that BG is back together it is unknown whether or not she'll continue her solo work.
As if Shiina Ringo didn't have enough going on with her own solo carrier, in 2004 she formed a group of expert players and called it Tokyo Jihen. While Ringo's own music was stylistically all over the map, Tokyo Jihen instead attempts to focus on one genre, a sort of swinging, funky yet sophisticated rock. OK, so maybe they're still all over the map, but at least they are different then Ringo's solo work.
Toddle is a band formed by ex-Number Girl and current Bloodthirsty Butchers guitarist Tabuchi Hisako. Toddle blends super melodic vocals with crashing guitars and overdriven drums to form pristine indie-rock gems ala The Pixies, The Breeders and other early '90s indie pop rock. Whatever you want to call it, it's loud and pretty and tough all at the same time.
Finally! In Tiger Shovel Nose I've finally managed to find a band with absolutely no web presence. No videos, no photos, and only a couple off-handed reviews. TSN falls into the same sort of DIY, underground, fun garage rock genre as Dizzy Joghurt and The Automatics. Seeing as how there is no info on this band, I don't know for sure if they are an all girl group or not, but I do that there are at least two women singing. Good luck tracking them down!
Takanori Makes Revolution is the solo work of Takanori Nishikawa. His style is decidedly electronic/dance oriented, with the usual batch of ballads peppered with high energy, trance-like like songs. He was closely tied to the Gundam SEED series, not only providing some music but actually voicing the character of Miguel Aiman. In Gundam SEED Destiny he even had a character modeled after him, Heine Westenfluss. In addition to being both a stage and television actor, he has gone on to form a for-reals band called Abingdon Boys School. While maintaining the energy of T.M.'s early music, ABS is a much more rock oriented band that has yet to release a full album.
Madan ~Der Freischutz~
This is one of my favorite videos ever. I love the elbow rocket!
Invoke
My favorite TM song, and the first one I ever heard. It's also used as the Gundam Seed OP.
J-Pop and J-Rock are only the beginning. The modern Japanese music scene is just as vibrant and varied as any other music scene in the world. I'm Zac Bentz, writer, musician, designer and all around Japanese music fanatic. Here I hope to share with you a comprehensive (!!) list of Japanese artists and bands (with a strong focus on underground and indie acts) that you may or may not have heard of, in the hopes of expanding our mutual awareness of Japanese music.
I don't mean to suggest that everything I listen to is great. Quite the contrary, I hope that you will take the time to recommend your own favorite artists in the comments so that we can all learn a bit more about the huge range of Japanese music that's out there.
"The best Japanese music blog in the world." - Door Slam "Definitely a must-visit for J-pop and J-rock fans!" -The Otaku "Zac Bentz loves music. A lot." -Japanator "Very cool!" -J-ENT "...one of the foremost blogs and information centers on all J-pop and J-rock...the top source for tour information on Japanese bands in the US..." -YankeeOtaku "Wer mehr darüber wissen will, der sollte sich mal hier umschauen, ein sehr gutes J-Music Blog übrigens." -CommandSheep "...very well-written, and there’s an excellent range of artists...a useful resource." -International Wota "не плохая энциклопедия японских исполнителей/групп" -Diary.ru "Great resource for Japanese music fans who want to explore today's J-rhythms beyond Johnny's Entertainment bishonen music and anime music. XD" -Kaishi "If you are a J-Rock fan, [ZB's A-Z] is a must see." -Crunchyroll community "Otaku USA magazine finally got wise and hired Zac Bentz as a J-music contributing editor."-Radicalpatriot "Reviews practically every Asian band that has ever created a recording."- Zallie "Gewährt spannende Einblicke in die japanische Musikszene." -Laut.de
