Koenjihyakkei
Angherr Shisspa
Skin Graft
If you like: Deerhoof, Mars Volta, Queen
Let’s start out with an undisputable fact: Japan has its finger on the off-timed pulse of modern noise rock. The country that has produced heralded noise-makers like Boredoms and Melt-Banana continues serving it up on a spinning plate with flashing lights and shiny objects which may kill you if you touch them. Break out two turntables, (no microphone necessary) put on your favorite King Crimson LP and a random opera LP that you picked up at the thrift store to “round out your collection,” play them both simultaneously at 45rpm and you well get an idea of what Koenjihyakkei has in store for you.
Yoshida Tatsuya, best known for his work with the drum and bass duo Ruins is the mastermind behind this prog rock supergroup. Fans of Lighting Bolt will want to take a moment and praise (or familiarize themselves with - shame on you!) the Ruins discography. On Angherr Shisspa Yoshida brought a new flavor to the studio with Komori Keiko on reeds, smoothing out the gaps where the freakishly talented singer, Yokamoto Kyoto, steps back from the foreground where her wide range of vocal acrobats sit center stage throughout most of the album.
In a ballistic whirlwind of genres and virtuosic musicianship, one of Angherr Shisspa’s most cohesive moments comes in the intro of “Rattims Friezz.” Imagine the eerie theme music from the Halloween movies playing behind a saxophone melody just safe enough to fit seamlessly into an 80’s TV drama. Glued together with a warbling, operatic, vocal display, it’s enough to leave you asking yourself “What the hell am I listening to here?” Expect this feeling to stick around throughout the album, but in the best way possible.
A
John Delzoppo
Posted under Hometown
This post was written by MyFriendCleveland on August 3, 2006
