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Japanese Progressive Rock presented by DamoX

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DamoXt7942 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 16 2012 at 01:29
P.O.N., one of Japanese superb temporary avantgarde-progressive project! Cool

 P.O.N. by P.O.N. album cover
Studio Album, 1995
4.00 | 3 ratings 
P.O.N.
P.O.N. RIO/Avant-Prog

Review by DamoXt7942
Special Collaborator Japanese Prog Specialist / Moderator

4 stars Their terrific soundscape has given me headache, earache, and stomachache ... all of which could be my pleasure, magically.

A Japanese (eventually) short-lived, one-off quintet P.O.N. were gradually kicked off by five renowned artists in Japanese underground music scene - Masahiro UEMURA (drums, percussion; ex-Shibusashirazu, Ground Zero), Junji HIROSE (saxophone; ex-Shibusashirazu), Masaki SHIMIZU (bass), Kumiko TAKARA (vibraphone; ex-Bondage Fruit) and Natsuki KIDO (guitars; ex-Bondage Fruit). This eponymous album consists of ten funnily, funkily titled tracks (e.g. the name of a Japanese pop female singer, the name of a British King, a swindler, or a liar ... lol). Cannot imagine the relationship between a tune and its title at all ... maybe someone has hit upon a word / phrase, that enlarged and broadened their idea for the tune, with their loud laughter I guess, though. Regardless of funny song titles, we can get amazed and have fun with their merciless, heartless instrumental violence. Every player could play strictly and aggressively such complex, polyrhythmic tunes (even if the tunes had come to the world along with well-calculated creation) with others. And surprisingly, every genius is striking, outstanding, and self-assertive for his / her play (!) but at the same time, is pretty balanced, harmonized with each other - namely, there is no frontman nor tomboy who had broken their matured atmosphere, although their eccentricity should be based upon Masahiro's drumming. That reminds me Natsuki's comment; "Cool play, cool tunes cannot be born without our solidarity."

As if all musicians upon P.O.N. ground worked as a united body / soul, P.O.N. could construct such a impressive world with various instruments, various melodies, various riffs, and various energetic protests against pop / rock music. Really cool as Natsuki says.


Big smile

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tapfret Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 25 2012 at 14:46
Originally posted by colorofmoney91 colorofmoney91 wrote:

That Opabinia stuff is awesome :O


Here here!
That Kido Natsuki is exceptionally prolific. Which reminds me, I need to quit putting off my purchase of Salle Gaveau.

Viva DamoX!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 04 2012 at 00:39
^ Thanks a lot, he's a great guitar god. Thumbs Up
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 04 2012 at 00:40
Hey all, sorry I’ve not been here awhile but now back with another Japanese freakout ensemble. Cool


DEIGEN ... a Japanese Psych / Space band from Tokyo
Quote A Japanese promising psychedelic rock ensemble DEIGEN were founded in 2011 as a quartet inspired by 60s psychedelic rock, 70s hard rock, Krautrock, post rock / mass rock, or US underground rock scene. In summer 2012 a Russian drummer left, whilst the formation of DEIGEN got evident stability as a trio - BUNGO (guitars), Shota CHINO (drums), and Go KUROSAWA (bass). They've been gigging several times a year mainly in Tokyo, or appeared on stage at Osaka Zine Festival.

DEIGEN have recorded and released their debut album "Deep Water Blackout" in July 2012 (and the vinyl will be out in the next spring). Go says they're ready for a world tour in 2013.

Deep Water Blackout (2012) - DEIGEN

DEIGEN, founded as a Tokyo-based rock trio in 2011, are one of promising psychedelic jam combos in Japan, I'm sure. "Deep Water Blackout" has finally been released as their debut (freely downloadable) album in July, 2012 upon their bandcamp website (http://deigen.bandcamp.com/).



Based upon chilling deep heavy riffs thrown via Shota CHINO's drums and Go KUROSAWA's bass, BUNGO's guitar fuzz fantasy growls all around their inner space. Basically in the vein of contemporary Space Rock scene, but their psychedelic "muddy illusion" (In Japanese, 'dei' is mud, and 'gen' is an illusion or a phantom) goes ahead aggressively as though to roll over by a switchback. Via playing nimbly complex but rhythmic phrases / grooves step by step, they grab our mind and throw down into brilliant black inferno.



Suggest their grooves have not been well calculated, but slowly matured into a pitch-black sculpture by three flavoury artists. It's easily imagined that their soundspace get to be a non-chemical mind-altering agent upon stage, and let me say, such a psychic phenomenon can be constructed not only with fuzzy, trippy guitar sounds but also with hard, strict, extreme rhythm ache by deep bass bombs and sharp drum edges. Along with their dark comfort, we cannot help swimming their illusive mud-marsh both as listeners in front of the album and as the audience in a live house. Although more brilliant, more kaleidoscopic originality should be needed, enough for us listeners to go on a mind-toxic inner trip. 37-minute trip, please enjoy.

By the way, look at their album sleeve ... what a hoot lol. LOL


Thank you for reading this blog, and to Go for sending me your detailed information. ٩(̾●̮̮̃̾•̃̾)۶

Edited by DamoXt7942 - November 07 2012 at 10:22
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 07 2012 at 10:39
... And DEIGEN added with the collaboration of Go KUROSAWAThumbs Up

http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7635
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 17 2012 at 18:20
Attended a fantastic open-air gig last night ... the stage is a courtyard of a closed elementary school in the center of Okayama-City.
Yesterday it was cold and rainy (especially heavily in the afternoon) in Okayama but fortunately the rain had stopped before the start of the gig.

Not progressive rock but my music mate FATERN (see here) and her project NUMACCO (Sisters In A Marsh) appeared on stage.


NUMACCO ... sorry for my "poor" pic but it was too dark to take a good pic. Tongue

They've performed a fascinating gig as if they would have lived upon a theatrical world. Or as if they'd have played an Osakan comic act (oh big cheers for sisters from Osaka lol).




FATERN (theremin), the big sister of NUMACCO




CHIEROOM (accordion), the little sister of NUMACCO

We the audience have been absorbed into their "marsh" with their well-harmonized, well-matured playing and singing really.



But the most interesting matter might be their comical talkin', let me say (Just kidding).


By the way, a shamisen (Japanese banjo) family combo were great too, before NUMACCO's stage.


Uma EBINA FAMILY (shamisen named Tsugarujamisen by a mom, and percussion / voices by a pretty girl)

Bravo for two fantastic duos, and thank you for reading this (non-progressive Tongue) blog. Cool

P.S. I'll attend Djamra's gig (w/ some interesting acts) tonight ... the performance review will come here soon!

Edited by DamoXt7942 - November 17 2012 at 18:20
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 20 2012 at 00:03
Attended "Special gigs for 9th anniversary of Nakatsu Vi-Code" last Sunday night. Already mentioned about Djamra's gig here, and yes, the other two were fantastic too as follows.

1. Oboreta Ebi No Kenshi Hokokusho (aka "The Autopsy Report Of Drowned Shrimp") ... Official Website



Means "The Autopsy Report Of Drowned Shrimp" in English. A weird artistic project, formed in 2001 by "The Boss" Yoshi YAMAMOTO, consist of a dozen monsters with shrimp (prawn?) heads.



Their gigs / lives have been flooded with visual / auditory / sensory elements and various experimental music essence like funk, punk, rock, jazz, or something.



Their eccentric performances can be seen and "felt" mainly around Kyoto and Osaka, Japan. Anyway, their debut album will be out soon (now in press).



Anyway, everyone around me says they cannot go on a world tour, "with a bunch of shrimp-heads, instruments, armours". Exactly.



Hmmmm, feel weird ... whilst looking up at their stage. LOL

Edited by DamoXt7942 - November 20 2012 at 04:30
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hellogoodbye Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 20 2012 at 04:06
Gosh, that insect video is terrific !ClapClapClap
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 20 2012 at 04:08
^ Thanks Pierre! Hug
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hellogoodbye Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 20 2012 at 04:24
Thank to you, Damo ! HugWhen we despair of this world, it is good to remember that the madness of men is also creative.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 20 2012 at 04:28
2. Doravideo (Yoshimitsu Ichiraku's solo project) ... Official Website



Founded as a one-man (and computing drum systems) project in mid 2000s by Yoshimitsu ICHIRAKU, a renowned drummer / one of collaborators for Acid Mothers Temple or Omoide Hatoba.



Not progressive rock basically but noise music combined with funky, anarchy video clips ... a bit nasty stuffs hahhaha.



The audience were drenched in his addictive demolition kicks featuring something like pictures of big names, clips of noted TV programs, or porn (ugh) really. Awesome ones.



Anyway, looks like he should be gentle, witty, and enjoyable, especially in his MC time.



Look, listen, such a poisonous explosion!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 04 2012 at 00:11
Hi, progressive mates! Welcome to Japanese progressive rock world again. 


Already reviewed about Djamra's gig in Namba Bears (Dec. 2, 2012) but would you please let me mention also about Katan HIVIYA, one of the most impressive Japanese guitar killas?

Katan HIVIYA is a Japanese acoustic guitarist / singer / composer / performer, namely a multidimensional-artist. Been active since the beginning of 2000s, and his guitar technique is beyond expression indeed. Watch the videoclip filmed upon his stage in 2007.

Cardbop Textlogy (Taiwa No Kanosei)

Of course, on the stage in Namba Bears upon Dec. 2, 2012, he shot terrific guitar play and precisely harmonized voices for us.

Immersed in his play, voices, and ... funky lyrics lol.

Clair De Lune Tordu (Discretion Of A Distorted Moon)

Anyway, his weird (!) website is here ... don't be terrified with his eccentricity.


Thank you for reading this blog. ٩(̾●̮̮̃̾•̃̾)۶
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 15 2012 at 11:52
Previously, Svetonio and I have recommended a Japanese heavy psychedelic project DEIGEN(and added in Psych / Space subgenre library soon), whilst the guitarist of Deigen Go KUROSAWA has mentioned to me about his side project KIKAGAKU MOYO (Geometric Patterns), any full-length album not released officially though.

Quote KIKAGAKU MOYO (Geometric Patterns) were founded as a "tribal psychedelic" sextet in summer 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. Anyway, this combo are a side project of Go KUROSAWA (a guitarist of DEIGEN), who attends as a drummer, amazingly ... what a versatile player.

Where Is The Rainbow? (2012, SIngle Release) - KIKAGAKU MOYO

Sounds like tribal monotone psychedelia with discordant instrumental harmony be a motto of KIKAGAKU MOYO (Geometric Patterns). Their single "Where Is The Rainbow" tells us how Angie go for her mind-wandering with sensual voices, based upon dissonant rhythm grumbles, scorching sitar knife-edges, unstable atmospheric meditation.



Suggest they would get fuzzily influenced by distorted Krautrock like French bizarre Mahogany Brain blended with avantgarde ethnicity like "Besvärjelser" by a Swedish avantgarde jazz obscurity Iskra. Although little obvious 'Neues' can be found via their ritual, they should have naturally played what they could do and where they could proceed, I imagine. Wondering if they wouldn't have much inspiration via Japanese psychedelic progressive vanguards nor Japanese Krautrock like Karuna Khyal, Brast Burn ... Go (Kurosawa) says he's been influenced mainly by US / European psych scene and that makes sense.

Just as a non-chemical mind-altering agent, we can taste when we're confused in our real life ... maybe. :)


P.S. Their bandcamp page is here, and Facebook page is here.


Thank you for reading this blog. ٩(̾●̮̮̃̾•̃̾)۶
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hellogoodbye Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 15 2012 at 15:47
Damo, this Katan Hiviya is very impressive. Makes me think of Shugo Tokumaru (with more muscles Wink !)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 16 2012 at 07:09
Originally posted by hellogoodbye hellogoodbye wrote:

Damo, this Katan Hiviya is very impressive. Makes me think of Shugo Tokumaru (with more muscles Wink !)
And more of altered states of mind (his tweet is always crazy indeed). LOL

Thanks Pierre, his guitar skill is really killa, probably fit for Prog-Folk, in my crazy opinion. LOL
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote colorofmoney91 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 17 2012 at 20:03
That shrimp stuff is so beautiful :')
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote colorofmoney91 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 17 2012 at 20:06
Originally posted by DamoXt7942 DamoXt7942 wrote:



@Alan; Your newer album is bloody. Shocked


It is Shocked
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 17 2012 at 22:51
^ Really, really bloody. LOL
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guldbamsen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2012 at 13:33
Damn that sounds amazing Keishiro! I think you, as per usual, have nailed the sound of this outfit right down to the t with that description - right on my manSmoke

Oh and I've just invested in a Michio Kurihara solo album called Sunset Notes. How beautiful is this album! He genuinely sounds like a Japanese Reine Fiske - and that's just about the biggest compliment I can give him.
“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2012 at 17:31
Originally posted by Guldbamsen Guldbamsen wrote:

Damn that sounds amazing Keishiro! I think you, as per usual, have nailed the sound of this outfit right down to the t with that description - right on my manSmoke
Thanks David!
Really amazing, I'll dig them out just when they launch an official release. Cool
Originally posted by Guldbamsen Guldbamsen wrote:

Oh and I've just invested in a Michio Kurihara solo album called Sunset Notes. How beautiful is this album! He genuinely sounds like a Japanese Reine Fiske - and that's just about the biggest compliment I can give him.
Michio is renowned as a guitarist of a Japanese psych pride GHOST, or The STARS (already in PA), White Heaven (rejected in Psych), or a previous member of Marble Sheep. A fantastic shoegazer. Approve
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