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Since 2008, Hikashu has been holding a special concert in December at Unit, a live venue of Daikanyama, Tokyo. This year it marks its 10th anniversary, and the band prepares the special program for the event.
This year's theme is film music, and Hikashu will play a series of famous compositions with various guests, plus the selections of their latest album, Anguri. It's going to be a memorable evening.
Inoyama Land is an ambient music duo consisted of Yamashita Yasushi and Inoue Makoto, both are the founding members of Hikashu. Actually their partnership predates the band, started in 1977, and they have been together since then.
No Lie-Sense is a duo of Suzuki Keiichi and Kera, both are the iconic figures of Japanese new wave movement. The unit started in 2013 and released two albums to date. It was named because they happened to have no driver's license.
Marianne Shinonome is a vocalist and keyboard player, currently leads her own band called Kinoco Hotel. She collaborated with Hikashu at many occasions, most recently she joined a Tokyo concert of Godzilla Legend in last September.
Kaiso Shimai, "the Seaweed Sisters," is a group of three instrumentalists. Although quite young, all the members has been classically trained at conservatoire, and known for its technical proficiency at arrangement and performance.
It's just announced that a live album of Hikashu's christmas concert last year will be released through online distribution.
The sold-out gig had many guests including Hirasawa Susumu on vocals and guitar. He sung some Hikashu numbers and Makigami did the same with Hirasawa's songs. The audience went wild and there is a huge demand for the recording. Now it looks like the demand be fulfilled.
Currently the details for the release, like the date and the method (download or stream), are still unknown. What is certain is that it contains Hikashu/Hirasawa's collaboration and it was recorded in extreme high resolution, hence no physical release - simply it couldn't fit into disc.
In fact, the concert was documented with sixteen Korg MR-2000S recorders. So it's quite an audiophile recording.
And the album is tentatively called "Zekkei," which means "magnificent scenery." We'll let you know when the details go public.
Hikashu - Anguri in the Style of Unlanding 1. Anguri / Anguri
2. Doremo Ga Seikai / All are correct
3. Shikou no Moso / Suprematism
4. Narisumashite Soro / Solemn Pretender
5. Tsubuyaku Kai / Selfish Shellfish
6. Iine / I Like It
7. Tomei Sugiruyo / Too Transparent
8. Ryokai Desu / Roger That
9. Zenhoui Ayashige / Omni Suspicion
10. Mamonaku Tengoku / It will be heaven soon
11. Aisenaiyo, Sonnanja / You cannot be in love, I guess
12. Chakuriku Shinaikei / In the Style of Unlanding
13. Iishitumon Desune! / Good Question!
Words by Makigami
Music by Makigami (3), Mita (6, 11, 13), Sakaide (1, 8), Sato (7), Hikashu (2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12)
Hikashu:
Makigami Koichi - vocal, theremin, cornet, shakuhachi, mouth harp
Mita Freeman - guitar
Sakaide Masami - bass
Shimizu Kazuto - piano, synthesizer, bass-clarinet
Sato Masaharu - drums
additional musicians:
Mori Ikue - laptop on 3, 8, 13
Chris Pitsiokos - alto saxophone on 9, 10, 12
Fubuki Yukie - vocal on 6, 9
Afrirampo - vocal on 9
Inoue Makoto - synthesizer on 8, 9, 10, 12
Produced by Makigami Koichi
Recorded by Mark Urselli at Eastside Sound NYC on May 1-2, 2017
Mastered by Scott Hull at Masterdisk NYC
Released on October 10, 2017
In May this year, Hikashu had been in New York City. The band came to the town in order to take part in a concert and studio recording of Godzilla Legend, the solo project of ex-member Inoue Makoto. The next day after the concert at Japan Society, both group went into Eastside Sound, Hikashu's favorite studio, and recorded two albums. One is "Godzilla Legend V" which was released in September, and the other is Anguri, the 23rd album of Hikashu.
Anguri is not "angry," mind you, but a Japanese word describing "mouth-opened by surprise." You can see all the members doing "anguri" on the back cover of the album. In Japanese it's simply called Anguri, but the full English title is "Anguri in the Style of Unlanding."
The album has 13 tracks, seven of which are compositions, and the rest are improvised. As the title suggests, it's full of surprise, of course positively. All the songs are newly written especially for the album.
"Suprematism" is inspired by Black Square, painting by Kazimir Malevich. The band witnessed the iconic work during a Russian tour. There is also a refenence to White on White, another piece by the same author, the different title used for the song though.
"I Like It" is a mid-tempo song with humorous lyrics. It sounds quite relaxed as it could be described even as pastoral. Besides handclapping and female backing vocals, provided by Fubuki Yukie, a stage actress and singer, it has some cowbells which it's used to be in the possession of Blue Oyster Cult, so the band was told. Maybe this is the same one used for "(Don't Fear) the Reaper."
There is a person who always give promptly affirmative answer to any incoming email, hardly bother whatever it says. That habit comes to fruit as "Roger That."
The album closes with magnificient "Good Question!" which is based on Makigami's day-to-day interaction with smartphone AI.
Regarding improvised tracks, Chris Pitsiokos, a bright young saxophonist from NY downtown scene, and Inoue Makoto are contributed as guests.
The cover illustration, with impressive piercing eyes, is done by Kondo Akino, a Japanese artist who currently resides in NYC. There is also another piece on the liner notes.
12/31 Sunday 8:30 pm
NEW YEARS EVE IMPROV BENEFIT
John Zorn, Chris Speed (saxes) Makigami Koichi (voice) Ikue Mori (electronics) Jim Black (drums) Chris Tordini (bass) and many special guests
It's just announced that Hikashu will tour Europe and Russia in November 2017. The dates are:
November 14 - kepler14, Köln, Germany
November 16 - DOM, Moscow, Russia
November 17 - Cafe Hærverk, Oslo, Norway
November 18 - Kjøt, Bergen, Norway
November 20 - 5e, Copenhagen, Denmark Don't miss this one if you're nearby.
HIKASHU LIVE 2017
14 Nov. Köln kepler14
16th Nov. Moscow DOM
17th Nov. Oslo Cafe Hærverk
18th Nov.Bergen Kjøtt
20th Nov. at 5e Copenhagen
Waiting anxiously Hikashu's new album "Anguri", while it's clear the most notable activity of the band in the foreseeable future is the new album release concert held at Star Pine's Cafe in Kichijoji on October 10 (described here), it's noted that there are other appearances for this month, as listed below:
October 6 - "Pre-Machi" @ Hearts+, Otsuka, Tokyo October 7 - "Yokohama Jazz Promenade" @ KAAT Yokohama Art Theatre, Yokohama October 10 - "Anguri" Release Concert @ Star Pine's Cafe, Kichijoji, Tokyo October 16 - LaMama, Shibuya, Tokyo
"Pre-Machi" is a sort of showcase gig for the event called "Aki No Yoimachi" which is held in November, and Hikashu has already been booked for the latter one as well.
Yokohama Jazz Promenade is a huge jazz festival with a distinguished history. Hikashu's appearance starts around noon, so do not forget to come early.
Unfortunately, pianist Shimizu Kazuto is not available at the LaMama's gig, and ex-member Yoshimori Makoto will join the band as substitute.
October 6, 2017 "Pre-Machi" @ Hearts+ Otsuka, Tokyo other acts: Owarikara, Kuchusen, Rahulas open 18:00 - start 18:30 adv 2,800 yen - at door 3,300 yen hearts-web.net/plus
Hearts+, Otsuka, Tokyo
October 7, 2017 "Yokohama Jazz Promenade" @ KAAT Yokohama Art Theatre Yokohama start 12:00 jazzpro.jp
KAAT Yokohama Art Theatre, Yokohama
October 16, 2017 @ LaMama Shibuya, Tokyo other acts: Kozure Miwazo, Oedo Sukeroku Daiko (Traditional taiko ensemble) open 18:30 - start 19:30 adv 3,000 yen - at door 3,300 yen lamama.net
On October 10, Hikashu's new album will be released. It's 27th album for the band and called "Anguri." Anguri is a Japanese word roughly translated as "mouth-opened for surprise."
The album has 13 tracks and the running time is about 50 minutes. The titles are as follows:
Hikashu - Anguri: in the Style of Unlanding
1. Anguri / Anguri
2. Doremo ga Seikai / All are correct
3. Shikou no Mousou / Suprematism
4. Narisumashite Sourou / Solemn Pretender
5. Tsubuyaku Kai / Selfish shellfish
6. Iine / I like it
7. Toumei Sugiruyo / Too transparent
8. Ryokai desu / Roger that
9. Zenhoui Ayashige / Omni suspicion
10. Mamonaku Tengoku / It will be heaven soon
11. Aisenaiyo, Sonnanja / You cannot be in love, I guess.
12. Chakuriku Shinaikei / In the style of unlanding
13. Iishitumon desune! / Good Question!
Hikashu will release a new album "Anguri" on October 10. To commemorate it, a special concert will be held on the same day at Star Pine's Cafe of Kichijoji, Tokyo.
October 10, 2017 "Anguri" Release Concert @ Star Pine's Cafe Kichijoji, Tokyo open 18:30 - start 19:30 adv 3,900 yen - at door 4,300 yen mandala.gr.jp/SPC
Last week a digest video of Jazz Art Sengawa 2016 uploaded on YouTube. Hikashu's appearance starts at 4:44, performing together with Food, Thomas Strønen on drums, Iain Ballamy on tenor saxophone.
Jazz Art Sengawa this year will be held on September 14-17 at Sengawa Theatre, Chofu, Tokyo. Hikashu is the last act of the last day, and it has a guest, a young saxophonist from NYC, Chris Pitsiokos.
This year's Jazz Art Sengawa will be held on September 13-17 at Sengawa Theatre, Chofu, Tokyo.
Jazz Art Sengawa is an festival for jazz, avant-pop, and improvised music as a showcase for acts from Japan and abroad. From its inception, it has been led by three artists, Makigami Koichi, Fujiwara Kiyoto, and Sakamoto Hiromichi. The main venue for the event is Sengawa Theatre, which is located in Chofu, a west surburb of Tokyo.
And this year's event there are two things outstanding change. One is duration - now it's vastly expanded as 5 days event, as it had been set for 3 days long in the past. And the other is a return of John Zorn's Cobra. While it's been absent from the festival for a few years, the ever-popular game piece was a big attraction, and now it's back.
Of course Hikashu is on the roster as well - and this time they are with Chris Pitsiokos, a prominent NYC saxophonist who participated in the band's recording session last May. And this is the first time they play together in public.
Metropolis, a Tokyo-based English magazine, has this to say:
Addressing Japan’s staid jazz festival scene is Jazz Art Sengawa, at a sleek Tadao Ando development in suburban Sengawa. This year’s event takes in performances by Makigami himself alongside co-director/ cellist Hiromichi Sakamoto, with the theme, “feral ·intimate·alive.” Makigami will direct a staging of John Zorn’s notorious game-theory music piece “Cobra” to conclude the event, and also perform with his influential art-punk group Hikashu. Sakamoto will attack his cello as per usual with power tools, an experience that seldom fails to startle. Also on the bill are one-time Sonic Youth member and noted noise music artist Jim O’Rourke, along with Rob Turner, the percussionist behind GoGo Penguin, a British trio acclaimed for its innovative mashups of elements of electronica, trip-hop, jazz, rock, and classical music.
The schedule is as follows:
September 13 Wednesday
19:30-
Fujii Satoko Orchestra Tokyo featuring Alister Spence
September 13-17, 2017 Jazz Art Sengawa @ Sengawa Theatre Chofu, Tokyo 6,800 yen for 1 day ticket 12,500 yen for 2 days ticket 18,000 yen for 5 days pass
Hikashu reveals plans to release an album this year.
Last month they went into studio, Eastside Sound of NYC, and recorded an album with the band's right-hand man, engineer Marc Urselli.
They prepared ten compositions for the session, and recorded seven. It has some additional musicians including the band's long-time friend and collaborator, Ikue Mori.
The album is now tentatively called "Anguri" - not Angry, mind you. It's a Japanese word, means "stunned," "aghast," or "open-mouthed." Whatever, with all it implies a lot of surprise.
Makigami said it will be released in late October this year. Hold your breath and you'll get a good thing. That's for sure.
This year the band's annual tour of Kyushu will be held in July. The schedule is as follows:
July 2 - Space Terra, Fukuoka July 3 - At Hall, Oita July 4 - Navaro, Kumamoto
July 2, 2017 @ Space Terra Fukuoka open 17:30 - start 18:00 adv 3,000 yen - at door 3,500 yen spaceterra.net
Space Terra, Fukuoka
July 3, 2017 @ At Hall Oita open 19:00 - start 19:30 adv 3,000 yen - at door 3,500 yen athall.com
At Hall, Oita
July 4, 2017 @ Navaro Kumamoto open 19:30 - start 20:00 adv 3,000 yen - at door 3,500 yen navaro.info
For reservation contact camnaschca_ATMARK_gmail.com
In June, Hikashu tours Kansai and Chubu regions of Japan. The dates are:
June 1 - Sakuraza, Kofu June 13 - Tokuzo, Nagoya June 14 - Chicken George, Kobe (with Afrirampo) June 16 - Rag, Kyoto June 17 - Mokkiriya, Kanazawa June 24 - Freakyshow, Shizuoka
The Kobe show is a double bill gig with Afrirampo, a female duo who performed with Hikashu last December.
June 1, 2017 @ Sakuraza Kofu open 19:00 - start 19:30 adv 3,900 yen - at door 4,500 yen For inquiries call the venue at 090-6155-9628
Sakuraza, Kofu
June 13, 2017 @ Tokuzo Nagoya open 18:30 - start 19:30 adv 4,000 yen - at door 4,500 yen
Tokuzo, Nagoya
June 14, 2017 @ Chicken George Kobe Other act: Afrirampo open 18:30 - start 19:00 adv 4,000 yen - at door 4,500 yen
Chicken George, Kobe
June 16, 2017 @ Rag Kyoto open 18:00 - start 19:30 adv 4,000 yen - at door 4,500 yen
Rag, Kyoto
June 17, 2017 @ Mokkiriya Kanazawa adv 3,500 yen - at door 4,000 yen
Mokkiriya, Kanazawa
June 24, 2017 @ Freakyshow Shizuoka Other Acts: Roden Ginza and others open 17:00 - start 17:20 (Hikashu is the headliner) adv 3,000 yen - at door 3,500 yen
Regarding the Godzilla Legend concert at Japan Society NYC on April 28, all the advance tickets are sold out. But day-of-performance ticket MAY be available. Ask Japan Society for details.
Shortly after the performance, Godzilla Legend and Hikashu go into studio respectively, and record new material. According to Makigami, these albums are, if everything falls into place, to be released at the end of this year. Can't wait.
Ian F. Martin is a music writer from UK who has been in Japan and his first book is just out. It's called "Quit Your Band" and its subtitle is "Musical Notes from the Japanese Underground." Sounds interesting, doesn't it? Unfortunately, we don't see the book yet, but it looks really promising.
See the following interview. A must if you are interested in contemporary Japanese music scene.
There is no reference to Hikashu in this interview and we don't know he ever mentioned the band in his book, but in fact he once selected "Ikitekoi Chinmoku" as the best album of 2015.
And this another interview he did mention our beloved band.
On April 13, Hikashu will perform at a concert called "Thank You Origato." It's a tribute event to Nakanishi Toshio, who passed away in February this year after the battle with cancer.
In 1979, Nakanishi started performing professionally as the frontman of the Plastics, the seminal act of the Japanese New Wave movement. In that year, Hikashu released the first single as well. Naturally, they soon became close and their friendship lasts even to this day. In 2015, Hikashu invited the Plastics in their annual christmas concert, and the latter did a splendid 90 minutes set, including an encore.
Nakanishi has been quite an influencial figure for various fields - music, fashion, and graphic design. He has departed but his legacy lives on.
This Roppongi concert is to commemorate such a prominent singer/guitarist/designer and people who admire him gather to play. Surely it's going to be an evening to remember so do not miss it.
A part of the profit is going to be given to Nakanishi's family.
Appearances:
Diamond Heads (a Plastics cover band)
Takagi Kan, Onishi Tsuru, Oyamada Keigo, Kuni Sugimoto, momo
with guests - Nomiya Maki, Noemi, Linda, Tachibana Hajime, Shima Takemi
Hikashu
Makigami Koichi (vocal, theremin, cornet), Mita Freeman (guitar), Sakaide Masami (bass), Sato Masaharu (drums), Inoue Makoto (synthesizer)
Sato Taiji (Theater Brook)
Tachibana Hajime
and DJs
April 13, 2017 "Thank You Origato" @ Super Deluxe Roppongi, Tokyo open 19:00 - start 19:00 - close 23:30 2,500 yen for entrance
Godzilla Legend, the solo project of ex-Hikashu keyboard player Inoue Makoto, will perform at Japan Society in New York City on April 28, 2017. This is the first time for the orchestra to perform outside Japan.
Inoue started Godzilla Legend as his solo project in early 1980s. At first, it was just doing the music of classic Japanese monster movies, including Godzilla, using synthesizers with modern arrangement. But it quickly gained some popularity, and grew exponentially. Eventually it spawned three albums and live concerts as an orchestra which many musicians of Japanese New Wave movement took part in. After that, the project went long hiatus but resurrected in 2011.
The personnel of the show is still unknown but it's likely to be the full orchestra with all the members of Hikashu. So two drums, two keyboards, full horn section, and Charan Po Rantan the sister duo as Shobijin - the beautiful twin little pixies of Mothra - everything in there.
Do not miss this opportunity. It's truly an once-in-a-lifetime event. Experience their thick orchestral sound in person. We're sure you'll be blown away.
April 28, 2017 Godzilla Legend—Music of Akira Ifukube start 19:30 $ 32/$28 for Japan Society members
Hikashu play at Star Pine's Cafe, Kichijoji, Tokyo on April 19, 2017. This is the first gig after the oceania tour so expect some interesting road stories.
April 19, 2017 @ Star Pine's Cafe Kichijoji, Tokyo open 18:30 - start 19:30 adv 3,900 yen - at door 4,300 yen
Hikashu tours New Zealand, then Australia in February - March 2017. This is the first time for the band to visit the countries, let alone playing. The dates are:
February 21 - Pyramid Club, Wellington, New Zealand February 22 - Meow, Wellington, New Zealand February 23 - Auckland, New Zealand February 24 - Whammy Bar, Auckland, New Zealand February 25 - Audio Foundation, Auckland, New Zealand February 28 - Make It Up Club, Melbourne, Australia March 1 - Foundry616, Sydney, Australia
Do not miss this oppotunity if you are in the region.
Hi. I'm an avid follower of a Japanese rock band, Hikashu. They are formed in 1978 and still going strong. Simply put, they are the greatest band from Japan. Really. They play some pretty good compositions, and collective improvisation of mastery kind. If you like the Mothers of Invention, Henry Cow, John Zorn, Derek Bailey, or any kind of good music plus having a sense of humor, just try them. They are so unique that I cannot describe what the band exactly is, but I try my best. Also, I did all the translations of the lyrics, except where noted.
DISCLAIMER: This blog is NOT official and NOT affiliated with Hikashu in any way. The opinion expressed here is solely mine, an advocate of the band, and it doesn't reflect their intention. Take a note for that, and have fun.
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