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.
The album is available worldwide via HMV Japan.
1. Anguri
words - makigami, music - sakaide
Knocking on an obscure gate
To look for extraordinariness
Cartograph of pain
Being frugal and breathless
How long could this be
Or is this deep into the night
A series of crying
Located in the end of vocal chord
The pure land
Sprint of Buddha
Walking while the shoestrings remain untied
The sky is leaning
Clearing a puddle
3. Suprematism
words and music - makigami
What is it
What is it
There are some crackings on the black square
What is it
What is it
The absolute blackness of delibate darkness
gradually peeled itself off
Black Square
Black Square
Black Square
Black Square
What is it
What is it
There are some dullness on the white square
What is it
What is it
The light beamed from outside echoed on the daydreaming eye
White Square
White Square
White Square
White Square
6. I Like It
words - makigami, music - mita
I like it, I like it
Considering every situation
Considering every situation
Considering every situation
I like it, I like it
Driven by every sentiment
Driven by every sentiment
Driven by every sentiment
I like it, I like it
Loving the nice way
Loving the nice way
Loving the nice way
I like it, I like it
Being full of distorted function
Being full of distorted function
Being full of distorted function
I like it, I like it
Travelling with crooked eyes
Travelling with crooked eyes
Travelling with crooked eyes
7. Too transparent
words - makigami, music - sato
Making a bloody promise
with flaming heart
Ambushing quietly
Waiting for an encounter
Who are you
Too transparent
Who are you
Too transparent
Incitement sans tension
Decision sans mind
How come you leave a ring
Due to the relentless untoward events
Who are you
Too transparent
Who are you
Too transparent
Tacit knowledge
Eternal silence
Hanging foolishly
Soaked in shame
Who are you
Too transparent
Who are you
Too transparent
8. Roger That
words - makigami, music - sakaide
What town we are reaching for
(Roger that)
If we remain travelling like this
(Roger that)
Lives matter above all
Lives matter above all
Whatever happens
(Roger that)
Probably there are some dissents
(Roger that)
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