Makigami Koichi sings "Kabakov's Dream" in Niigata on July 30, 2022

On July 30, Makigami Koichi will tackle with the works of Ilya and Emilia Kabakov in a live setting.

Kabakovs are Russian-American conceputual artists originally from Ukrainian region of Soviet Union, now a US residents.

Throughout his forty-year plus career, Kabakov has produced a wide range of paintings, drawings, installations, and theoretical texts—not to mention extensive memoirs that track his life from his childhood to the early 1980s. In recent years, he has created installations that evoked the visual culture of the Soviet Union, though this theme has never been the exclusive focus of his work.

Ilya Kabakov - wikipedia

In 2000, Makigami came to know about Kavakov's work for the first time and has been inspired from their work since then.

This time, with a special setting located in Niigata, a perfecture of Chubu region of the mainland Japan, Makigami and his band Hikashu, with additional members, will perform some songs based on the texts of Kavakov's work.

"When I see Kavakov's work, I can hear some imaginary music through the gaps in the accompanied texts from the installations.
Here I try to discover an imaginary called Kavakov's Dream in this occasion.
With something in my back - maybe wings of angels, or a box of light."

Makigami Koichi

The members are:
Hikashu
Makigami Koichi (vocal, theremin), Mita Freeman (guitar), Sakaide Masami (bass), Shimizu Kazuto (piano, keyboards), Sato Masaharu (drums)
with
Koketsu Masayo (alto saxophone), Ito Chieko (dance), Nakayama Akiko (live painting)

Also, on July 31, there are a workshop for voice and mouthharp (11:00 start) and solo performance (15:00 start) of Makigami at the same venue.

Remember, this is a special evening with special program. So do not miss it.

July 30, 2022
"Makigami Koichi sings Kavakov's Dream"
@ Matsudai Nobutai
Tookamachi, Niigata
open 17:30 start 18:00
adv 1,500 yen - at door 2,000 yen (children 800 yen)
Information in English - Tokamachi City Association for Tourism

Matsudai Nobutai, Niigata

Hikashu Now online event on Feb 15 2022

There will be a live streaming event about Hikashu next week.

Hikashu members talk about their recent releases "LA LA WHAT" and "Zekkei" blu-ray, plus the band's overseas activities.

Also there will be some improvised music, performed live in the studio by ShiroYagi KuroYagi, a bass-and-drum duo of Hikashu members, with Makigami Koichi.

The program can be viewed via YouTube or Dommune site:

YouTube Dommune channel
www.youtube.com/user/dommune

Dommune
www.dommune.com

February 15, 2022
"Hikashu Now!!!"
@ Dommune
19:30 - 24:00 (JST)
Appearance: Makigami Koichi, Sakaide Masami, Sato Masaharu
Live music: Kuroyagi Shiroyagi with Makigami Koichi

Information on Dommune site (Jpn) www.dommune.com/streamings/2022/021501/

Zekkei DVD reissued in Blu-ray format

Zekkei DVD will be reissued this year and now accepting online pre-order.

Zekkei is the live album by Hikashu released in 2018. The double CD documents the band's annual christmas concert at Daikanyama Unit, Tokyo on December 26, 2016. The concert featured songs with the group backing up a variety of musical guests including Hirasawa Susumu.

Zekkei DVD depicts the same concert and released as an accompaniment bonus disc with the album for the first pressing only.

The DVD has become highly sought after and now back with popular demand. But beware - It's online order only and the quantity is limited. So better get hurry.

An on-line store dedicated for the product, operated by the band's management:

hikashu-zekkei.stores.jp

Unfortunately, it is for domestic order and in Japanese language only.

If you live in foreign countries and want to buy this, consider using forwarding service. If you have questions you can contact us via the mailing form in the side bar.

The following is an extract from the DVD:

LA LA WHAT video

 

Hikashu just uploaded a video of the title track from their new album "LA LA WHAT".

The instrument Makigami strumming in it is a wooden trumpet from Latvia.

The music itself is from early 1980s - one of the songs prepared for their 1981 album, The Human Being, but unused. Recently Mita discovered the demo. He reworked on it and here is the result.

LA LA WHAT

words - makigami music - mita

Fake over truth
Money over conscience
War took advantage
Defecting to my own room
LA LA WHAT

An evening of folk songs
Singing everyday life
Melodies are a disappointment
Reflections like narcissists
LA LA WHAT

Medding over understanding
Mimicry too descent
Even permafrost melting
Passionately delusion
LA LA WHAT

Reality from afterimage
That girl is a myth buff
The eyes are easily blinded
By media manipulations
LA LA WHAT

jijitsu yorimo feiku
ryoushiki yorimo okane
binjo surunoga senso
jibun no heya ni bomei
LA LA WHAT

kurashi muki wo utau
foku songu no yuube
kitai hazureno merodi
narusisuto meku hansha
LA LA WHAT

rikai yorimo chokkai
bijin sugiru gitai
eikyu toudo mo tokeru
jonetsuteki na sakkaku
LA LA WHAT

zanzo kara no riaru
shinwa suki no anoko
jouhou sousa wa itomo
konome wo mienaku saseru
LA LA WHAT

New Year "LA LA WHAT" Lucky Bag Campaign

 

The official Hikashu store has started a lucky bag campaign for commemorating the release of the band's new album, LA LA WHAT. 

THE CAMPAIGN IS VALID UNTIL JANUARY 15, 2022 (JPN standard time) SO BETTER HURRY!

There are three packages (all includes "LA LA WHAT" CD) available as follows:

Lucky Bag #1 4 CDs - JPY 10,000 yen plus S&H

• "LA LA WHAT" CD
• "Zekkei" CD
• Other 2 CDs (unselectable)
• T-Shirt (size: S, M, L, XL)
• Tenugui (traditional japanese handkerchief, cotton 100%)
• Sticker (3 pieces)
• Mini Button Badge

Note: Notify the size of T-Shirt. The color of the items are unselectable.

Lucky Bag #2 "LA LA WHAT" plus some merchantise - JPY 10,000 yen plus S&H

This includes:

• "LA LA WHAT" CD
• T-Shirt (size: S, M, L, XL)
• Socks (size: 23-25 cm or 25-27 cm)
• Lunch Tote Bag
• Tenugui (traditional japanese handkerchief, cotton 100%)
• Mask
• Sticker (3 pieces)
• Mini Button Badge
• Document Holder

Note: Notify the size of T-Shirt and Socks. The color of the items are unselectable.

Lucky Bag #3 "LA LA WHAT" plus some merchantise - JPY 5,000 yen plus S&H

• "LA LA WHAT" CD
• T-Shirt (size: S, M, L, XL)
• Mini Tote Bag
• Sticker (3 pieces)
• Key Holder
• Mini Button Badge

Note: Notify the size of T-Shirt. The color of the items are unselectable.

This is quite a bargain, but again, the campaign will be ended on January 15 (jpn standard time) so better hurry getting it. The store generally accepts international order and all you need for ordering is PayPal account, but in case of you have some worries (for example, the store could process orders in Japanese language only) we're happy to help you. Just tell us what you want via the contact form in the sidebar so we can work it out. Thank you.

Experience the DSD Sound - Listening "LA LA WHAT" in High Resolution Audio

 

Hikashu has been releasing a high-resolution edition of original albums since 2011 Uragoe. This month, there is a public event listening to the high audio version of their new album, LA LA WHAT. DSD is the format Hikashu using for their high definition audio works.

Direct Stream Digital - wikipedia

The participants of the event are Makigami Koichi, Sakaide Masami and Ono Seigen from Saidera Mastering. Sakaide is recorded and mixed the album, and Ono took charge of DSD mastering.

The location is Haremame, abbreviating Haretara Sora Ni Sora Maite, which is a venue in Daikanyama, Tokyo.

For LA LA What, Sakaide mixed the DSD audio using KORG Nu 1 in 11MHz, then Ono did 11MHz DSD mastering through analog process. At the event, the audio is played through the house PA, Meyer Sound Ultra series UPA-1A.

It is a precious opportunity to listening to high resolution audio through PA systems of a dedicated live music venue, in high volume. Especially improvised music. So do not miss it if you interested.

Saidera Mastering commented for LA LA WHAT: "High resolution audio is quite a suitable for improvising music. DSD 11.2 MHz. It makes clear that each instrument has different sounds. Apertures and images of sound could be heard precisely."

ヒカシュー『虹から虹へ』を聴く https://t.co/afm00RmY1N

25分00あたり〜〜
ハイレゾって言うのは、即興演奏聴くのにとってもいいですね！DSD 11.2MHz。それぞれが、いろんな違う音を奏でてるっていうのが、隙間とかね、音像がしっかり聴こえてくる。

— Saidera Mastering（サイデラ・マスタリング） (@saidera001) December 10, 2021

January 23, 2022
Ono Seigen and Haremame present Hikashu Listening Party - "LA LA WHAT" in DSD audio
@ Haremame (Haretara Sora Ni Mame Maite)
Daikanyama, Shibuya, Tokyo
open 16:30 - start 17:30
adv 2,000 yen - at door 2,500 yen
haremame.com/schedule/72051/

Hikashu Monthly Concert 2022

Hikashu has been helding a monthly concert series at Star Pine's Cafe in Kichijoji, Tokyo, and it continues. Now it's 4th year. The schedule is as follows:

January 25, Tuesday

February 17, Thursday

March 9, Wednesday (guest Koketsu Ayayo on alto saxophone)

April 22, Friday

May 27, Friday

June 27, Monday

July 12, Thursday (changed from July 21)

August 26, Friday

September 22, Thursday

October 26, Wednesday

November 25, Friday

December 30, Friday

Hikashu Monthly Concert Series 2022

@ Star Pine's Cafe

Kichijoji, Tokyo