Dec 31, 2020

Hikashu - Nariyamazu (Eternal Echoes) (2020)

 

 

Hikashu - Nariyamazu

1. Nariyamazu / Eternal Echoes
2. Senbazuru No Dance / 1,000 Kurge Dance
3. Maul Meira (Bitter)
4. Arayuru Chie Kara / All the Wisdom
5. Kuroi Pan No Amasa Taruya / How Sweet It Is, Muhu Pagarid
6. Moichido Aitai / Wish Meeting You Again
7. Dokomademo Tochu / Perpetually on the Way

words - Makigami
music - Hikashu except Makigami (1, 3), Makigami and Sakaide (2)

Makigami Koichi - vocal, theremin, cornet, shakuhachi, koukin
Mita Freeman - guitar, ethnic flute
Sakaide Masami - bass
Shimizu Kazuto - piano, synthesizers
Sato Masaharu - drums

produced by Makigami Koichi
recorded in Talin, Estonia and Tokyo by Makigami Koichi and Sakaide Masami
mixed by Sakaide Masami
mastered by Ono Seigen at Saidera Mastering
released on December 23, 2020


As for everyone, 2020 is a year of suffer and accident for Hikashu. For example, this year they had to cancel the most of the appearances, including the annual christmas concert which they had been doing since 2008. But there's some emergence, and one of them is Nariyamazu, their first original album since Anguri, which was released in 2017.

Indeed, the album itself is born from accident. In March, Hikashu went to Estonia because they had been booked for a local festival. Of course, at that time, the pandemic was already rampant, but they choose to do that anyway. Fortunately, they avoided cancelling the event and managed to do a show, although shortened with limited audience.

Originally, they intended to do a series of show and some sightseeing - it was the first time for them to visit the country - but almost everything had to drop. Since unexpectedly they had a plenty of time, they tried to do something else instead. So they looked for a  studio, secured it, and did some recording. That's the foundation of this album.

Back to Tokyo, the band did some tweaking on the recording in studio, and added some tracks from recent concert as well. Mastering was done by the masterful Ono Seigen.

Cover photo is done in Estonia. The location was near historical district, and when they were there, almost nobody was around. Ordinarily the place was packed with people, but at that time, quite desolated. It seemed that it symbolized the situation appropriately, so they choose to do impromptu photo session, and the result was used for the album.

As for the music, this time the band decided to devote themselves collective improvisation heavily. There's only a few composed tracks. Lyrics is also mostly gibberish. All in all, this approach reminds us "Ten Ten," their only album devoted for improvisation and this could be described as the part three of the trilogy (There's already "Ten Ten Ten," a sequel). There are some differences between them though.

It's quite refreshing to see a 40-years band continuing to do something new. It's a troubled time, so listen some Hikashu and revive your spirit.


Available via Hikashu store or HMV Japan

 

Nov 30, 2020

Hikashu's new album "Nariyamazu" seems coming soon


 

Recently Makigami reported on his instagram account that Hikashu's new album, entitled "Nariyamazu" which its English title "Eternal Echoes," is currently in mastering process at Saidera Mastering of Tokyo.

The album is recorded during their trip to Estonia in late March, then overdubbed in their Tokyo studio. Hopefully the album will be out at the end of this year. Can't wait.


Sep 30, 2020

Makigamisantachi - Gaburi & Zorori (2020)

 


Makigamisantachi is a trio of electro improvisational music, consisted with the members of Hikashu. They formed in late 1990s and released debut album in 2005. They continue to exist today, performing sporadically, and now the sphomore release has come this year, the first in 15 years.


The album was edited and constructed from two concerts held in 2016. Regarding the title, both "Gaburi" and "Zorori" is onomatopoeia in Japanese language, the former is "bite," and the latter is "crawl."


All in all, an unexpected and welcoming release from this idiosyncratic group.


Makigamisantachi - Gaburi & Zorori (2020)


1. Water Pillow

2. Gaburi

3. Thundering

4. Tunnel of Rainy Season

5. Fry in the Night

6. Beautiful Eye

7. Rain of Trifoliate Orange

8. Shining Lizard

9. Flower of Pumpkin

10. Galaxy Standing Absently

11. Whole Body of Ox

12. Being Stomped by Rainbow

13. After All

14. What to Be Idiosyncratic

15. Theory of Crayfish

16. Orangish Green

17. Trying to Conceal

18. Owl's Remove

19. A Crystal Sings

20. Sheep Making Rust

21. Zorori


recorded at Airgin, Yokohama on May 5, 2016 and Daikanyama Unit on January 24, 2016.


Makigamisantachi:

Makigami (theremin)

Freeman (guitar)

Sakaide (bass)


cover art: Isono Yoko

running time: 50 minutes

Makigami Records mkr-0015

July 2020 release


Jul 2, 2020

Hikashu Monthly 2020 July - attempt backing to normal, gradually




On July 2, Hikashu will perform at Star Pine's Cafe of Kichijoji, as a part of the on-going "Hikashu Monthly 2020" concert series.

The band had to cancel April and June shows, and resumed the series last month as livestream only. And this month they will have audience. It is the first time for them playing in front of people, although there is some limitation for the number of persons in attendance.

Also, as of the last time, the performance will be livestreamed on prepaid and could see anywhere, if the bandwidth is secured.

"Hikashu Monthly 2020 July"
July 2, 2020
@ Star Pine's Cafe
Kichijoji, Tokyo
open 18:30 - start 19:30
adv 3,900 yen - at door 4,300 yen
livestream 2,500 yen (3,000 yen after 19:30)
url https://tiget.net/events/94702

The livestream content is archived after the broadcast and possible to play until July 6.

At this point the situation is still unpredictable but something must be done. It's their way to attempt back to normal.



Jun 11, 2020

Watch livestream the performance on June 11




On June 11, Hikashu will livestream the concert. It's a pay-per-view program, and this is the first time for the band to do such a thing.

Admission will open on 19:30, and the show will be start on 20:00 (Japanese standard time).

You can access the program through the following URL:
https://tiget.net/events/93174

It's pay admission and its fee is 2,000 yen advance. After the show started, the charge is at door, which is 2,500 yen. It's basic price and there are other two plans - 3,000 yen and 4,000 yen respective, available. The content is the same with all the plans; the surplus is donation for the related parties. It supports all the major credit cards.

The content is accessible from outside Japan. Unfortunately, the service does not have English support. Use online transation service like Google Translate instead.

Missed the concert? Need not worry. It's available until the end of June 14, so you can watch the performance at a later date.

Watch the band tackling the new endeavor.

May 31, 2020

"Mask" Video December 2019






Hikashu uploaded a video of "Mask." on their channel on youtube last month.

It was recorded on December 25, 2019 at Star Pine's Cafe, Kichijoji, Tokyo.

"Putting a Mask,
And avoided the eyes,
Now I got relieved."

Apr 26, 2020

Hikashu announced new album "Nariyamazu"

Hikashu just announced new album. It was recorded on March 2020 in Tallinn, Estonia. The title is "Nariyamazu" and has another title in Estonian, Kalad ei peatu. It roughly translates "Continuous Echoes (or Sound)"

Right now there is no other details available, but the band just uploaded a trailer video on their YouTube channel.



It looks like this will be released this year. We will let you know when other info available. Can't wait.

Feb 9, 2020

Makigami Koichi is awarded the first Ooka Makoto Prize



On February 8, it was officially annouced that Makigami Koichi is one of the two recipients for the 1st Ooka Makoto Prize for literary exellence and activities. The other recipient is Sasaki Mikiro, poet.

The prize was founded in by Asahi Shimbun and Meiji University in 2019 for commemorating the Japanese poet and literary critic Ooka Makoto (1931-2017) and given for the first time this year.

According to the Japan Foundation site:

Makoto Ooka, who is involved in broad ranging literary activities in the field of "words" as a poet and a critic, and who possesses deep analytic powers as a historian, has made an enormous contribution both at home and abroad toward dissemination of the charm of the Japanese language. His unstinting efforts toward the development of linked-verse (renshi) exchange with the poets and literati of the world, the first experiment of its kind ever carried out, have served to carve out new horizons for cultural exchange and international exchange in the field of literature, as a result of which he has gained great renown as a "cultural emissary" of Japanese culture and literature. 


Makoto Ōoka - wikipedia

The prize is selected annually by the committee comprised with the five members including Ichiyanagi Toshi, the composer.

The committee commented that:

"Makigami Koichi has been writing lyrics for songs for 40 years, which are collected on "Suprematism (The Supreme Delutions)" published by Shoshi Yamada. He also expresses his philosophies through prominent singing and playing miscellaneous musical instruments, and has been active to convey the power of words."

The award celemony is scheduled to be held at Meiji University in March.

Congratulations!



Jan 25, 2020

Hikashu starts a new concert series at Star Pine's Cafe Kichijoji Tokyo on January 27, 2020



2020 looks like a busy year for Hikashu because they start a new concert series called "New Song New Way," and it will be held every month this year.

During the series the band intends to perform a brand new song each time hence the title. The first installment will be held on January 27. The 2nd installment is scheduled on February 18 and the 3rd is March 6.


January 27, 2020
@ Star Pine's Cafe
Kichijoji, Tokyo
open 18:30 - start 19:30
adv 3,900 yen - at door 4,300 yen


Star Pine's Cafe, Kichijoji, Tokyo