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

New Year's Greetings 2022 from Hikashu

Shimizu: Hi. Thank you all and Happy New Year. As ever I play music this year so come and see us. Thanks again.

Sato: Hikashu will continue the monthly concert series at Star Pine's Cafe this year. Also with Harada Daijiro (actor), I'll perform a music and reading event in February 22-23 at the same venue. This is based on "Ten Nights' Dream" by Natsume Soseki. It's not just a reading with musical accompaniment but a duo performance of reading and live music. So check it out too.

Mita: Happy new year 2022. Hikashu will perform at Star Pine's Cafe every month this year and also I'm thinking some things to do as solo so stay tuned. No one know what lies ahead so enjoy the moment. Thank you. Period.

Sakaide: Happy New Year. 2022. So much of 2. Well, I have some perception that things are gradually changing these days and this year will be great one. I keep on making and performing music. That's what I'm thinking right now. I wish you all the best. Thank you.

Makigami: Happy New Year. 2022 has come. This two years everybody has been struggling and having some hardships. I hope things unfortunate out there getting better. And Hikashu will continue the monthly concert series in 2022, now it's 4th year. So see you all at the venue.

Hikashu - LA LA WHAT (2021)

Hikashu- LA LA WHAT

1. Ooraka Na Yokan - Vague Premonition 

2. LA LA WHAT 

3. Chim-pi-si and Randevous 

4. The Lie of Life 

5. Astral Projection around Tokyo 

6. Flying insect feast (Geosmin) 

7. Unfortunate Blues 

8. Are you dreaming? 

9. Straddle a Thick Rainbow 

10. Hidden Treasures 

11. Born from the crotch of a tree (Last sense of humanity)

lyrics - Makigami

music - Makigami (1), Mita (2, 5, 7), Sakaide (3, 8, 10), Hikashu (4, 6, 9, 11) 

produced by Makigami Koichi 

recorded and mixed by Sakaide Masami at 1714 Studio, Atami and IGO Studio, Tokyo 

mastered by Ono Seigen at Saidera Mastering 

cover art by Sakabashira Imiri 

design by Ouchi Tomonori 

released on December 8, 2021 

During this year, Hikashu has been steadily active, despite the pandemic. Monthly concert at Star Pine's Cafe of Tokyo since the last year was continued, so they could retain their chops. Also concurrently working in studio, the result is this album.

 

Available through the official site (jpn) or HMV Japan (eng).

Hikashu Monthly Concert 2021

 

Since 2019, Hikashu has been holding a concert once in every month at Star Pine's Cafe, Kichijoji, Tokyo. And last month the band announced that the series will continue this year. The projected dates are:

January 25 "Birth"
February 26 "Enchant"
March 22 "Thought"
April 20 "Outgrow"
May 26 "Leap"
June 25 "Circumvent"
July 14 "Pleasure"
August 13 "Crossing"
September 27 "Reverie"
October 26 "Transform"
November 14 "Supernatural"
December 28 "Overview"

As shown above, each month has its title. The exact meanings of them are not disclosed but it's safe to say that they are just a bunch of imagery. Anyway, the series will be started on January 25, Makigami's birthday, and we fans eagerly anticipate what kind of joy the band will bring to us. Happy new year and best wishes to all.

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

 

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.

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