1-0 Reviews

Happy Family

Albums:

Links:

Cuneiform: Happy Family
The band at Cuneiform Records

The Japanese Avant-Prog
Short article on the current underground Japanese avant-prog scene.

Happy Family

1995

Japanese prog band's first album, on Cuneiform.

This quartet formed in Tokyo in the late 80s, and has become popular with RIO prog-rock fans all over the world. Influenced by bands such as Magma, Ruins, Univers Zero, and King Crimson, they play a hyper-aggressive form of rock that will either raise your adrenaline level or give you a migraine.

Unlike most bands of this sort, Happy Family exhibit a punk-ish edge. Odd New Wave keyboards, out-of-tune bass, and an anarchic drummer almost disguise the incredibly complicated nature of the tunes. Imagine Minor Threat opening for Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Representative tracks

rock & young: The "partei" begins with this extremely aggressive track. Drums at lightspeed, "Jump"-styled power keyboards, and zeuhl-ish growling bass lead the attack. Imagine the soundtrack to an apocalyptic chariot race. Whew!

rolling the law court: Quirky synthesizers give this band a unique sound, and this tune uses synth-saxes for a charming effect. The band loves odd meters, and fanfare-like themes--here, they use both, and create a song that sounds like a cross between ELP and "The Simpsons."

Personnel:

Kenichi Morimoto:
Keyboards

Tatsuya Miyano:
Bass

Shigeru Makino:
Guitar

Keiichi Nagase:
Drums

Toscco

1997

Band's second album finds them tightening up the arrangements while simultaneously stretching their improvisatory tendencies.

The band is anchored by drummer Keiichi Nagase and bassist Tatsuya Miyano, though most of the tunes are written by keyboardist Kenichi Morimoto. Here, they showcase their obviously studied chops in a slightly less frantic mode.

Could be described as fusion for the 90s, but their sound is about as far as can be from Weather Report or Return to Forever. Whatever you call it, it's good, visceral, odd-metered fun.

Representative tracks

The Sushi Bar: Long track written by new guitarist Takahiro Izutani. Begins with a subdued processional duet between keyboard and bass, then to an uptempo marimba romp, followed closely by a crushingly funky jam-section, and ends with the bass/keys duo again. Everything that is good about the band is featured here.

The Picture Book - X Rated: Crimson-like track featuring many of the goofy keyboard sounds Morimoto conjurs from his synthesizer rack. Imagine "One More Red Nightmare" with a few more chops, and much less John Wetton.

Personnel:

Morimoto, Miyano, Nagase

Takahiro Izutani:
Guitar