Fronted by previous and now part time solo artist
Sheena Ringo,
Tokyo Jihen have entertained since 2004 with their quite unique brand of pop, rock and jazz fusion. Sadly the band have called time on their time together, and will be disbanding after their farewell tour
Tokyo Jihen live tour 2012 Domestique Bon Voyage ends on 29th February. Their last original album is the mini offering
color bars, released 18th January.
The album is composed of five tracks, each written, composed, and in some cases vocally performed by a different band member. This diversity is clear for all to hear, and as a result this is a very mixed release even for them. First up is
Sheena's
Konya wa kara sawagi, which has the alternate title of
Beaucoup De Bruit Pour Rien. It is the most conventionally "
Tokyo Jihen" of the tracks, since she has written a lot of their material. It's a very cheery sounding, catchy piece, full of melodic bass and happy "ju ru rus" from the other band members singing back up. This one is predominantly jazz influenced, as a lot of their songs have been, and features some fantastic jazz improvisation from keyboardist
Izawa Ichiyou and guitarist
Ukigumo.
The second track
Kai HORROR DUST comes from
Izawa, and is contrastingly creepy in tone. With it's rough quality and space-age type synth effects and keyboard, it sounds like a piece of 90's Brit rock thrown forward into 2012.
Izawa, usually only heard singing in the background, has chosen to perform this himself. His vocals are raw and slightly unsteady, but as such suit the style that he's written in. The chorus is surprisingly jolly with it's simple tune and bouncy ska-esque rhythm.
TIME CAPSULE is a slow piece written for
Sheena to perform by bassist
Kameda Seiji, unique in that it is the first time he has written the lyrics as well as the music. It is quietly moving, dominated by piano with only some atmospheric reverberating guitar for company. The delicacy of it is flatteringly complimentary to
Sheena's unmistakeable voice.
Guitarist
Ukigumo has had a hand in composing some stand out
Tokyo Jihen tunes in the past, and
sa_i_ta is no exception. With it's growling and distinctive bass-only opening it's anyone's guess as to which way the song will lean. Moody and dark, or upbeat and jazzy? Actually it's a superb specimen of infectious disco pop, which only really kicks in when it gets to the chorus. The bassline is the star of the show hands down, remaining unfalteringly smooth throughout. Interestingly enough, none of the members has blown their own trumpet in their compositions, choosing instead to showcase the best that their bandmates have to offer.
Ukigumo has handed over the vocals to
Sheena as her high-pitched voice is well suited to delivering the dancy chorus. He does however chip in occasionally to say the words "in a moment."
It's up to drummer
Hata Toshiki to finish it all up, which he does with the very different
Honto no tokoro. It is his first composition for the band, and unfortunately his last. This track most definitely starts as it means to go on, with minor piano chords and a shadowy verse to begin. It simmers with attitude which bursts out climactically into a pounding, almost anthemic chorus. There's no way to imagine
Sheena's nasal tones delivering this, and luckily
Hata shouts it out with conviction. It sounds nothing like what the band had come out with before, resembling something like early
The Back Horn instead with its intensity and anguish. It's certainly leaves a lasting impression after the album is over.
It could be said that it's sadistic for the band to leave this as the parting gift for fans. The few tracks on
color bars are, for a sixth album, so refreshing and eye-opening that they could evidently give us so much more if they hadn't decided to bring things to a close. As it seems that they wanted to end on a high, we can only hope that they will continue to give us as much aural enjoyment apart as they did together. Thank you,
Tokyo Jihen.
The music video for
Konya wa kara sawagi, featuring the members playing Chinese gangsters, can be seen
here.
