Show #194: Koenjihyakkei Over Europe

September 30th, 2009

Hailing from Japan/the planet Kobaïa, Koenjihyakkei is a project of drummer Tatsuya Yoshida, who also beats the skins in Ruins. I’ve never listened to Ruins and only came across Koenjihyakkei a few days ago. I saw this show available and read that the band were like Magma, which piqued my interest.

Zeuhl is definitely not an easy genre to get into and is one of the most difficult variations of an already difficult genre, progressive rock. It was pioneered by the band Magma whose drummer/leader, Christian Vander, invented his own language, Kobaïan, for the band’s compositions. The site linked to above describes Zeuhl as being “a mixture of musical genres like Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Modernism and Fusion. Common elements: oppressive or discipline-conveying feel, marching themes, throbbing bass, an ethereal piano or Rhodes piano, and brass instruments”. Of the more concise descriptions for Magma’s sound, the best is “a mixture of John Coltrane and Carl Orff”.

This also goes for Koenjihyakkei’s music but it has a bit less of the Orffian bombast than its Zeuhlian forebears. Indeed, just from a cursory listen, I hear some very fluid jazzy elements at play here as well. But don’t fret – the unearthly chorus in a completely artificial language is here, but I’m not sure if Koenjihyakkei sing in Kobaïan or not.

(Photos from the band’s website.)

However difficult Zeuhl is, the music ultimately makes for a very rewarding listen.

The show here is, I am told, Koenjihyakkei’s first appearance in Europe. It was recorded earlier this year on 1 May in Les Lilas, France at Le Triton. Quality-wise, we have an excellent audience recording. Many thanks and a garland of fire flowers to the taper.

Lineup:

Tatsuya Yoshida – Drums, Vocals
Kengo Sakamoto – Bass, Vocals
Keiko Komori – Soprano Sax
Taku Yabuki – Keyboards
Ah – Vocals

Setlist:

Angherr Shisspa
Rattims Friezz
Axall Hasck
Quidom Vissqaguell
Avedumma

Download show

Koenjihyakkei

Here is the band doing “Nivraym” in 2007, I believe.

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2. Show #114: Groundhogs Day
3. Show 2: Exit Sandman
4. Show #150: In Memory of Oscar Peterson
5. Show #84: Running Down the Voodoo