Momoiro Jinja - Maido Osawagaseshite Orimasu! (桃色神社 - 毎度おさわがせしております!)

M is for Momoiro Jinja

Momoiro Jinja (Their name literally meaning "peach coloured shrine".) are a so called "Neo-Scum" band. A colourful little Osaka sub-genre that seems to have a cozy membership of 2. The other being Clitoric Ris. A half naked balding salary man who sings cheesy pop songs about sex, food, ex-girlfriends and being broke in nothing but a pair of light-up speedos with a crotch mounted theremin.

Inspired by the Osaka Scum scene that kicked off some time in the early 90's (See my previous post about Ultra Fuckers for more on Scum.) these guys have been knocking about for over 10 years now. No small feat for a genre that's transient and fleeting nature means few bands stick around long enough to establish a name or following.

The Osaka trio (Drums. bass, keyboard) play tongue in cheek No-Wavey, Hardcore Punk. The drums and bass combine to form a solid rhythm section for keyboard player Wandera's discordant mashed keys. The band break up their live sets with their signature comedy sketches which are usually either random and bizarre or vulgar and crude or often both in extreme doses. The bands lyrics follow in similarly silly fashion. Momoiro are a band who take not being serious very seriously.

This is the bands first self-released CDR from 2008. The band recently put out their second CDR entitled "Prius" which you can get hold of by contacting the band or picking it up at their live shows.

Official
Buy
Download
Youtube
Myspace

Aleks Et Les Japonaises - Ojamashimasu (おじゃまします)

I always have trouble deciding what to upload next so to make the decision easier I will now start uploading things in alphabetical order. Well at least until I get bored of the idea or get stuck on a letter I can't find anything for.

A is for Alek Et Les Japonaises a Belgian based duo with Alek and his Japanese partner. Alek are purveyors of super catchy French lounge electro-pop. It's all lighthearted tongue-in-cheek fun with the pair alternating between amusing Japanese and French lyrics. My personal favourite on this self released EP is track 5 "Kuchi Kusai". A super catchy little ditty about intolerably bad breath so watch who's around when you inevitably start singing it to yourself in the mornings.

Alek frequently play shows at various places around Europe and also come over to Japan occasionally so check their official website for tour dates. You can buy their music at their shows or download it from their Soundclick page.

Official
Buy/Soundclick
Download
Myspace
Youtube  

Byouki Masanori - CDR2 (病気マサノリ - CDR2)

Byouki Masanori's (Sick Masanori) entertaining and unpredictable live shows have made him a bit of a legend on the local Osaka underground scene and evn counts the likes of Afrirampo and LSD March amongst his fans. Masanori makes silly and catchy as hell punk and anthemic folk songs. Sadly the amusing lyrics will be lost in translation to most but you'll no doubt find yourself singing along to songs about the wonderful smells women produce and the benefits of shampoo. The last solo performance I saw by him he refused to use a microphone and continued to "play" half his set accapella style mimicking the sound of the non-existant band and dancing around in his usual distinctive and amusing style. This is his second self-released CDR made up of an impressive 21 tracks and is a bargain at only 300 yen. Although in his usual mischevious manner only 11 of them are numbered in the liner notes.

Youtube

Myspace

Official

Download