Heavy psych; Krautrock styled
Latest release: Hasenheide (2024) archival from 2016.
Kikagaku Moyo (2013)
Kikagaku Moyo is Japanese for Geometric Patterns, and is a perfectly fitting name for this promising up and coming psychedelic space rock group from Tokyo. Fantastic artwork adorns the cover and is appropriate for the music within. According to the label, Kikagaku Moyo set out to recreate the magic sounds of the early 1970s Japanese underground. From this listener's perspective there cannot possibly be enough bands to attempt that! Kikagaku Moyo have done an admirable job of creating that unique Oriental atmosphere (by way of Eastern scales, Japanese wind instruments, and sitar), while adding layers of strummed acoustic guitar, anguished wah wah guitar solos, echoed female narration, pounding drums, and theremin. And while the goal may have been to recreate the music of four decades ago, there is no mistaking this to be a modern recording - especially when you consider the slabs of fuzz distortion that come blasting from the speakers. Have no fear, Kikagaku Moyo are a million miles away from Stoner Metal. As well, there are no unhinged solos ala Acid Mothers Temple that would have you screaming STOP! and running from the room in seconds. This is indeed the underground of the 70s, the world of bands like Far Out, Far East Family Band, Love Live Life + One, and Genshi Kyodotai. Time is taken to create the hazy atmosphere, but musical climaxes are delivered at just the right time - similar to the 70s masters. Probably the 90s Japanese band Ghost is a good guidepost, but I feel Kikagaku Moyo has already surpassed them in quality. This is an exciting new band that I hope we will hear more from soon.
---12/4/13
12/4/13 (new entry)
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