Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Last Sunday, February 5, was the release party for Love And Hates' 1st album "L.A.H." The event was held at Shinjuku Marz, starting at 5pm and to finish around 10! The venue was entirely decorated cute and girly style. The stage was very customized with large stars hanging from above, with a large banner that read "L.A.H. Show", and VJ team Onnacodomo contributed extra visual cuteness during the DJ acts.

We got there at 6, in time to catch part of Twee Grrrls Club's DJ set where 3 girls took turns selecting and mixing indie 7"'s. TGC is a collective to which Love And Hates' Yuppa (HNC) and Moe (miila and the geeks) also belong.

Then on stage was Kaji Hideki who appeared on his own. He explained that he had first planned to play the show just by himself, but after a song he soon introduced his usual flutist/saxophonist Nari-san (Scafull King). His set contained some of his less known songs that aren't often played on stage, and because he didn't have much stage time he did a medley to fit as many songs as possible. At the end of the set he was joined by Love And Hates for a song they sang chorus for on his album, and also "Mahna Mahna" from "L.A.H.", a surprising track in which we can hear an unknown side of Kaji-kun's voice.

On February 4 was an event organized by (M)otocompo, together with The Aprils, BiS and Ezypt. It was held at Shibuya Milkyway, and it was my first time at this nice-sized venue. The place was packed, and noticing a good number of idol fans I assumed that BiS had to do with it!

The event started with indies unit Ezypt, which sounded very new wave and 80's influenced. Their set was quite impressive too, fronted by a guy and girl wearing golden glittery outfits while singing and playing a shoulder keyboard. More surprising was the guy at the back, named Pyramy, wearing a large pyramid-shaped hat that completely hid his face. Towards the end of the show he moved to the front to play a pair of handheld cymbals!

The band's sound reminded me of Thai band Futon, and later I found out that they have shared a stage with Momokomotion (Futon's female vocalist Momoko) before. I'd have really liked to buy a CD if they had any, but it seems that their only release (pyramid-shaped) has sold out long ago.