(the) Road to the Deep East

Whenever I think of the development and growth of the culture in the world, I have to think of the similarity to the evolution of life form. It must be what Richard Dawkins calls meme.

Just like the evolution of species, culture evolves, according to the circumstance in which the culture grows. Sometimes , some cultural products are reduced under the selective pressure - for example, political or economical situation. But the evolve then to be adopted to the new situation. For instance, remember the tale of kabuki I introduced a month ago. Kabuki evolved under the pressure from governments in each time, and could survive until today.

And just life life form, the strong species spread and invade other territory . It is what is called infamous globalism, which exiles traditional cultures in each country with the power McDonald's and Hollywood movies. But there is still a tough competition among the strong species, and the reign of one species doesn't last forever. Rock music used to be a dinosaur or Anomalocaris in 60s or 70s, but it looks to be on the decline after the appearance of new species like hip-hop or elecronica.

Anyway, the group, or singer I introduce today is the miracle occurred during this global cultural evolution. Superfly, Superfly.


(track list)
1.Hi-Five
2.Manifest
3.1969
4.Ai wo komete hanataba wo
5. Ain't no Crybaby
6. Oh My Precious Time
7. Vancouver
8. I spy I spy (Superfly x Jet)
9. Uso to Romance
10. Ai to kansha
11. Hello Hello
12. Last Love Song
13. I Remember

(click read more to read the full review)

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Superfly originally was a duo of women and man, Ochi Shiho(woman) and Taho Koichi. They began their musical activity at their university in Ehime prefecture in 2003. They started from copy of Finger 5(the Japanese popular group in 70s, Japanese version of Jackson5 ), and later, they organized Superfly, named after Curtis Mayfield's representative work, and started their original blues songs.

This history reminds me of evolution again. Ehime prefecture is in the Shikoku island, and as you can see, it is separated from major cities like Tokyo or Osaka by the sea. Under this geographic separation, this duo from Ehime started copy of Finger 5 , the band which nobody else but them in Japan hadn't remembered, and then they started blues.


If they weren't born in Ehime, could they start such a unique style? I don't think so. They were discovered by Warner Music Japan and moved to Tokyo in 2005, but their music keeps being unique. Or, I dare to say, old. Their music is very classic blues rock music, which easily recalls the memory of 60s or 70s.

I didn't select in Top10 music in my life, but years ago, I used to be a Japanese rock fan for a while (maybe around 2000), when some talented female rock vocalists appeared. Shiina Ringo, the Brilliant Green, and Love Psychedelico. 'Japanese singers can rock' Their sounds were perfectly same as the sounds I knew as an earnest teenage Western rock fan, and I was very into these groups.

When I listened to Superfly first months back, I received exactly the same shock. I think their style and music is very similar to Love Pshychedelico, so their fans may like this album.

#2 Manifest is a hard-core blues-rock, which reminds me of The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. #6 Ain't no crybaby is also a good 70-esque blues-rock. Their reference and respect to classic rock music won't stop there. #6 Oh my Precious time and #9 Uso to Romance sound like a 50s rock, or Pet Sounds.
(Manifest from youtube)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tscrjscIg9M

It's not so rare that Japanese young artists pay homage to old-Rock stars ( we can see it in even erectro Nakata world), but the characteristic point of Superfly is they are not arranging those sounds or borrowing the part of phrases, but recreating the world and sound of 60s or 70s, very faithfully.

It's very interesting. Just like Marsupial, the species which used to be popular all over the world but endangered later had been preserved in the Australia continent, in Ehime prefecture, the spirit of classic rock dinasaurs was preserved and handed down to the 21st century.

And I have to admire Shiho's vocal, too. A year ago, I was a fan of another female band lead by a very talented female vocalist. Even today, whenever I see a female singer, I have to compare her r with the vocal of the group and complain; 'This singer is not as good as she.' But now I have to admit, Shiho is better than the vocalist , at least, as a rock vocalist.
(live clip from youtube)

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Anyway, Since Superfly made their major debut in 2007, their singles are promoted heavily, always tied-up famous commercials or TV dramas. However, it seems the sales is not as good as they expected. Even the 'Ai wo komete hanatabawo', which was tied up with popular drama 'Edison no haha', didn't rise higher than #13.

But it won't be a strange phenomenon. I don't think the people from younger generation, who are acquainted with avex pops or R&B and grown up with them can understand Superfly. But it doesn't mean they are just a fake group which becomes popular just thanks to the support from the major agency.

As an ex-rock fan, I can approve: Superfly is rock.

Before listening to Nakanomori Band, Nakajima Mika, or Sawajiri Erika, or Larc-En-Ciel or ther v-kei bands, you'd better listen to Superfly and feel the TRUE rock music grown in the part of Japanese islands.

[EDIT]

It seems this album became #1 on Oricon Daily charts. So, it seems the people who liked their 60s-70s-esque music are actually more than I'd thought. It's good news that good music got what it deserves, anyway.