Nakama Britannica

The rock duo Monoral, consisting of Anis Shimada and Ali Morizumi, have two EPs and two full-length albums under their belts but I first heard their music, as quite a few others no doubt did, through their single Kiri, the song used in the opening theme to Ergo Proxy. This is featured on the second of their LPs, 2007’s Turbulence.

It’s testament to the soaring Kiri (not to mention my impulsive music purchasing habits) that I went ahead and ordered the entire album based on my impressions of that song alone; fortunately the rest of the material on offer is of a consistently high quality. It’s worth noting that all the lyrics are performed in English - a fact explained by Anis and Ali being fluent in both this and Japanese. This means that not only are the songs somewhat more accessible to overseas fans than other similar J-rock bands but it also gives the music a distinctly American flavour. Indeed, the best way I can describe the album’s sound as a whole is ‘grungy’ - there are elements reminiscent of Stateside alt-rock and similarly influenced artists that followed in the intervening years.

That is not to say that Anis and Ali should be dismissed as a couple of Japanese guys who wish that they were from Seattle though. The combination of distorted guitars and Anis’ throaty vocal style owe much to the likes of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden but there’s no escaping the fact that Monoral have a keen and unique ear as to what makes a good rock tune, and they have no shortage of technical ability either. There are numerous catchy hooks and energetic riffs in the twelve tracks on offer here but unlike the output from many of their American and European contemporaries, Turbulence has less of the angst and pent-up aggression, with a more laid-back, calculated and - dare I say it - radio-friendly feel. For sure, there are rasping fuzz-guitar power chords and a chugging beat in Perfect Gold and chaotic drumming in Visions in my Head but even the towering stadium-sized intro and refrain of Vimana and Muse-esque segments of Sparta are more concerned with melody than guitar-smashing rebelliousness.

From the raucous opener Pocketful of Joy to the closing track Session 9 it’s evident that Anis and Ali know where to place the emphasis in their music and where to show restraint; the arrangements carry plenty of heart and soul, conveying feelings convincingly without trying the listener’s patience. There’s a balanced mixture of faster and slower numbers too, and the recording side of things sounds polished without feeling over-produced. While the overseas image of Japanese popular music (be it justified or not) may be that of saccharine commercial pop and the theatrical goth-inspired metal of visual kei, Turbulence is an album that stays within its own genre boundaries but keeps its credibility intact when compared with mainstream fare.

It is perhaps this mature approach to songwriting that makes the album such a refreshing experience: the aforementioned Kiri, soulful ballad Monkey Cage and the instrumental title track evoke feelings of yearning and introspection that are often absent from the more well-known bands that those of us here in the UK and the US are familiar with. It’s easy to compare, say, Tuesday with early Foo Fighters, or Anis’ impressive vocal range from croon to wailing howl with Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell but to do so would be doing a disservice to all concerned; this album displays Monoral’s unique take on the all-too familiar guitar rock formula. It expresses a sense of confidence and sophistication that many new bands today are missing - if you’re looking for an alternative to the samey indie and nu-metal offerings around these days, this is worth the import.

Track listing

1. Pocketful of Joy
2. Sparta
3. Vimana
4. Monkey Cage
5. Tuesday
6. Visions in my Head
7. Perfect Gold
8. Kiri
9. Pompadour
10. Shenanigans
11. Turbulence
12. Session 9