Koenji Hyakkei

Hundred Sights Of Koenji

Label: Skin Graft Country: USA

"For the first time ever, Skin Graft Records proudly presents Koenjihyakkei's legendary debut album "Hundred Sights of Koenji" to western listeners. With the original issue on Japan's God Mountain label largely unheard and fetching enormous prices on the collector's market, "Hundred Sights of Koenji", returns to print in a deluxe, remastered edition. Originally released in 1994, "Hundred Sights of Koenji" includes the full Ruins line-up of Yoshida Tatsuya and Masuda Ryuichi, with Kubota Aki and Kuwahara Shigekazu for a futuristic journey forward to those hallowed fields of yore. Koenjihyakkei is Area and ELP at their most excessive; Deus Ex Machina with tempo changes multiplied by 100; and Magma at their orff-ian choral, fusion jazz, overcharged gospel peak. Here begins a new chapter in the storied Zeuhl scene, where foreign tongues, interplanetary wars and inhuman technique rule the roost."-Skin Graft

"[...] On their self-titled debut (Koenjihyakkei is Japanese for Hundred Sights of Koenji), Tatsuya and company have produced an undeniable Zeuhl classic, and their second best album to date (behind only their most recent, the ungodly Angherr Shisspa). It's less traditionally zeuhl than their other releases. While the openers "Loos" and "Doi Doi" are modern zeuhl classics, with the trademark pounding basslines, manic drumming, and choired vocals, by the end of "Doi Doi" it's clear this is no "lost Magma CD," as "Doi Doi" lets rip with a fantastic closing guitar solo that never would've appeared in a Magma piece. By the start of the third track, "Molavena", it's clear that Koenjihyakkei have plenty of their own ideas to bring to the table, incorporating elements of traditional Japanese music with a furious groove and more excellent vocals, which mix slow, elegant female vocals with swift, low, male intonations.

Hundred Sights of Koenji never loses steam from there. "Yagonnah" and "Avedumma" are the definite highlights of the latter half of the CD, mixing all the elements I mentioned above into the most potent, explosive pieces. "Yagonnah" in particular is a stellar mix to classic Zeuhl will traditional Japanese melodies (much like "Molavena", only better). None of the pieces can be ignored, however, as each is absolutely fantastic. Indeed, the biggest strength of Hundred Sights of Koenji is its consistency. Every track is at roughly the same level, and that level is fantastic. Magma may get the credit for inventing zeuhl (and they certainly deserve), but it would be unfair and unwise to consider them the only key zeuhl band. After all, there's Koenjihyakkei."-ProgArchives.com

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