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condor44 |
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Sasaki Hiroshi
Ajima Nobuyuki
Ishida Chikako |
Vocals, guitar
Drums
Vocals, bass |
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Profile |
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Garnering favorable comparisons to Sonic Youth and Yo La Tengo is tantamount to high praise for many an indie band, but not so for condor44. In fact, the trio vehemently denies any influence from the musical giants in its interviews, even going to far as to say that they don't even listen to the two bands (in spite of their website's front page reading that they are often called the "Sonic Youth and Yo La Tengo of Japan"). Nevertheless, condor44 writes indie rock that draws heavily from the minimalist and post-rock camps, and at times noise rock that is not far off from omnipresent Thurston Moore & Co.
condor44 formed in August of 1998 when guitarist/vocalist Sasaki met drummer Ajima in college. Lacking a bassist, they recruited schoolmate Ishida (who had no prior experience on bass) to complete the trio. Christened condor44, named for a floating sensation (the "44" chosen mainly for its sound) the band wanted to convey, they began playing gigs in Tokyo starting in September.
The band cut a demo release in early 2000, followed by their debut EP Hush&Vane in February of 2001. Their first full album 00203 dropped in May. Regardless of the band's refutations, 00203 shared some clear similarities with Sonic Youth, many songs in the vein of Daydream Nation's straightforward rockers, others more in line with low-fi indie pop. Sasaki and Ishida traded vocal duties on the album, a trend that developed further on db, the band's 2002 release.
With the release of db, condor44 cut some ties to their non-influences, instead opting for a cleaner and more minimalist style. Sasaki and Ishida made solid use of their vocal tradeoffs; along with their dreamy melodies condor44 began to sound like a more restrained and meandering Supercar. However, the often unpredictable rhythms and psychedelic tendencies differentiate condor from the popular dance-rockers. Just before the debut of db, condor44 flew to New York for what would be the first of their US appearances in the May "New York-Tokyo Music Festival."
After nearly four years without a new release condor44 announced in 2006 the recording of a new album, Good Bye 44th Music, which hit stores in January 2007 with positive fanfare.
- James Route (published 2006.07.19, updated 2007.02.07) |
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Links |
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Artist homepage
Daizawa Records |
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Discography list |
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| Albums |
| UKDZ-0002 |
00203 |
| UKDZ-0015 |
db |
| UKDZ-0058 |
Good Bye 44th Music |
EPs |
| UKDZ-5004 |
Hush&Vane |
Compilations |
| MSR-TIN-042 |
Harmony Plan |
| DEP-4004 |
natural born errors |
| UKCD-1096 |
ONE SHOT ONE kill -BAD TRACKS FOR BAMBi2- |
| UKDZ-0019 |
Kill Two Birds with One Stone |
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Good Bye 44th Music (Album)
Released: 2007.01.24 (UKDZ-0058)
Label: Daizawa Records
Tracklist
1. Ru's rock
2. He goes on rocking "end roll"
3. AZKD (on the crucial rhythms)
4. good night 44th music
5. winter
6. Owari
7. O.F.G.
8. Juugatsu
9. ending
10. Faint Shine (nikkei ver.) |
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Kill Two Birds with One Stone (Compilation)
Released: 2003.03.12 (UKDZ-0019)
Label: Daizawa Records
Tracklist
5. sad ferret story
6. WHAT'S UP?
7. (untitled)
8. KAMAKURA |
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db (Album)
Released: 2002.06.21 (UKDZ-0015)
Label: Daizawa Records
Tracklist
1. db
2. condortime
3. 蓮華 (Renge)
4. bo-go.09
5. TIME
6. 蘭華 (Ranka)
7. visionary town
8. hydrangea |
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ONE SHOT ONE kill -BAD TRACKS FOR BAMBi2- (Compilation)
Released: 2001.12.07 (UKCD-1096)
Label: UK Project
Tracklist
4. 2&40 |
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natural born errors (Compilation)
Released: 2001.07.26 (DEP-4004)
Label: Depth Records
Tracklist
5. INTRO
6. Waif(from #5) |
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Harmony Plan (Compilation)
Released: 2001.06.22 (MSR-TIN-042)
Label: TiNSTAR Records
Tracklist
11. Tuning#4 |
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00203 (Album)
Released: 2001.05.25 (UKDZ-0002)
Label: Daizawa Records
Tracklist
1. sample#5
2. Hush&Vane
3. ebb
4. in pastime
5. tune#5
6. R.G.V
7. world C world A
8. day break
9. Faint Shine
10. 00203 |
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Hush&Vane (EP)
Released: 2001.02.23 (UKDZ-5004)
Label: Daizawa Records
Tracklist
1. in pastime
2. World C World A
3. 10 sledge race
4. INTRO
5. Hush&Vane |
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