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Tracklist |
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01 - プランクトーン (Plankton)
02 - ポトフ (Pot-eu-feu)
03 - 世明けの迷子達 (Yoake no Maigotachi)
04 - スポイト (Spuit)
05 - No Beatles
06 - 安住の地 (Anjuu no Chi) |
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Review |
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According to mothercoat, the Beatles are "a past story, a past product." Vocalist Giga Hitokazu elaborates his cynical thesis, nonchalantly intoning on "No Beatles" that the esteemed band is "dead" and he can't even remember the members' names—a surprising conclusion for a band rooted in a musical culture that idolizes the Beatles as almost much as America or England. That, however, is just one of many surprises waiting on this EP.
mothercoat is a band that has a knack for musical sleight-of-hand, throwing bizarre curveballs throughout their songs. The opener "Plankton" begins in a faux-new age style complete with cymbal rolls and half-chanted vocals before crescendoing into a sudden drum-and-bass section, finally finishing with balls-out rock. "Pot-au-feu" recalls Acidman's lighter material (especially "Repeat") until male-female vocals chime in, managing to sound subtly off-kilter without killing the song's balance. "Yoake no Maigotachi" moves from foreboding melody to loud, grungy angst and ends with a peaceful harmonica solo over a shoegaze washout.
For more conventionally-inclined ears, mothercoat doesn't disappoint on the back half of Mama Manner. Their anti-tribute "No Beatles" is practically ready for the radio. Ironically, the band can't escape the reach of the British Isles, as the song's hard rock guitars and swirling shoegaze textures make it sound like they're cut straight from Swervedriver's Mezcal Head. "Spuit" and "Anjuu no Chi" aren't quite as catchy, but the sublime moments in both more than compensate.
mothercoat has a somewhat cryptic album on its hands in Mama Manner, and while it may not be a very cohesive recording, the individual parts make for an interesting ride, assuming a slight drubbing of The Fab Four isn't too much to handle. Which it shouldn't be since, as Giga reminds, it's "not [the] seventies any longer/times have changed." So take that, Beatles bassist (what's your name again?)! |
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