Do you remember how Benny Hill used to slap that bald guy on the head and then they'd chase half naked women around in fast motion? That image may go through your head while listening to Djamra. I can't recall another band sounding like they're having so much fun. Some progressive music fans-yours truly included-find the more experimental forms of the genre to be pretty daunting. But what makes this Japanese instrumental trio such a joy is the playful abandon seemingly present on every track. Sure, Kamihitoe is "out there" and traces of Frank Zappa, Gong, Magma, Samla Mammas Manna are evident, but so is swing, polka and uh…The Red Hot Chili Peppers!
The opening title track pretty quickly establishes their style, if you will: honking saxophones, slappy bass lines, crunchy guitars, crazy time signatures and the ability to bridge seemingly incongruous forms of music together into a happy wholeness. There's also a funk lick that'll stay with you long after the track is over. After a spacey introduction, "The Cave" swings so well, that I half expected Tony Bennett to begin crooning. Then things explode into all kinds of crooked zaniness. It shouldn't make sense, but it does.
Occasionally, Djamra simmer things down as on the lovely slow dance of "Alha-Ha"; the middle section opens up a little, but it's a very accessible piece of music. But don't touch that dial because "94K2" gets things back on track, at times sounding King Crimson-ish, and other times vying for a spot on Lawrence Welk. The 9-minute "Ahonoko" that closes the CD will leave you wanting more, which is amazing considering the CD is just over an hour in length.
Bassist Masaharu Makakita is the glue that holds Djamra together and I imagine he would be a treat in a live setting. Special mention must also be made to sax player Shinji Kitamura and (guest?) keyboardist Takehiko Fukukda, but the entire band shines. I don't know precisely what one could call this stuff. It isn't easily pigeonholed into RIO, jazz-rock or avant-garde or "prog". Recommended? Are you kidding? Kamihitoe is one of the best albums of 2006.
Track Listing
- Kamihitoe (6:40)
- New Bound (5:43)
- The Cave (7:40)
- Ogiruyas (3:55)
- Alha-Ha (4:32)
- 94K2 (8:30)
- Dying Sleepy (5:41)
- Ajinen (6:03)
- Dictator (6:35)
- Ahonoko (9:14)
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