scargot Bianco is a re-release of a 1999 album by Japanese band Quikion. The music contained herein is an interesting offering. Quikion seems influenced by the British folk-rock of the 60s and 70s, yet they've adapted the music to make it their own entity. Driven primarily by accordion, acoustic guitar and the pleasant voice Yukiko Totoki, who sings in Japanese, the band experiments with myriad instruments such as: Concertina, castanets, glockenspiel, accordion, and pianica; in a marriage with more traditional instruments such as guitar, bass, and percussions.
Throughout the 9 tracks that comprise this disc, Quikion offers up some light pastoral sounds. The accordion and acoustic guitar coalesce in support of Totoki's vocals. The music is light and soothing and the singing is as delicate as a lotus flower. As with any music that takes the listener out of his/her comfort zone, one must be a little patient with this album. What sounds a little strange after 2 songs becomes something pleasant further down the line. One slowly becomes engrossed by the music, lured in by the siren song of Totoki, until one starts to hear and appreciate the subtle musical lines and sober musicianship, often a trademark of Japanese artists.
For something off the beaten path, one could do much worse than Escargot Bianco. It's a very understated album that still offers interesting musical ideas in a somewhat minimalistic fashion.
Track Listing:
- Escargot Bianco
- Lapis Lazuli
- Incomplete Polka
- Duga Duga
- Caravan Song
- Dadada
- Hushabye
- Full Course
- Incomplete Polka- reprise
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