Timeline: 2023 - Hiroshima, Mon Amour! It's Otoboke Beaver!
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By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor
I've been listening to music probably every day since 1967. From transistor AM radio all the way to streaming audio, it's been a long strange trip of sounds to say the least. Countless 45's, albums and cds obtained over the decades, a laundry list of concerts attended, promoted and performed along the way as well. I’ll be honest, this far along the trail, it's hard to get the wind knocked out of me by a band.
I still look and listen for new bands and artists all the time with hopes that there will be one that creates the right spark. Ideally it would be a long lasting relationship, one where you immerse yourself in their world and look forward to each and every release. Other times, it may be a less involved romance or, to paraphrase Pink Floyd, they give you a “quick short, sharp shock.” Sometimes, that's just what the doctor ordered, and does the trick. It is with that spirit in mind, I would like to tell you about a recent obsession of mine, Otoboke Beaver.
Otoboke Beaver are a fierce female foursome from Osaka, Japan. They formed in 2009, releasing a handful of singles and ep's before finally issuing their first proper album, ‘Super Champion, last year. The best way to experience this fantastic four, however, is to see them live, but if that isn’t on the docket, YouTube will suffice for the time being.
It's a safe bet that you have never witnessed energy, chaos, harmony, precision and cuteness all at the same time quite like Otoboke Beaver. They are all excellent musicians and though what they play is very rooted in a hardcore/thrash hybrid of sorts, they manage to mix in spot on harmonies and prog-like precision that all adds up to a sonic explosion like you've never heard. Dressed up in the sharpest mid-60's mod girl attire complete with old school stage moves, the juxtaposition of sweet and sinister side by side is both alarming and engaging.
Led by singer Accorinrin and guitarist Yoyoyoshie, who are backed by a most dynamic rhythm section of bassist Hirochan and Kahokiss on drums, these four lovely ladies are a Molotov cocktail of caffeine, amphetamine, anger and joy that at once assaults and captivates as it plants a big wide smile on your face.
The list of unique acts from Japan to make inroads in America goes back to at least, 1963 with singer Kyu Sakamoto, who scored a number one hit with "Sukiyaki." Sung in Japanese, it sold an astonishing 13 million copies at the time. There were the Mops, a garage band formed in 1966 who adopted a Stones/Beatles approach, the psychedelic sounds of the Flower Travelin' Band, and in the early 1970s a fantastic combo that mixed glam, pop and prog called the Sadistic Mika Band.
Signed to Harvest/EMI records and produced by Chris Thomas, the Sadistic Mika Band landed the opening slot on the Roxy Music tour in 1975 and actually received slight commercial radio airplay in some markets, Cleveland being one of them. Fast forward a few and we have the Plastics, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Shonen Knife, and later Guitar Wolf, Teengenerate ,High Rise, Keiji Haino, Marble Sheep and on and on, and, let us not forget Yoko Ono's part in all this!. Japan has always had an interesting music scene, but rarely made a dent elsewhere.
Sometimes, the Japanese interpretation of Western styles is, let’s say, charmingly alarming. High Rise, for instance, took the crash, bang wallop of Blue Cheer, only, as if Blue Cheer weren’t loud and Neanderthal enough, High Rise opted to turn up the volume to internal organ vibrating levels as they delivered their three chords in the 1990s.
But I digress – back to Otoboke Beaver!
Songs like "I Am Not Maternal," "I Won't Dish Out Salads," "Leave Me Alone! No, Stay with Me!" and "Let's Go Shopping After The Show" are blasts of mayhem, the longest song clocking in at just over two minutes. It was a live video of "I Checked Your Cell Phone" that first caught my attention. Randomly popping up in my YouTube feed, I was, for some reason, curious enough to click it. Once there, I couldn't turn back! The KEXP Session posted here is perhaps the best and most well rounded presentation of what they do. Actual live concerts tend to be more chaotic, often finding Yoyoyoshie diving in the crowd, guitar in hand.
I will tell you that this is not for the faint of heart, nor is it something I would listen to all the time, but there is something very special about this foursome that are doing something very original, not taking themselves too seriously and at the same time, totally delivering the goods. Does anyone remember ‘Pink Lady and Jeff’? Never mind.
I don't know what else to say, other than, welcome to the world of Otoboke Beaver! Hate mail and/or thank you cards all welcome!