Post Description

Zettaimu - Miroque

HISASHI FURUE formed ZETTAIMU in 1983 -- literally translated as "absolute vanity" but claimed to really mean "absolutely nothing." He is the guitarist lyricist and composer, as well as a multi-instrumentalist (early albums feature merely him and a drummer) He was influenced by both rock and "Ma" -- a traditional element, and style, of Japanese music which refers to the intervals between notes, and I have seen defined as "the power of silence." ZETTAIMU explores and utilises traditional Japanese music, and one can find it fused with alternative and heavy rock, proto-proggish music, psychedelic rock, progressive/ experimental rock, post-rock, and pop, creating refreshing progressive rock -- accessible, yet nuanced textures. It can be very atmospheric music with dark and light contrast -- at times playful (in a J-Pop, or Beatles pop sort of way, and at other times somber or morose (not that unlike The Cure).

The band's first album, "My Grandma Says", was released in 1989 and was influenced by groups such as THE BEATLES, VELVET UNDERGROUND and THE MOODY BLUES. PINK FLOYD's brand of psychedelia is fairly prominent on several albums, and one can hear some similarities to alternative groups such as PORTISHEAD, groups such as THE CURE, as well as J-pop bands. Hisashi Furue cites an eclectic list of influences: from DAVID BOWIE, to SLAPP HAPPY, to the ever modest MUSSORGSKY.

The early albums have a Proto-Prog, and early psych, feel to them, but later albums are more progressive, and indeed, the band has become more progressive with each release. Furthermore, ZETTAIMU seems to have found its own voice more in later albums -- using mostly Japanese rather than English language vocals in recent albums helps greatly because, for one thing, the Japanese traditional elements are important to the music, and so it adds to the ambiance and mystique. The female vocals are lovely, and in early 2008, a new female vocalist was signed to the band called Mayumi Kotani.

Particularly recommended are "Miroque" (2007), which is the most consistent, Crimsonesque, and fully realised work, and "Oiran" (2005).

Studio Album, released in 2007

Songs / Tracks Listing 
1. Red Moon - prologue (1:34)
2. I Don't Need Anything Else (6:49)
3. Anyone is Loved by Someone (6:14)
4. Time like an Arrow (4:53)
5. Jennifer (4:58)
6. Sharan (5:39)
7. Icarus (4:38)
8. Time Perplexes Time Oneself (5:55)
9. Red moon - epilogue (8:07)

Line-up / Musicians 
- Hisashi Furue / guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, piano, sampler, synthesizer, backing vocals, hand clapping 
- Michinobu Matsuhashi / drums 
- Kanako / backing vocals, Japanese little gong, hand clapping
- Tomoyuki Ohnishi / bass, synthesizer, Japanese silver bell