Komuso - Luck Will Be On Your Side This Week 7"

Labels: Adabana Records/Left Hand Label/Zegema Beach Records/Zilpzalp Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 14 Oct 2018

Tracklist:

1. Still

2. Forgotten People

3. Extension

I've well and truly taken my foot of the gas recently. Life and work have sapped my energy but after taking some time to recharge the batteries, I feel ready to go again. Cue this beautiful 7" EP from Japanese screamo band Komuso. It was released a mere six months after the band's self-titled debut (self-released on tape and digitally by Komuso, while also being committed to tape by Damnfinetapes! and Zegema Beach Records). Luck Will Be On Your Side This Week was released digitally again by Komuso, while the 7" pressing came from Adabana Records, Left Hand Label, Zegema Beach Records and Zilzalp Records collectively.

This release is special to me due to it’s Dog Knights Productions connection (Left Hand Label is DKP’s sister label after all). Released shortly after Komuso’s self-titled EP in 2018, it stands as one of three physical releases from the band to date (according to Discogs). Opener ‘Still’ is a minimalist song that builds slowly in  the instrumental/vocal department until it’s closing sixty seconds, where Komuso kicks on with greater volume and dissonance. 

‘Forgotten People’ continues on in pensive fashion musically, just like the opener did. It’s very hypnotic/entracing, while also being musically outstanding. Way more post-hardcore influenced and progressive than you might have expected. The twin guitars of final song ‘Extension’ come as a surprise initially, and while up to now Komuso’s music has been somewhat gentile, harsh vocals finally make their appearance midway through. It’s a great way to end the EP, alongside ringing feedback. 

I don’t know whether Komuso plan to release any new music (beyond their 2020 split with Setsuko), but if they do it’ll be eagerly anticipated.

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally below, where it's also available as a name-your-price download:-

Komuso - https://www.facebook.com/komusotokyo

The final few 7" copies can be purchased from ZBR below:-

Zegema Beach Records CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases

Adabana Records - https://adabana.bandcamp.com

Left Hand Label Records - https://www.facebook.com/lefthandlabel

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/lefthandlabel

Zilpzalp Records - https://zzdiy.bandcamp.com

Also stand by because I'll be reviewing some more recent music over the next few days (I promise).

Komusō - Komusō Tape

Labels: Zegema Beach Records/Damn Fine Tapes

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 23 Apr 2018 (Self-released)/17 Jun 2018 (Tape Release)

Tracklist:

1. 暗宿

2. 輪姦

3. 一斉蜂起

4. 約束

New Japanese screamo and before you ask, no I can't speak Japanese and I don't trust Google Translate, so you're going to have to figure the song-titles out for yourselves. This is the debut EP from Tokyo's Komusō and after self-releasing it themselves digitally earlier in the year, the lovely people at Zegema Beach Records and Damn Fine Tapes released it on tape. You can't get anymore DIY than this!

Even though I don’t feature as much Japanese music on the blog as I probably should, it’s still fascinating to me how a nation such as Japan can write and produce such interesting variants of the genres that grace this small part of the Interweb. 暗宿 reminds me of when I first heard both Blue Friend and Yumi. The spoken-word vocals that morph into powerful screams, backed up by the melodic guitars and thoughtful bass/percussion sums up the Asian style I think. It’s so uplifting. 輪姦 is dramatic and frantic all at the same time. It’s more akin to emo-violence with it’s faster and often off-kilter tempo. It’s short in length but there’s so much to take in all at the same time.

The drumming on 一斉蜂起 is magnificent and thanks to the production/mastering of the EP, it’s clear too. There’s a really nice flow to the music and indeed the release as a whole, with sensitive quieter sections that lead into and follow the more violent passages. Komusō manages to avoid the truly chaotic and instead peppers their music with restraint. EP closer 約束 is the complete opposite to that though with it’s urgency and emotive screams. Four songs are all you get and to be honest they’re all you’re gonna need to become hooked on Komusō. So good!

You can stream the entire EP and grab it as a name-your-price-download below:-

Komusō - https://www.facebook.com/komusotokyo/

Tape copies can be purchased from the labels below:-

Zegema Beach Records (North America) - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/

Damn Fine Tapes (Europe) - http://damnfinetapes.tictail.com/

You can also pick copies up from the band if you happen to be in Japan.