KAGERO is an extremely talented jazz quartet, consisting of bassist Yu Shiromizu, saxophonist Ryu "Ruppa" Sasaki, pianist Chieko Kikuchi and drummer Tomomichi Hagiwara. They describe their style as “jazz punk hardcore”, and their incredible sense of music enables them to create fascinating soundscapes. Each KAGERO composition evokes unique emotions and tells a different story. The great thing is, the more listeners there are, the more interpretations of this music exist, and it's only by adding your own feelings and experiences to this music that it becomes complete. Simply put, KAGERO’s music is something that cannot simply be listened to, it must be experienced. Let’s give it a try.
OVERDRIVE is a somewhat mad song; with lots of improvisation, like Chieko smashing her piano’s keyboard and Tomomichi's stampeding drums, it captures the band’s rebellious punk spirit at its finest. The same goes for Pile Bunker. The saxophone tries to scream out its own way in this craziness, and the bass steadily continues its rational disquisition. These four disparate voices join forces for the final frantic push towards the finishing line. Meanwhile, sister is a composition based round a very regular beat and fantastic saxophone melody. Try to imagine the sister of the song’s title dancing keenly to the music!
flower creates a soothing, positive atmosphere, but doesn’t slow the record down. It transmits the feeling of joy that accompanies the arrival of spring, when the world wakes up after a long winter. You can almost see the flowers bloom with each piano note. By contrast, the forest is not a pleasant place to be. This song creates a mood of tension and danger, making you feel as though you're running through a dark forest, nervously looking over your shoulder at pursuing shadows.
Honey bee cheers you up, encouraging you to get moving. 13 -Thirteen- warms the heart with its amazing saxophone and piano lines, which are both sentimental and playful. My sleeping beauty features some fierce interplay between the sax and Yu's bass, and Ill boasts perhaps Ruppa's coolest sax performance on the entire album.
There’s a little garden where you can find respite from all the madness in the world. When you step there, all the crazy sounds of saxophone, piano, bass and the world suddenly quieten down and you can dance slowly to the soothing melody and relax. Alternatively, there's the the spring landscape to take in, painted gently with the delicate piano and soft saxophone melody. Listen closely to deep bass riffs and immerse yourself in the music.
KAGERO VI finishes as it started - with a bang - and as the final delirious sounds of CRY BABY fade away, you'll be left with a wide grin and happy heart. KAGERO know what jazz means: freedom, enjoying every aspect of life, and channeling that enjoyment into music. There's a song here for every conceivable mood, and just about any musical taste. KAGERO craft music that is mature and intelligent, but often very cheerful as well, and evokes different emotions with each listen - it’s pure magic!
