Yesterday I uploaded yanokami, a duo that included the late Rei Harakami: #506118
In 2005 Ichirou Yamaguchi was working at a record store. A self-taught guitarist, he wanted to create his own band. He credits the song ‘Owari no Kisetsu’ by Rei Harakami, which he heard at his job, as the inspiration that pushed him to go off and create Sakanaction.
However, Sakanaction was not Yamaguchi’s first band. Years prior he created a band that ultimately failed to take off. After their break-up Yamaguchi spent time as a DJ in various clubs, ultimately working at the record store mentioned above and deciding there to form Sakanaction. Yamaguchi explains the name as a mixture of the Japanese word sakana (‘fish’) and the English word ‘action’, hoping to represent the band’s free-flowing movement through music like a fish in water. Sakanaction is primarily a rock band, but the variety and experimentation in their music reflects that idea nicely.
Night Fishing is the band’s second album, and their last before moving to Tokyo and signing with a major record label. The first track is notably a rendition of a song from Yamaguchi’s first band.
As always I welcome any requests. (Shirokij, still looking for some Japanese jazz albums for you.) Enjoy the music everyone!