Polysics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Polysics | ||
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Genre(s) | Japanese rock, Japanese Pop, Punk rock, Noise-rock, Synth Pop | |
| Years active | 1997 to Present | |
| Label(s) | Ki/oon Records (Sony Music Japan) | |
| Website | Official Website | |
| Members | ||
| Hiroyuki Hayashi, Kayo, Fumi, Yano | ||
| Former members | ||
| Junichi Sugai, Ishimaru, Sako (AKA Poly-2). | ||
Polysics are a Japanese New Wave / Synthpop / J-Rock band from Tokyo. The band started in 1997, but got their big break in 1998 at a concert in Tokyo. They create high energy music, fusing conventional guitar music, with synthesized and computer generated sound to create a unique mixture of punk and pop, heavily inspired by the American band Devo. Their song lyrics often consist of Japanese, broken English, or just plain gibberish ("Space Language"). The band has been noted for their extremely energetic live performances and their wild gimmicky outfits.
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[edit] History
Since 1999 Polysics have released several albums. The albums 1st P and A.D.S.R.M! were released on the independent label DECKREC Records. Just after the release of 1st P their bassist, known only as "POLY-2", left. The band dropped the "POLY-X" names, and reduced to a trio, with new member Fumi on Bass Support on some of the tracks from Neu. In 1999, Asian Man Records released their US Debut album, Hey! Bob! My Friend to rave reviews, but weak sales. The album was a compilation of tracks from their first two Japanese releases. In 2000, Polysics signed to Ki/oon Records (a subsidiary of Sony Music Japan Inc.) and released their first major album Neu. The album carried with it the same manic energy as their independent releases but more refined. On the 2001 album Eno, Synthesizers became more prevalent in the mix, but the songs still had an intense punk-like energy. For this album, Fumi returned to the band as a full member, returning Polysics to a quartet. 2002 saw the release of the album For Young Electric Pop, Polysics attempt at a pop album. The manic punk energy was minimized, but the band showed it had an amazing sense of harmony and style. The songs "Black Out Fall Out" and "Code 4" from this album are very emotional.
In 2003, drummer Junichi Sugai left the band after recording the Kaja Kaja Goo EP. For the 2003 album National P, Ishimaru joined on Drum Support, returning Polysics to a trio. Also in 2003, Neu was released on Asian Man Records in the United States to rave reviews and great sales. Polysics went to the US to tour, which was then captured on the PippikkippippiP In USA DVD. In 2004, Polysics released a Best Of compilation titled Polysics or Die!!!! in Europe and the USA. Polysics toured Europe and the US for the 2005 US Release of Polysics or Die!!!!. With the early 2006 release of "Now Is The Time!", they toured the US and the UK, supporting high profile UK bands such as Graham Coxon and the Kaiser Chiefs.
[edit] Influences
The biggest influence on Polysics is clearly the band Devo. From the start, Polysics have tried to make music in, as Hiroyuki describes it, "The spirit of Devo." Obvious references to Devo have been made in Polysics videos, and songs. Each Life Each End from the album Neu borrows the riff from the Devo song "Girl U Want" but very cleverly uses a sample from 'Love Missile F1-11' by Sigue Sigue Sputnik to achieve this, and the lyrics are playfully paraphrased from the songs "The Day My Baby Gave Me A Surprise" and "Red Eye Express", while "Plaster Caster" is a semi-cover of the song "Uglatto", one of their more obscure songs which was released on Hardcore Devo Vol.1 74-77. In a miniposter included with National P, Polysics members sit to eat cakes shaped like Devo's famous Energy Dome headgear. In addition, the giant robot mascot from the cover of Polysics' "Lo-Bits" EP (who also starred in the promo video for the song "Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto") sports a battle-helmet that resembles the same iconic dome.
While Polysics claim Devo as their most prevalent influence, other bands and artists that have influenced their music include Talking Heads, Sparks, The B-52's, XTC, King Crimson, Kraftwerk, Neu!, Brian Eno, Nirvana, and David Bowie. They also form a kinship with several of the key Japanese Technopop bands of circa 1979 including P-Model whom they've opened for, Hikashu and The Plastics. Polysics have covered songs by Styx, Suzi Quatro, The Plastics, The Ramones, The Knack, Devo, Soft Cell, Hikashu, Thin Lizzy and Frank Sinatra.
[edit] Members
[edit] Current Members
- Hiroyuki Hayashi - Guitars, Vocals, Vocoder, Programming
- Kayo - Synthesizers, Vocals, Vocoder
- Fumi - Bass, Vocals, Synthesizers
- Yano - Drums
[edit] Past members
- Junichi Sugai - Drums
- Ishimaru - Drum Support
- Sako (AKA Poly-2) - Bass synthesizer, Vocoder
Sako known as Poly-2 can be seen in the music video for the song "Plus Chicker".
[edit] Discography
[edit] Domestic Releases
DECKREC Records
- 1999.02.25 - 1st P (full-length CD DCRC-0001)
- 1999.03.18 - Plus Chicker EP (7" vinyl DCRC-0002)
- 1999.10.22 - A.D.S.R.M! (full-length CD DCRC-0005)
- 1999.11.25 - Modern (7" vinyl DCRC-0006)
- 2000.02.25 - Live in Japan / 6-D (2-CD set DCRC-0012 & DCRC-0013 respectively)
- 2000.02.25 - 6-D (12" vinyl DCRC-0014)
Ki/oon Records (a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment [Japan] Inc.)
- 2000.04.19 - XCT (maxi-single CD KSC2 341)
- 2000.06.21 - each life each end (maxi-single CD KSC2 345)
- 2000.09.20 - Neu (full-length CD KSC2 357)
- 2001.04.25 - New Wave Jacket (maxi-single CD KSC2 380)
- 2001.06.06 - Eno (full-length CD KSC2 389)
- 2002.04.24 - Lo-Bits (mini-album CD KSCL 453)
- 2002.07.24 - For Young Electric Pop (full-length CD KSCL 460)
- 2003.05.21 - Kaja Kaja Goo (mini-album CD KSCL 547)
- 2003.10.29 - National P (full-length CD KSCL 627)
- 2004.05.19 - Polysics or Die!!!! (full-length CD KSCL 686)
- 2005.04.27 - Baby BIAS (CD single KSCL 776)
- 2005.08.17 - Coelacanth Is Android (CD single KSCL 877)
- 2005.10.19 - Now Is The Time! (full-length CD KSCL 890)
- 2006.06.21 - Electric Surfin' Go Go (CD single KSCL 1016)
- 2006.10.25 - You-You-You (CD single KSCL 1047)
[edit] Foreign Releases
- 2000 - Hey! Bob! My Friend (USA and Korea)
- 2003 - Neu (USA)
- 2004 - Polysics or Die (UK ECD)
- 2004 - Kaja Kaja Goo / Black OUT Fall OUT (UK 7")
- 2004 - New Wave Jacket / My Sharona (UK 7")
- 2005 - Polysics or Die (USA)
- 2006 - Now is the Time (USA and UK)
[edit] Compilation Appearances
- 1998 - Tokyo Newwave of Newwave '98
- 1999 - Punch The Monkey! 2
- 1999 - Sweets For My Spitz
- 1999 - Unknown Cover Album
- 2000 - YMO-Remixes Technopolis 2000-00
- 2000 - Smash In La-Ppisch! 2
- 2001 - Japan For Sale
- 2002 - Japan For Sale Vol. 2
- 2003 - 'Japan For Sale Vol. 3
- 2003 - ID:2 (Aikawa Nanase)
- 2004 - Fine Time - A Tribute to New Wave
- 2004 - Japan For Sale Vol. 4
[edit] Video Releases
- 1999 - Live At Newwave (VHS)
- 2000 - B.G.V. (VHS)
- 2003 - DVDVPVDVLIVE!! (DVD)
- 2004 - PippikkippippiP In USA (DVD)
- 2006 - Now is the live! (DVD)
[edit] Solo Projects
- 2004 - Mitsuami Heroine (Kayo Solo EP)
[edit] Trivia
- Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo used a Polysics CD for his office phone system, forcing the people on hold to hear the tracks being played.
- Polysics performed the theme song for the American Jetix television show Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!.
- Their name comes from the Korg Polysix which was the first synthesizer owned by frontman Hiroyuki Hayashi. This synth appears in two of their early music videos.
