Denki Groove solo works

compiled by Nicholas D. Kent
email: ndkent "at" optonline.net

Last updated 05.12.6

(@) these are the items I've listened to but don't own
(*) means I don't own this release and haven't listened to it

My friend Rodney Alan Greenblat owns most of these albums. I suggested he get a few (like all), which he did and he thinks they are loads of fun, as do I.
Informational thanks to Ben List , Terry Green and Frederic Guyader (noted as FG)

Denki Groove are Takkyu Ishino and Pierre Taki and

Yoshinori Sunahara left in 1999

Takkyu Ishino

Yoshinori Sunahara

Pierre Taki

back to my Denki Groove page


Denki Groove are a highly successful techno act. They a far less strictly techno than the average act that gets pegged as "techno". Pierre Taki raps on tracks and the music is full of dub, rock, disco and pop material, not merely in a throw in some samples and loops in the mix attitude. Almost the opposite. I'd consider much of music almost like some other genre with techno elements. Ishino seems to be in charge on most releases. He shared the helm for a while with Sunahara and his lighter and more eccentric stylings but he has since departed.

Ishino also has a solo side career and has been focusing some effort on gaining recognition in Germany a few releases have domestic releases. His solo work seems a bit less humorous and a bit more extreme than Denki Groove releases. He does a whole lot of remix work. Ishino has remixed a frenchman with the initials JMJ but the last time I wrote his name out elsewhere on my site someone's legal bot harasssed me on the frenchman's behalf. I was very dissapointed by his JMJ remix which seemed knocked off real fast. TackQ was comissioned in 2002 to remix the Vangelis composed FIFA Anthem for the 2002 World Cup. I've not heard that one. (info from Seiya Hirano)

In general Ishino solo is more techno. Sunahara started a solo career doing lounge meets jet set tracks but his output has trickled in the last 5 years to just some relatively obscure remixes and production work. He left Denki Groove around 1999. Pierre Taki never really had a solo career that I know of aside from the video release.


Zin-Say


Zin-Say

BURBA PAPA

(*) 91 Captain Records CAP-1047

FG writes: Another early release from Tack-Q Ishino. Masaru “Pierre” Taki is not credited, but the names of the other musicians are kind of strange. Maybe he was there anyway. Track 4 was reworked on various Denki Groove albums under the name Nama Gomi OH2 (live dust OH2 in japanese). Orchestration is minimalistic. Simple drum machines, cheap-sounding synths and a few guitars. Oh yes, obviously the lyrics are funny.


1- Burba papa (extended version)
2- Mimio jazz
3- (Korean title / anyone out there speak Korean ?)
4- Live dust OH2
5- Meca-BayashiMasaru Taki

 

Zin-Say

(@) 91.8.23 Sony / Drill CD3 single SRDL 3338 also a 12"
1- Jinsei (original)
2- Jinsei (Bring Me Honey Mix)
3- Jinsei (original karaoke)

The song name is a take on Takkyu Ishino and Pierre Taki's pre DG band, Zinsei. It's like an elaborate enka number. Very over the top. Some years later it was quite successfully remixed by Hardfloor.
FG adds: --> Jinsei means “life”, in japanese. The Zin-Say spelling is meant to be.


various artists

DRILL KING ANTHOLOGY

94.7.1 KSC2 85

A compilation from Drill King Records. Great packaging and material. Has a wicked parody of Kraftwerk's Tour de France and also one of the most (probably intentionally) unlistenable tracks I've ever struggled through. ...And then there is the awsome Hardfloor techno meets enka style remix

FG writes:--> Most tracks make fun of old japanese pop bands. But track 2 is a REAL cover. The original track (“Transistor radio”, same name) is by a very famous japanese rock'n'roll band named RC Succession. Maybe you haven't heard of the band, but you might know it's mythical lead singer and guitarist, Kiyoshiro Imawano. He did a little single with Ryuichi Sakamoto called Kurenai/Rouge magic and co-wrote, co-produced and co-sang the “Nippon no hito” HIS album with Hosono in 1991.Track 6, the “unlistenable track”, is probably a sort of tribute to the Residents, one of Pierre Taki's favorite bands.

nick adds: Well the outfits could be the Residents style, though Urban Dance had that look. Neither are anywhere near as irritably industrial to listen to!

FG : Would you believe it ? The band's name, credited for track 7 means “the group of people who like to smell farts” !! I remember seeing an article in a magazine, for the release of this album, with pictures of Pierre dressed in a white tuxedo with fake moustaches, a strange machine strapped around his waist, with tubes going up to his nose !
 

  • 1: Drill King Inc. Theme
  • 2:Transistor radio / Simon'z
  • 3: Hangman / Skelton Joe
  • 4: Life (Zin-say) / Masaru Taki
  • 5: A slip of french lullaby ( Tsuru tto furansu komori uta ) / Pedal Fumiya
  • 6: Power doctor ( Riki-Ishi ) / Kamio, Drill
  • 7: Mote taku te / Gi Onara suikomi tai
  • 8 : Life (Zin-say) / Masaru Taki - Hardfloor Remix

Simon'z

Transistor radio

(@) 93.8.1 Sony-Ki/oon promo CD3 KSD2 1042

The cover (which is taped to a printed but blank covered promo cd3 case) shows Denki Groove in disguise, all wearing the same facial hair, obviously a trying to impersonate someone Rolf Harris looking but who's identity unfamiliar to me. 3 mixes, very funny vocals and kazoos. A version also on Drill King Anthology

Got no idea what its about but its cool and funny. one of the alternate mixes prominantly features kazoo melodies. FG and I differ on the spelling of the band name in Roman letters.

1- Transistor radio
2- Transistor radio (Touched by the hands of Shimon'z mix)
3- Transistor radio (original karaoke)


Takkyu Ishino

www.takkyuishino.com

Also check out Ishino's producer work on the earlier releases of techno-teen Tomoe Shinohara. Highly reccomended!

 


 

Takkyu Ishino

Dove Lubs Dub

(@) 95.8.2 Ki/oon Sony cd: KSC2 124 (early #?), KSC2-129

Aggressive grooves and dub beats. Deep, though sometimes repetitious. Dream Baby Dream, a cover I presume of Suicide is superb. Memorable cover art by Otomo (Akira). Also exists as a vinyl EP.

  1. Bruce and Rhythm
  2. TKO Tone
  3. GTR
  4. Monkey Dance
  5. Trip-O-Matic
  6. SEX,E
  7. Magatta Kaono Oyaji (Nagatomix)
  8. Dream Baby Dream

TAKKYU ISHINO

MIX UP Vol.1

(*) 95.12.13 SRCS7873

This is like a CD mixtape. Volume one was given to Ishino, other volumes feature other DJs.

1.D.D.T.V u-ZIQ INVADE/DUMDUM TV
2.GAMERS'S NIGHT(TAKKYU ISHINO REMIX)/MIJK'S MAGIC MARBLE BOX
3.VOYAGER/JOEY BELTRAM
4.KNOCK KNOCK/DJ FUNK
5.TAKE IT TO THE FLOOR/K.HAND FEATURING PARRIS LOVE
6.DA MINDFUCK/THEE MADKATT COURTSHIP
7.TRAK II/PHYLYPS
8.ACPERIENCE 5/HARDFLOOR
9.M 04/MAURIZIO
10.IN THE BUSH/THE PURPOSE MAKER
11.NAGELBRETT/SENSORAMA
12.DON'T STOP/WHIRLPOOL PRODUCTIONS
13.DAS TELEFON SAGT ACID/MIKE INK & ANDREAS DORAU
14.F****N SUCKIN/TRAXMEN
15.MICKIEE HOUSE 2/MICKIEE
16.MICRO 2/FUMIYA TANAKA
17.UP & DOWN/UP & DOWN
18.WHO DA FUNK/DOGTRAX
19.FORERUNNER/NATURAL BORN GROOVERS
20.I THOUGHT 3,BUT WERE 4 IN FACT(HAMBURGER MIX)/TAKKYU ISHINO


 

Takkyu Ishino

Berlin Trax

(@) 98.4.1

A collection of modern techno tracks. Several clever turns, but still as is the nature of techno, extremely limited in terms of melody or structure. Eventually released in Germany also.

cd: KSC2-213
1.Polynasia
2.Digibell
3.Boogie Ku'damm
4.Stoned Dee-jay don't lie
5.T.E.C.(Trans Europe Center)
6.Taxi funk
7.Alles nach Nippon
8.BYKE
9. KBG 3:47am
10.Conga-O-matik
2LP: SYUM-47/48A1.Polynasia
A2.Digibell
A3.T.E.C.(Trans Europe Center)
B1.Boogie Ku'damm
B2.Stoned Dee-jay don't lie
C1.Taxi funk
C2.Alles nach Nippon
D1.BYKE
D2.Conga-O-matik

LOOPA 00

(*) 98.3.10 12" SYUM-0044

A1.Poylnasia
A2.Teschno Junko
B1.Vulcan Twins


TAKKYU ISHINO

Galactik Pizza Delivery Vol.1

(*) 98.10.23 12" SYUM-0067 LOOPA 003

A1.SUPREME
A2.PEPERONCINO
B1.PESCATORA
B2.CONNY'S SPECIAL


Montag E.P.

(*) 98.12.10 12" SYUM 0081/LOOPA 004

A1.The Guitarist
A2.SAM jam
B1.mgm on a guest list
B2.Becky says

   

 

Takkyu Ishino

throbbing disco cat

(@) 99.3.20 Loopa-Ki/oon-Sony KSC2 280-1

The album proper is an unsurprising mix of techno with disco elements. Of greater interest is the bonus disc of remixes (it costs slightly more than a regular album altogether) which probably makes this really worthwhile.

the remix worx

  1. in yer memory from memories original soundtrack (1995) (I'm pretty sure memories is the Otomo anime film)
  2. volunteer ape man (disco) from cornelius 96-69 (1996)
  3. garigari kun (montag mix) / denki groove (1999)
  4. chaos west (dove loves dub reconstruction) from last front (1994) (I don't know what last front is)
  5. eejanaika-takkyu no gokudou denshi bonutahen from soul flower union eejanaika (1996)
  6. I thought 3, but were 4 in fact (hamburger mix) from takkyu ishino from mixup vol. 1 (1995)

 

 


Wire 99 Compilation

(@) 99.7.1 Loopa~Ki/oon~Sony KSC2 290

This seems to be some sort of German techno festival Ishino organized. The tracks represent the artists involved. These are all sudio tracks. A good representation of what Ishino is into these days. Some of the tracks just kind of sit there but in general the quality level is higher than average.

  1. Denki Groove Niji [RMX for WIRE 99] (this is a 10 minute version)
  2. Westbam Beatbox Rocker [dr. Rhythms Pumping Club Mix]
  3. EBTB The Searcher
  4. Takkyu Ishino bitter sweet break down
  5. DMX Krew bang with U baby
  6. Fumiya Tanaka Rims & Sticks
  7. Technasia japanese title
  8. Mijk van Dijk Lite My Wire
  9. Derrick May Beforethereafter
   



 

Yoshinori Sunahara

y-sunahara.com


Yoshinori Sunahara

Crossover

(@) 95.8.2 Ki/oon Sony cd: KSC2 125 (early #?), KSC2-130
1997 release on Bungalo Records (Germany with overseas dist)

Loops and collaged sounds, sort of jazzy lounge/exotica. Not all that memorable but a good listen. Opens with some Forry Ackerman narration off a record. Sandii guests on Clouds Across the Moon,, she is somewhat swamped by the thick music. While the engineering is okay, it's not up to the superb standards of the DG releases IMHO.exists as a 12"

 

  1. MFRFM (Music for Robot for Music)
  2. Stinger Stingray
  3. Whirl Pool
  4. Silver Ripples
  5. The Long Vowels
  6. Huraloop
  7. Muddy Water
  8. Elegant World
  9. Clouds Across the Moon
  10. Overtime Work
   

MFRFM

(*) 95.10 12" SYUM-002
A-1.MFRFM (DA RADIKAL FEAR MIX)
A-2.MFRFM (LP VERSION)
B-1.MFRFM (BOUNCE 2 MIX)
B-2.ELEGANT WORLD (LONG EDIT)



   

 

Yoshinori Sunahara

Take Off and Landing

(@) 98 5.21 Sony - Ki/oon KSC2 205

A retro concept album about the Tokyo Underground Airport. Lounge type stuff with narration and sound effects. Sometimes Yann Tomita-like (Doopee Susie Kim appears as samples). Lyric co-written with Brian Burton-Lewis. Certainly worth checking out. Early copies had better packaging. This got an overseas release.
 
  1. INFORMATION OF TUA
  2. CROSS WIND TAKE OFF
  3. MAGIC SUNSET ST.
  4. SONY ROMANTIC ELECTRO WAVE
  5. SUN SONG '80
  6. COUNT DOWN
  7. 2300 HAWAII
  8. JOURNEY BEYOND THE STARS
  9. LIFE & SPACE
  10. NO SUN
  11. THE GOOD TIMING OF WORLD OF LOVE SONG
  12. SUMMER
  13. MY LOVE IS LIKE A RED,RED ROSE
  14. WELCOME TO JAPAN
   

Tokyo Underground Airport

(*) 98.3.31 12" SYUM-49
A-1 TOKYO UNDERGROUND AIRPORT
A-2 MUSIC FOR "CHICAGO"
B-1 PREVIEW
B-2 STINGER STINGRAY

12" limited single related to this album. Apparently deluxe, limited edition and with a substantial booklet.


Journey Beyond The Stars

(*) 98.9.30 12" SYUM-0068
A-1 Journey Beyond the Stars
B-1 My Love is Like a Red,Red Rose
B-2 Life & Space

Seldom seen 12"


 

Yoshinori Sunahara

THE SOUND OF ’70s

(@) 98.11.11 Ki/oon cd: KSC2 243

This one is Pan Am airlines themed and very 70s EZ. Similar along the lines of the lsat one, maybe even more specialized.

 
  1. THEME FROM TAKE-OFF
    (MAGIC SUNSET)
  2. THE NEW WORLD BREAK
  3. CRIPPER'S DISCOTIQUE BREAK
  4. SUN SONG '70
  5. RHODES FUNKY DUB
  6. 747 DUB
  7. SWING THE CRIPPER
  8. THEME FROM LANDING
    (LIFE FOR LIVING)

 

708090

98.11.11 Ki/oon cd5: KSC2 249

A closely related 4 song EP

  1. Sun Song '80 (like a remix)
  2. Sun Song '70 (on THE SOUND OF 70's )
  3. Sony Romantic Electro Wave (new track with a very processed Susie Kim [of the Doopees])
  4. Clouds Across the Moon '90

(Wow, YS seems to have taken my advice ;-) this is the track from Crossover with Sandii, but now its remixed with Sandii's vocals up front and a cleaner arrangement) A cool idea to do different decades.

   


 

 

Yoshinori Sunahara

LOVEBEAT

(@) 01.5.23 KSC2-387

At the time I theorized he must have had a goal of an album with vocals that he could perform in concert by himself. It's full of macintosh speech synthesized vocals, imho much too full and the arrangements aren't quite so creative sounding after you've hear a bunch of them following eachother.

 
  1. EARTH BEAT
  2. BALANCE
  3. IN AND OUT
  4. LOVEBEAT
  5. SPIRAL NEVER BEFORE
  6. ECHO ENDLESS ECHO
  7. HOLD 'ON TIGHT
  8. SUN BEATS DOWN
  9. BRIGHT BEAT
  10. THE CENTER OF GRAVITY

 


Pierre Taki


Pierre Taki

MECHANO Scientific Attack Force

(@) 95.8.2 Ki/oon Sony vhs:: KSC2 126

Animated 29 minute tape of 3 videos. Plastic Gun Man 3D character animation, which is a parody of Westerns and Anime. World Mechano Triangle which seems to be a Sun Electric remix, I've seen the main part of it on MTV's AMP. Finally a Japanese titled anime video which is violent and seeming satirical.



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