YAMAI

Finally upon the top of the mountain. "Yamai" (illness in English) was released as the fourth album by one of Japanese avantgarde experts Le SILO in late 2019. Through their conflict experiences against various 'illness' (actually 2019 is their 20th anniversary, and they got older), they have got mentally and physically stronger and more powerful than previously (it's true when I enjoy the conversations about music, life, beverages, or something, with them). But hey, their soundscape has got more and more 'crazy' and 'eccentric' as Yosuke YAMASITA mentions, and simultaneously their play style should be more and more cool and established, honest to say. I have felt a bit unfortunate in their third album without sound heaviness nor steadiness (owing to the mixing?) sincerely but via this newest creation of theirs I've got much more power and energy.

Miyako's beautiful and well-balanced piano play, Yoshiharu's redhot, deep, heavy guitar explosion, and Michiaki's precise, ultrapowerful drumming and percussion sounds regulate their musical attitude, their perfect harmony as always. Anyway in this opus they show various appearances and expressions. "Ozakko No. 2" is a crazy happy one as well. Always looks like they're happy and cheerful upon stage or in a weekend banquet. Much appreciated. In "Mi Ra Do" is somewhat tragic, depressive, and sorrowful ... their sincere feeling in front of illness, methinks ... I love their seriousness nonetheless. "Matsaman" is always played as one of their repertoires upon stage, that lets me know how they get impressed and amazed to come across such a novel cuisine. "MMM (My Majestic Maneuver)" consists of repetitive dreamy phrases with complicated, perverted melodic / rhythmic lines, obviously drives me into kinda nightmare. "I Want Some Coffee" can be thought as the one man show by Yoshiharu, a hardcore coffee fan. The last "Sauna" tells us their happiness in a sauna, even upon a hurricane day.

Let me say this album features all of their intention and philosophy for life and music. And cheers for the three madnesses each of whom has played and communed with the others for twenty years or more. "Yamai" might be their life itself.

I find myself greatly ashamed for letting almost an entire year pass by without me checking out the latest Le Silo album. Oh well, since we are finally connected it doesn't matter I guess, and the joy is even greater due to the fact that this is the first Le Silo album I own physically (with an obi and everything, it's so nice).

Though I was a bit hesitant at first, now I can say with no doubts that this might be Le Silo's finest release yet. Yamai presents our lovely japanesee trio in a truly grand shape: Miyako Kanazawa's piano playing is as glamorous as it ever was (maybe more!), Michiaki Suganuma's drumming is agile, precise and full of little percussive surprises, and Yoshiharu Izutsu's mighty guitar bonds the whole band together, sometimes going rough and angular, sometimes dreamy and soothing (there are some moments that, to my personal delight, remind me of Allan Holdsworth's style).

There is plenty of pure musical joy to discover on the album. The record is filled to the brim with little earworm melodies, motives and passages - fantastic as always, perhaps a bit more consistant than before. Ozakko No. 2 is as good an opener as any, with its dancy melody and squeeky-freaky vocals (which, I might add, I love dearly). Fantastic guitar solo here too, one of many. Ping-Sama opens up with a persistent guitar riff which thrusts the whole song onwards. I very much enjoy the operatic vocals towards the end. Fantastic stuff. Doizumiki is perhaps the most "old-style" or "classic" Le Silo track in here, with a cheerful intro that soon goes darker and leads to a disfigured improv. Zunda No. 2 doesn't sound like Zunda Tsu Tsu at all, instead it goes for delightful piano-guitar unisons with a classic progressive rock feel to it. Matasaman is yet another example of the band's unique chemistry - the way the trio plays together on this one is just beyond words. Love that one! Center of Diamond has quite a venturous feel to it and sounds to me like a soundtrack to a great adventure. I Want Some Coffee is lighter, a bit humorous, but endlessly caprivating. Getting some classic RIO vibes here as well, such as Present or Miriodor (but just a little bit). Protesqurugari is, oh well, such a ravishing song, my favourite on the album! Grand dramatic vocals, gloomy piano and another improv in the middle, followed by one of the most beautiful piano solos I've heard. Perfect. Feels So Good!! brings some nice, goovy jazz-fusion to the table, and, as the title would sugest, it just feels so good! The closer, Sauna, might feel a bit underwhelming due to its slowness, but oh well, after an hour of such material you can't go wrong with a bit of peace. It is majestic anyway.

The only real bit of my criticism would regard the mix, especially the fact that guitar tends to be hidden behind much more louder drums and piano. Fortunately the most important parts (incuding the solos) are audible enough.

Yeah, what else is there to say? I'm really glad this album is going to be a part of my life from now on. Arigato, Le Silo!

Favourite tracks: Ozakko No. 2, Ping-Sama, Doizumiki, Matasaman, Center of Diamond, I Want Some Coffee, Protesqurugari Least favourite tracks: Mi Ra Do