DOPPELGÄNGER

This excellent 4 track ep sees Pochakiate Malko exploring their Zeuhl influences in depth, and impressive stuff it is too. As on their preceding album, piano and organ are the dominant keyboard sounds and the violin takes the lead most of the time.

It opens with a growling bass line worthy of Jannick Top followed by primal drumming, a brief organ chord and then some truly demented violin completes the picture. The 4 tracks all cover similar territory, giving the 4 musicians room to stretch out without ever straying into self indulgent noodling. This is the sound of Magma circa 1974 with Didier Lockwood, filtered through the prism of Japanese Zeuhl maestros Koenjihyakkei, played with the kind of jaw dropping chops that seem almost commonplace among Japanese underground musicians. There are plenty of contrasts and sudden changes of tempo here, including what sounds like a recorder duet on Anna, and the shifting dynamics have been superbly recorded.

It's a less varied set than the superb Laya album - Junzo Tateiwa's beloved ethnic percussion is absent, and the world music influences likewise take a back seat most of the time, but it's an exhilerating ride and thoroughly recommended to any Magma or Koenjihyakkei fans. It will also be appreciated by fans of LTIA/Starless era King Crimson, and anybody who finds Magma's vocals off putting may find this more to their taste.

Another excellent release from POCHAKAITE MALKO, this one in the form of a 4 song EP. It's maybe not too surprising that this one doesn't reach the heights of their first 2 studio albums(considering how amazing they both are) but it's still worthy of a 4 star rating. Like their last record the violin really is the dominant instrument, with a ton of bottom end throughout. This is heard right away on the first song "Doppelganger" which opens with a crushing heavy bass line before drums, organ then violin come in. It doesn't get much better than this folks.

"Anna" like the previous song opens heavily, this time with drums, as violin enters the fray 30 seconds in while drums pound slowly.There is a recorder melody a minute in as outbursts of sound come and go. Recorder melodies are back before 2 1/2 minutes. Violin leads the way after 3 minutes until it is replaced by a heavy-duty sound. Violin is back leading before 5 minutes. Some nice contrasts in this song.

"Pluto" opens with the sound of someone walking and church bells. Heavy pulsating sounds come in that are joined by piano and drums. Violin then follows before these cool bird-like whistling sounds come and go. Dissonant violin followed by some fast paced piano ends the track. "Acid Rain" is my least favourite track. It's not nearly as heavy as the others although towards the end we get some bottom end. Some great violin in this one and the piano 4 minutes in is quite beautiful. Good song.

This is heavy, fiery, explosive and flowing like a Japanese volcano.

This powerful, bizarre avant-prog from Japan has done it again big time, although regrettably in the shorter context of an EP. Pochakaite Malko's "Doppelgänger" finds the band exploring their rougher side in a fluent fashion, in this way stating some sort of family airs in communion with other magnificent names in contemporary avant-prog (One Shot, Guapo). I mean, PM has delivered a more robust set of pulsations and a darker concurrence of musical vibrations for the 4 track setlist comprised in "Doppelgänger". The namesake track (also, the shortest one) opens up the album with rocking splendor, with its precise hooks and catchy rhythms. The aggressive bass lines are especially featured in the mix, still allowing the drummer's precise foundation and the visceral deliveries on keyboard and violin to shine with their own light. After this manifestation of appealing zeuhl is over, 'Anna' goes to more eclectic pastures, combining the aggressive side of zeuhl and the sensual cadences of jazz-rock (in a very robust fashion), and what's more, introducing some passages inspired by Renaissance pastoral music during which a recorder or two make their way within the instrumental amalgamation. 'Pluto' kicks off with the sound of church bells and footsteps mysteriously creeping through dark corridors, while the band gets warm with a martial-oriented prologue. The overall sense of menace is very reminiscent of 79-81 Univers Zero, while the specific pulsating vibe delivered by the rhythm section feels related to "Kohntarkosz"-era Magma. A later passage emerges in a very magnificent way, allowing the ensemble to build the explosive climax that ends the track. The horror never ends, it just takes varied guises through the track's development. 'Acid Rain' brings an end to the tracklist, bearing an aura similar to that of the opening track but going to far denser places (not unlike compatriot band Koenji Hyakkei). You can also notice a prominent presence of jazzy grooves (not alien to the history of RIO), which make Tsuboy quite comfortable in this demand for sensitiveness and technical prowess. He literally shines with a light of sound that we can barely conceive in thought and never describe with words accurately. The 7 ½ minutes that this track lasts go flying by in the listener's mind, all the way toward the superhuman frenzy that fills the track's finale. This is how a musical work should end, leaving the listener hungry for more. On the other hand. it is such a pity that this album is so short (after all, it's an EP). You'll have to enjoy for what it is.

Third and last to date release of one of most interesting Japanese avant prog band from 00'.

This release is just 22+ minutes long 4-compositions EP, but it contains everything band is great in. Combination of melodic and complex compositions with competent musicianship, great rhythm section, outstanding electric violin soloing (Akihisa Tsuboy from KBB), very energetic, but never too dark or radical hardcore music brings them to the first line of Japanese avant prog artists.

In fact this third release is not much different from their previous studio album , but I really like that their great zeuhl and world influenced drumming, plenty of electric violin attacks, nice tunes and Eastern elements in music.

It's just pity they released 2 full albums and this EP till now only.