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.