Bondage Fruit

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experimental, avant-rock/zeuhl Japanese Bondage Fruit are not a band much discussed but they did release several very good albums. 

Here's some info about them:

Taken from Ground & Sky:
http://www.progreviews.com/articles/index.php?show=japavant

Guitarist Kido Natsuki, violinist Katsui Yuji, and bassist Hirohiko Otsubo formed Bondage Fruit in 1990. Over the next few years, the personnel of Bondage Fruit changed frequently. However, in 1993, they added additional musicians: Takara Kumiko (Vibraphone), Yoichi Okabe (Percussion), Aki Kubota (vocalist, later of Koenjihyakkei) and Saga Yuki (jazz vocalist). Finally, the band's line-up was settled as a seven-piece band. 

The band's sound retained the adventurous flavor of Kohntarkosz-era zeuhl, while adding elements of alternative rock, RIO, and even South American music. Although led by guitarist Natsuki, perhaps the primary feature of their early sound was that of the female vocals. Often, the "lyrics" consisted of no actual words, but percussive syllables doubled on marimba or guitar. Aki's operatic style is of note on the first album, and Yuki's more experimental style on the second (Aki had left by that point).
When Yuki left after the second album, the band was left without a vocalist. Without missing a stride, they released Bondage Fruit III: Recit, showing more of their improvisational and avant-fusion sides. The band have often been lumped in with other acts like Happy Family and Ruins, but ultimately, Bondage Fruit may be simultaneously more accessible and yet more willing to embrace various music styles than either. Their latest record features an even greater synthesis of influences than before, ranging from Afro-Cuban music to techno!"

From Record Heaven:
http://www.recordheaven.net/japan.htm

Bondage Fruit – a heavy rocking experimental zeuhl band, who have been described as a cross between Happy Family and Kenso. Their albums include ‘Bondage Fruit’ [Maboroshi No Sekai, 1995], ‘II’ [Maboroshi No Sekai, 1996], which is sometimes said to be their best album, ‘Récit’ [Maboroshi No Sekai, 1997], a live album, ‘IV’ [Maboroshi No Sekai, 1999], and ‘Skin’ [Maboroshi No Sekai, 2002], which is reputedly the most experimental, and is all-instrumental.

Your opinion, impressions, thoughts, likes and dislikes?

Poll Question: Your favourite album?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
I	2	[28.57%]
II	1	[14.29%]
III - Récit	2	[28.57%]
IV	1	[14.29%]
V - Skin	0	[0.00%]
VI	1	[14.29%]
Selected	0	[0.00%]
This topic is closed, no new votes accepted