Fonica — Ripple
Originally released in Japan last November, Ripple looked destined to remain unknown to the rest of the world. Being always on the look for great music, German label Tomlab stepped in and has just released the album world-wide. Thanks a lot, Tom!
Fonica is Sugimoto Keiichi and Cheason (Honma Chikako). Sugimoto is the guitarist in electro-acoustic band Minamo (said to be excellent) and runs his own label, Cubic Music. Cheason is in charge of the artworks for Fonica’s Japanese label, Plop.
“It’s a ripple, don’t you know?”
Well, I didn’t... Where is the water?
“Here we go”
What do you mean? I don’t understand you...
“Where does the water flow?”
In rivers, in rivers’ bed, in the sea... But I don’t see any water around. I don’t even hear any water sound.
“Yes!”
Ermm, cryptic is the word...
Oh I forgot to tell you, Sugimoto and Cheason are also part of a band called Rdl. It has to be pronounced riddle. Know what I mean?
Soar is very short so I guess the rise is dramatic. The CD is scratched but small melody sparks try to escape and find their way to outer space. Then, a beautiful twang invades the room. This odour causes the same result Proust’ madeleine in the cup of tea did. The whirr is so soft that one has to be very attentive to hear it. The motor coughs gently, the car cries and the car’s radio plays a sad melody. Someone is trying to play the guitar. Another man tries to clean a trumpet and blows it inadvertently. On my perch, up there on top of my shelves, I watch myself sleeping. I probably dream of something nice. I look so... so... contented. She is probably in my dreams and for once it doesn’t make me sad. Oh if I only could switch off the alarm clock and let my dream go on forever.
“To sleep, perchance to dream. Ay, there's the rub. For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
when we have shuffled off this mortal coil must give us pause. There's the respect that makes calamity of so long life. For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, the oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, the pangs of despised love, the law's delay, the insolence of office, and the spurns that patient merit of the unworthy takes, when he himself might his quietus make with a bare bodkin?”
The wind makes the tree’s leaves move in very fluid movements. I look at the little village, tucked between hills in a forest clearing. It rained a little over the course of the night. Now at 6 a.m, everything has been washed, everything is pure, everything seems oh so soft. The sun is rising on this Saturday morning, springtime. Birds are singing in the trees. Down in the village, some dogs are barking. It rains once more, there is a rainbow in the sky, right over the valley. The bells of the temple ring. I must go. A (the?) beautiful girl is sat behind me. I didn’t hear her coming. Will she stay or will she go as she always does? I hear no conclusion in the coda. The problem remains open. But the birds are there to awake me. A little monkey is fooling around with a sweet potato in his hand. I laugh for what seems to be the first time in an eternity. He looks at me, puzzled. He just disappeared among the trees. Where did that girl go? She is not as nice as Lillian Rusl but still.. She is at least ten times more mysterious. Everything is so chaotic in there (knock knock on my head). Zephyr is oh so gentle and raises me over the flowery valley. From up there, gliding in the west wind I have a last (?) look at the village. It’s getting dark, a few lanterns are lit. Everything is so eerie. I didn’t give any answer, I didn’t give any answer.
I’m not helping you, I know. So there you go: guitar, keys, laptops, pastoral, peaceful, relaxing, sad, warm, spring, melancholia, beauty, acoustic, glitch, clicks, soft, dogs, birds, wonderment, bedazzlement, Japanese.
After beautiful works from The Books, CFTPA, Flim and Rafael Toral, Tomlab managed to surprise once more. Next on the list: a new Tujiko Noriko album. Where will they stop?