As Hayashi explains, the enigmatic album cover for "Absolute POLYSICS" was designed for "our 13th anniversary, with new passions." And true to his word, this new work by Japan's version of Devo is powered by the wonderfully frantic emotions of its members. The songs feature that great trademark of POLYSICS music: its just about impossible to stay still while listening.
So come take a listen to Hayashi, Kayo, Fumi and Yano as they talk about their latest music, American concert plans and how the band first got started.
On October 27, 2009 the members of POLYSICS were kind enough to give an interview to Andrew from J-Pop World. All photos courtesy of POLYSICS.
Congrats on the release of your new album, "Absolute POLYSICS." How would say its music compares to your previous works?
Hayashi: Until the last album, we have been concentrating on how we could create new music that no one has ever made before. That feeling hasn't changed at all, and we were able to make this album in a very smooth way. It was because of a session with Devo and re-mastering our Indies albums. We had dislike in our previous music, however, as we heard them again we realized that we have been doing something interesting from the beginning, and POLYSICS ourselves was the NEW WAVE. So we came up with the conclusion that, without forcing ourselves, we now know that we could make never-before heard interesting songs naturally by ourselves. This album is filled with new wave punk with the POLYSICS itself.
One song that really jumps out is Young OH! OH! Can you tell us the story behind writing and recording this track?
Hayashi: This song is exactly POLYSICS with all the fun stuff. We wanted to do something different. Producer Hajime Okano has come up with the very hard core arranging drum performance which came to Yano's over capacity. (Yano sometimes froze like a computer.)
The band's performance in the video is just awesome. Who came up with all the visual elements we see?
Hayashi: We discussed with the A&R and the director, had a meeting with the members, and made up the ideas and the images.
The song Cleaning has a fun, more standard rock sound to it, with some great guitar work. What is the song about, and how was it created?
Hayashi: We wanted a song that could describe Fumi's popish medium tempo sound. The theme was "a song that fits for dusk."
Fumi: I imagined the night fall atmosphere when I made this song. I wanted to make a song that could describe melancholy.
Fire Bison is a classic example of a POLYSICS song that's almost impossible to listen to without bobbing your head or tapping your foot to the beat. Can you tell us more about this song?
Hayashi: This song was greatly influenced by our "Electronic body and Industrial music" from two years ago. We wanted to make a song that could shake one's head without a guitar sound. We tried for several times, and finally have made it.
What was it like creating the music for "Absolute POLYSICS"?
Hayashi: This time we had a clear vision for this album, so we made the songs in a relaxed mood and were able to concentrate on recording.
Who all worked on the album besides the band?
Hayashi: We asked Aida Shigekazu for Shout Aloud! and Hajime Okano for Young OH! OH! as a producer. For Fire Bison, we asked Yuji Katsui to play the electric violin.
Tell us about the touring you are doing to support the album.
Hayashi: We are playing all the album songs and the set list is also filled with our standard songs. Audiences all seem to be excited and we feel happy seeing that as well. We feel that we are able to have the POLYSICS lives, and are having happy fun tours.
Any chance of another North American tour anytime soon?
Hayashi: We are going to have an American tour early next year. We really want to let our overseas fans hear our new music.
Btw, who came up with the album cover and what exactly does it represent?
Hayashi: When we were discussing with the members, we realized that there aren't any white albums for POLYSICS. So, we came up with this jacket design. For just one look, it looks simple, but actually its complicated -- this describes much of the POLYSICS music itself.
Let's take a trip into the past and get to know more about everyone. Can you describe your hometown and what it was like growing up there?
Hayashi: I was born in a serene residential area of Shinjuku Kamiochiai. As the image of Shinjuku, it's usually a busy downtown area; however where I was born was a very quiet place and I feel very comfortable when I go home. Since both of my parents were out working, my sister tended to look after me. During my childhood I rather preferred staying inside than going outside. I drew pictures of monsters, and made plastic models. Later on, hearing my sister listening to Rock, I got interested in music.
Kayo: I was born in the residential area of Shinjuku. When I was small I went outside actively, however since junior high school I turned into an indoor person.
Fumi: I was born in a residential area of Setagaya in Tokyo. Though it was near the center, it was very cozy with many parks and lots of plants. When I was small, I was an energetic girl running around outside. During high school I started going to live houses, and watched lives every week.
Yano: I was born in Imabari in Aichi. Until high-school I wanted to become a cook.
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