The Mad Capsule Markets - London, UK, Winter 2001
By: Toby L
The beauty of music as an art-form is integration and adaptability. Unlike something more scientific, there is no wrong and right way of doing things, as there are indeed no better or worse forms of music. However, it can be argued that there are more interesting artists in the world than others, where 'interesting' represents those that strive to create their own niche, generating a sound and style almost unique to them and alien to everybody else. If we're to look at the world of music in such a light, then The Mad Capsule Markets are most certainly an interesting band.
Their relentless and uncompromising fusion of techno, house-beats and straightforward, hardcore rock may sound like hell's worst nightmare, but when it's performed in front of your very eyes or laid down on record, there's something about MCM which endears you to them for their vision and bravery. Hardly holding back in the latest technologies, their own production of material is fast, furious and ear-bleedingly exciting, though not at the expense of existing without tunes. In fact, much of the music you'll hear on new album, 'Osc-Dis', is the catchiest stuff you've ever come across, with melodies instantly drummed into your head from the moment your finger presses the 'Play' button.
However, at least for the Western world, 2001 is the year where we've only just been let in on the act. The Mad Capsule Markets actually hail from Japan, and have for the last ten years maintained and boosted their popularity on home-soil, apart from occasional low-key overseas visits. Their development over the last decade has thus far allowed them to sell over a million records and now the band's sights are set on Europe and the US, where maybe it's time for them to increase this figure considerably.
December 4th is the night that sees the group's first ever European show occurring in London's Mean Fiddler, in the heart of the West End. The day before, though, is slightly more momentous for them; yes, they are scheduled to take part in a rockfeedback artist-interview. Despite the punk-energy and raucous image they appear to create, the location for the evening's discussion - incidentally, one of the band's first since stepping off the plane - is in a rather posh hotel.
When the group and their associated entourage arrive, there's little hesitation held and so the bar is entered. From the moment 'go', it was clear that this interview was going to be rather different to the usual order of 'ask a question, band responds, ask a question, bands responds', etc. for - due to their inability to speak English comfortably enough for an interview to take place - an interpreter was present to translate our questions into Japanese, and then translate their responses into English for us to understand. Clearly, the man responsible, Kaoru, was the guy with the most challenging task to fulfill. For this then, someone please reward him with a medal.
On meeting the participants for today - frontman Kyono, bassist and programmer Takeshi, silent member, the guitarist Toru, and drummer/co-programmer Motokatsu - it was obvious that a new, if slightly bizarre, form of questioning would need to eventually occur in order to maintain their interest as the conversation progressed. First things first, though - what are the group's initial feelings on the land they've just arrived on, and how does it compare to their home-country?
Motokatsu thinks to himself. 'It feels as if there's more history, and more of a vibe happening in London than there is in Tokyo.'
Takeshi nods in agreement, adding, 'It feels as if people have got more of an understanding about music and stuff in general.'
Why has it taken so long for you to come over and play Europe?
'It's not the case that we didn't want to come over here, but we just didn't have the opportunity,' explains Takeshi. 'When we got signed (to Palm Pictures), it gave us the chance to visit Europe; we're excited that we've finally been able to come over and play.'
Incidentally, how do you think European people will accept your music?
The bass-player assumes the responsibility to answer for his band-mates. 'In Japan, people have been able to get used to us quite quickly, but I can't say how people over here will take it: they might not even like it! I feel that if we're doing something interesting, then - wherever we're from - if people are on our wavelength, then they'll understand what we're doing.'
This said, is anything unusual prepared for the debut European concert?
'We're just gonna do what we normally do in Japan,' Kyono reveals, confirming, 'There's nothing special planned. I am gonna do some talking in English in between songs, though, but we'll see how it goes... But I need to work out what to say first!'
Kyono may sound as if he's joking, but there's no falseness in the fact that he did spend considerable time revising the English language so as to come up with an ample array of phrases to comment in between tracks the following night. Judging from audience reaction, his efforts were appreciated by the sold-out venue.
On record, an aural treat is what greets the listener, from the rowdy roar of single 'Pulse' to the more commercial and instant 'All The Time In Sunny Beach' and potential smash, 'Island', so what should people expect when they go to see The Mad Capsule Markets live to hear such tracks?
'We just try to do gigs the way we'd do them in Japan: lots of energy and keep it fast-paced for an hour,' replies Takeshi, the man behind most of the act's perplexing lyrics. 'We don't know or understand the audience over here, but that's the beauty of it - we'll just see what happens...'
What's the most important thing about making it in Europe - apart from the money?
'Well, we don't make that much money touring in Europe,' laughs Kyono. 'We just want to have fun and play some shows, and hopefully some people will like it...'
'We want to come over and pick up the European vibe by hearing other artists over here and generally learning from people that we get a chance to hang out with,' Takeshi answers thoughtfully. 'That's our main objective: just to experience as much as can.'
Bearing in mind that you've already travelled with the likes of Rage Against The Machine and Fear Factory, thinking forward to return visits, what Western acts would you most like to tour alongside?
The mention of Steps as potential road-buddies prompts laughs, so it must be a possibility. Or not.
'There's no one in particular at the moment we have in mind, but - when the opportunity arises - we'll look out how much time we've got available, what could happen and the sort of people we'd like to tour with: possibly with more digital-sounding acts,' suggests Takeshi, hopefully.
In what way, though, do you feel you fit into the music scene?
Takeshi ponders quietly to himself for a moment, before proclaiming, 'We're heavy...'
'Yeah,' agrees Kyono. 'We play metal in a kind of skate-surf way, with different bits of techno, so we're just trying to release something that's individual, and keep the sound so it sounds like us.'
However, if the group failed to make their predicted impact in Europe, would they consider giving up touring and promotion on this side of the world?
Kyono smiles menacingly. 'No - we'd just make sure that all people in Europe don't like our music... which would be quite interesting!'
Let's rewind to the past for a moment, though, as this is a band possessive of much history. Hardly spring-chickens to the music-industry, they sprang into life over eleven years ago, it all beginning when Kyono and Takeshi met each other in school at the ages of 'about 14 or 15'. On joining forces with Motokatsu, a distinctly creative and exciting combo was formed, helped out by extrovert Toru on guitars. The hardly obvious name for such a band-unit was devised by the lead-singer merely 'because it sounded cool and fun'.
With their primary influences ranging from 'all types of Japanese punk bands, to other international ones like Crass,' their original aims weren't shielded behind producing one existing brand of music.
Takeshi recalls, 'There wasn't any kind of specific sound in particular; we just wanted to try out something different.'
How has your sound progressed and changed since you first started, would you say?
Continuing, he utters, 'Basically, it's the technological approach we have to our music; there's far more out there that's now available, which helps to eliminate the boundaries in what we do... It's just stemmed from an interest of using it, and it starting off from the idea of using samplers and stuff like that; I began using that sort of technology over nine years ago.'
An odd predicament for the band is the way that they released another album back home in July of this year, entitled 'Ten', marking the number of how many LP's they've now produced in total. Thus, with 'Osc-Dis' being your first European album, would you say that it's a fair overview of the sound you've been working with for the last decade?
'Yeah,' confidently affirms Kyono. 'We just really like this album, and it's the right time to release such an album that represents what we're doing now.'
In fact, regardless of their material's age, when making music, just what is the most special thing to them?
A brief pause is allowed. Suddenly, Kyono rises to the bait. 'It's got to be the music's power, and that initial impact of hearing a song, which is the most important thing; when we go into the studio, we always try to recreate music that maintains an impact.'
Something that certainly has helped stir some form of 'impact' for The Mad Capsule Markets is their artwork and imagery; rather than merely walking around in baggy jeans, red caps and donning beards which resemble a repeatedly ran-over hamster, MCM feature in pictures as the kind of space-guards depicted in sci-fi flicks, complete with full, bullet-proof uniform. So, how did this futuristic presence come about?
Takeshi retells its origin. 'It's a case of the band sharing the same kind of interests; we're all into 'Star Wars', for example, and, also, we have friends that are artists and, when we've gone out, we've had chats about what we could do together. We've also talked about how it would be interesting to have a video that's like a video-game - which is how 'Pulse' turned out. So, the graphics have all been done by friends of ours that are also graphic-designers.'
Do MCM ever get the opportunity to dress up like the heroes they appear as on album-covers?
Motokatsu perks up, as if a nerve has been struck, and proceeds to cheekily grin. 'No, but I really want to do that, though!'
Adrian Sherwood and Atari Teenage Riot are just two artists that have collaborated with the Mad Caps to produce remixes of their work - how do such duets, so to speak, work out?
'We usually approach the artists that we want to work with,' comments Takeshi. 'We get excited by the notion of people we like remixing our music.'
OK, if you could have anyone remix your music, who would you choose?
A silence arrives as the band think, and the interpreter, Kyono, who - up to now - is showing extreme signs of patience in his position, suddenly can't stop himself from introducing his personal choice. Exclaiming clearly, he pronounces 'Michael Jackson,' enabling uncertain laughs.
Following this, a smirk etches on to Motokatsu's face as reveals his ideal collaborator. 'The Backstreet Boys...' Oh god...
It was clear that the band were losing the extreme powers of focus needed in order to complete the interview and, so to conclude proceedings, and leave everyone with a smile on their face, rockfeedback brought back an old concept that we used to do with top stars: speak a load of crap for comedic value.
1) Are you fed up with American nu-metal acts?
Kyono is too diplomatic for our liking. 'There are good bands and there are crap bands, but if people are doing something, then that's something good in itself; we let people just get on with what they want to do.'
2) What's the worst thing about being in your band?
Instantly, as their answer to the question, Motokatsu and Takeshi point to Kyono.
'Nah, we've got a hectic schedule, planned right down to the minute,' Takeshi truthfully responds. 'We'd like to have some time to just chill out, but we always have so much to do...'
3) But what are the better aspects of being in your band?
'The best part is travelling and getting to see different places and meeting lots of interesting, new people,' considers Kyono, fairly definitely.
4) What do you view are the key differences between yourselves and other bands?
The answering of this question is avoided, as we all watch Toru - whose contribution to this chat is non-existent - blow a cloud of smoke from his cigarette in a rather entertaining fashion. Before we knew it, we were back to work.
'Well, we don't drink much when we tour,' the frontman utters, leaving a faint suspicion that he may be joking.
Struggling on a final closer to end the interview on a high, we choose to fail, and simply ask whether the tea that they sip as we speak now is better than the stuff they drink back in Japan.
Takeshi samples a taste from his cup and comments. 'Hmm... The Japanese tea is weaker than it is here.'
Motokatsu rounds things off philosophically. 'Well, Starbucks tastes the same everywhere, so it's not too different!'
... And the truth don't come more clear or honest as that.
On the ending of this encounter, yet more interviews were carried out, from all manner of TV-crews, magazines, etc. etc. but it was all because of one thing - the anticipation of their debut set, which - at this point - was still yet to be performed...
But - come 11pm the next evening - it was all over: MCM had stridden onstage and walked offstage. A success? Damn right; from the outset, it was clear that the obsessed crowd weren't looking for anything other than a monumental performance, so that's what they were delivered, in the tightest and most exhilarating form the Capital may have witnessed all year long.
So, you may have missed their first visit to UK shores, but - don't worry - they'll be back; just make sure you're there next time to cheer them on.
Artists in this article: The Mad Capsule Markets