I went to Enoshima Aquarium several months ago. While marvelling at its displays of underwater beauty, I passed by a small tank of lobsters. A few moments later two women walked by. One paused briefly to look at the crustaceans and exclaimed "oishii" to her friend.As the lights came on at the end of Yo La Tengo's performance at Laforet Museum, Ira Kaplan thanked the audience for watching the band's "salute to sushi and sashimi." The only thing I could think about was the elderly female above. Although the trio's Sounds of Science film show in Roppongi wasn't intended to taunt hungry patrons, there is a slight chance it may have left a few mouths salivating. 
In April 2001, the San Francisco Film Festival screened eight short films from famed French director Jean Painleve. They asked one of indie rock's most innovative acts, Yo La Tengo, to write and perform a score to accompany the documentaries. Christened Jean Painleve: The Sounds of Science, the group's live accompaniment to Painleve's explorations of ocean life was well received. The band enjoyed the experience and soon put out an album featuring studio versions of the compositions entitled The Sounds of the Sounds of Science.Fast forward a few years to 2005. On tour in support of their recently released Prisoners of Love: A Smattering of Scintillating Senescent Songs: 1985-2003, the band book a few Japanese dates. As a special treat to fans, they decide to make one of their Tokyo gigs a Sounds of Science film show. 
As the lights dimmed inside the spacious venue, seated audience members cheered in anticipation. The group walked onto the darkened stage and began playing as the opening credits rolled on the first of Painleve's works. Playing underneath a large screen, the band were barely visible as they turned out their ambient, instrumental soundtrack. The movies varied in length, but all were under 15 minutes and had subtitles in French, English, and Japanese. Utilizing drums, bass, guitar, organ, shakers, and a handful of other instruments, Yo La Tengo's excellent songs for Sea Urchins (French title, Oursins) and How Some Jellyfish Are Born (Comment Naissent des Meduses) helped breathe new life into Painleve's brilliant aquatic images. Creating music for movies is a difficult task, but Yo La Tengo's musicianship complemented each of the creatures' tales as opposed to overpowering them. |
| The pitch black venue and soothing shoegaze sounds caused several spectators in each row to doze off. Their rest was short lived though as the band kicked things into high gear for Liquid Crystals (Cristaux Liquides). Images of various chemical reactions caused swirling psychedelic colours to flood the screen. Georgia Hubley pounded on her drums while Kaplan grinded his guitar up against his amp. The loud distorted notes erupting from the speakers increased the effects of Painleve's mesmerizing shots. The fantastic rock music soon morphed into an equally compelling series of electronic bleeps and loops as the crowd witnessed a male seahorse give birth during The Seahorse (L'Hippocampe). |
| The event ended with Acera or the Witches' Dance (Acera Ou Le Bal des Sorcieres). James McNew took over drumming duties as Yo La Tengo's eclectic stylings meshed with molluscs' elegant movements in the deep sea. Entertaining and educational, the San Francisco Film Festival's idea to put the two influential and acclaimed artists together was a great one. Without being overly pretentious, the show allowed fans to witness a near-legendary underground act in a unique context. Definitely a cool night, it proved that like all good things in life, Yo La Tengo are getting much better with age. |
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report by shawn and photo by nachi |
 mag files : Yo La Tengo The Life Aquatic With Yo La Tengo : (05/05/28 @ Laforet Museum Roppongi) : review by shawn, photo by nachiphoto report : (05/05/25 @ Liquidroom Ebisu) : photo by kecophoto report : (03/12/04 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : photo by kecophoto report : (03/12/03 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : photo by ryotaphoto report : (03/12/02 @ Shinsaibashi Club Quattro) : photo by ikesanNever Sounds The Same : (03/12/01 @ Nagoya Club Quattro) : review by tikigirl, photo by ikesan楽しかったよ、生ヨラテン！ : (00/10/24 @ Shinsaibashi Club Quattro) : review by ikuyo圧巻！9年ぶりの来日公演... : (98/3/17 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : review... no credit |
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The official site Yo La Tengo http://www.yolatengo.com/ The best album  『PRISONERS OF LOVE』 (3枚組US盤 / 2枚組US盤 / 3枚組国内盤) |
previous works
『Summer Sun』( US import / 国内盤 ) 『And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out』 ( US import / 国内盤) 『I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One』 ( US import / 国内盤) 『Electr-O-Pura』( US import / 国内盤 ) 『Painful』( US import / 国内盤 ) 『Today Is the Day』( US import / 国内盤 ) 『Genius + Love = Yo La Tengo』( US import / 国内盤) check the albums? |
 2005The Little Things : Boom Boom Satellites (29th Apr. @ Shibuya AX)Interview : Insanely Brilliant : Les Savy Fav (30th Apr.)Organized Chaos : Shibusa Shirazu (17th Apr. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Socially Aware And Ready To Party : Asian Dub Foundation w/African Head Charge (10th Apr. @ Shibuya AX)Nice And Simple : Jimmy Eat World (4th Apr. @ Shibuya O-East)Nothing A Few Sweets Couldn't Fix : Lemon Jelly (29th Mar. @ Shibuya AX)Groove Is In The Heart : Tabla Kwaiesa (6th Mar. @ Yokohama Silk Road Buto-Kan)Interview : Constantly Evolving : 90 Day Men (13th Mar)It's Party Time! : The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Benevento/Russo Duo (28th Feb @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Weekly Service : The Chemical Brothers (12th Feb @ Shibuya AX)Tattoos and a Whole Lotta Hair : EXTREME THE DOJO Vol.12 feat. Every time I Die, As I Lay Dying and Shadows Fall (7th Feb @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Geography At Its Best : ISIS (5th Feb @ Shibuya Club Quattro)To The Extreme : The Shins (31st Jan @ Harajuku Astro Hall)CD review : "Panopticon" : Isis (27th Jan)Winter Be Damned : Ash (17th Jan @ Shibuya AX)Interview : Peaceful, But Far From Quiet : Mono (20th Jan)CD review : "The Nein" : The Nein (13th Jan)2004CD review : "Christmas" : Old Man Gloom (28th Dec)Music Soothes the Savage Beast
: eastern youth (20th Dec @ Shibuya Club Quattro)And to all A Good Night : Shonen Knife (19th Dec @ Daikanyama Unit)Exciting Music for Exciting People : illreme (6th Dec @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Expansive Rhythms : Tabla Kwaiesa (4th Dec @ Cozmo's Cafe and Bar)It's In Their Hands Now : Franz Ferdinand (29th Nov @ Shibuya AX)Lights, Camera, Action : Brahman (15th Nov @ Ebisu Liquidroom)Mostly Business : The Stills (8th Nov @ Ebisu Liquidroom)Scare The Rock Right Outta Ya : Halloween Ball 2004 feat . The 5,6,7,8's, Gasoline, The Woggles (30th Oct @ Shiomkitazawa Shelter)Three More, Two More, and Take it to the Left : Hawaiian6/ Idol Punch (11th Oct @ Shinjuku Loft)Busting Eardrums : Mogwai (5th Oct @ Ebisu Liquidroom AX )Medical Breakthrough : The Most Notorious Vol. 18 feat. Melt Banana and K.K. Null (25th Sept @ Shimokitazawa Shelter )Grey Skies Are Going To Clear Up... : HUSKING BEE (5th Sept @ Shibuya AX )no title : V∞REDOMS (8th Aug @ Ebisu Liquidroom )CD review : Andre Ethier With Christopher Sandes : Andre Ethier2003Cause Music Must Be Magic : Mayor McCa (21st Dec @ The Casbah,Hamilton, Ontario )Make It a Double : EVANESCENCE (28th Jul @ Shinjuku AX)Getting Knifed in Tokyo : Shonen Knife / bloodthirsty butchers(12th Jul @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Hail Hail! Some of Japan's best come together to pay tribute to San Diego's finest : TRIBUTE TO ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT feat. John Speedo with Jet Boys, Retro Gretion, and KEMURI, (21st June '03 @ Shibuya Club Quattro)The Canucks are Coming! The Canucks are Coming! : Simple Plan & GOB (26th Apr @ Akasaka Blitz)no title : Banda Bassotti with Doberman, Oi Skall Mates & Rude Bones (12th May @ Kawasaki Club Citta)The Enchanting Sounds of Summer : KEMURI (31st May @ Shinjuku ACB Hall)Absolutely F**king Brilliant!! : The Coral (21st Apr @ Shinjuku Liquid Room)no title : Short Circuit w/ Asparagus (24th Mar @ Shibuya AX) |