As the instrumental, Middle Eastern soundtrack provided by Sitaar Tah! faded out, the black curtain covering Liquid Room's stage opened to reveal several instruments. Seconds later a huge cheer erupted from the sold-out Japanese audience as Tokyo's Rovo emerged from the darkness.
The applause continued as attendees recognized the opening notes of lead-off track "Canvas". Wind chimes and short bursts of lush instrumentation dominated the beginning of the fantastic song. The simple rays of light illuminating the sextet added to the tranquil effect being created. With the pace of "Canvas" increasing, the audience slowly swayed back and forth to the organic grooves. Images began to appear on the giant screen positioned behind the band as they turned out a wonderful array of spacey live trance.A jam-oriented group, Rovo's innovative soundscapes incorporate numerous styles and travel through countless peaks and valleys before reaching their final destination. On this night, the eager crowd of twenty- and thirty-year-olds was more than willing to head down whatever path the act wanted to lead them during the eight brilliant sonic compositions. Driven by the wonderful percussion provided by both of the band's drummers, Rovo's swirling set was tight and highly danceable. Audience members gleefully nodded and bopped along to the vast array of dense rhythms and roared their approval at almost everything violinist Katsui Yuji and guitarist Seiichi Yamamoto did. 
When performing, Rovo's focus is placed squarely on the music. Aside from Yuji occasionally taking a few steps or shaking his hair there was little movement on stage and practically no banter between the group and audience. The lights and images were very effective, but were used minimally. The individuals in charge of controlling both did a really good job of complementing the songs without overpowering them.This low-key approach to playing live added to the psychedelic, grassroots feel of the energetic, instrumental cuts. With such a cool vibe radiating from both the band and crowd, the spacious venue felt like a really cozy, chilled-out room that was filled with the smiling faces of dancing friends. With everyone getting swept up by masterpieces such as "Loquix" and "Reom" the only to do was close your eyes and move your body to the Rovo's glorious music. |
|
photos by saya38 |
| photos : Dachambo | ROVO |
 mag files : ROVO Shake Your Rump (05/11/05 @ Liquidroom Ebisu) : review by shawn, photos by saya38photo report (05/11/05 @ Liquidroom Ebisu) : photos by saya38やっぱりROVOだろ！ (05/05/03 @ Hibiya Yagai Ongakudo) : review by nobphoto report (04/10/2-3 @ Asagiri Arena) : photo by yusukeDisc review : 踊る行為は本能的なもの : review by 田中喬史初の札幌公演大盛況！ (03/06/13 @ Sapporo Bessie HALL) : review by ysmzno title (00/09/01 @ 法政大学学生会館大ホール) : review by nob |
|
The official site : ROVO http://www.rovo.jp/ The latest album  『Mon』 |
previous works
『FLAGE』
『SAI』 『LIVE at 日比谷野音 2003.05.05〜MAN DRIVE TRANCE SPECIAL〜』 『Anima Mundi』 (omnibus) 『FLAGE』 『Tonic 2001 [LIVE]』 (US import) 『シノ』 (DATECOURSE PENTAGON ROYAL GARDENとのスプリット) 『SAI』 『PYRAMID』 『imago』 『PICO!』 『MAN DRIVE TRANCE』 (omnibus) 『live at liquidroom 2001.5.16』 check the albums? |
 2005Majestic Doves Battle Evil Spirits In Tokyo : Doves (30th Oct. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)DVD review : RGB : sianspheric (17th Oct.)Needs To Be Seen To Be Believed : Shibusa Shirazu Orchestra (16th Oct. @ Yokohama Thumbs Up)Shimmy Shimmy Ya : Zilli**Sweet Oriental Dance Show feat. Zilli, Eshe, Ken, Shinshi, and Mananbu (8th Oct. @ Shibuya Udagawa Cafe)Something Old And Something New : Time Bomb Records 15th Aniversary Feat. Blind Beast (Thurston Moore+Jim O'Rourke+Yoshimi), The Evens (Ian MacKaye+Amy Farina) with Ruins alone, Tamio Inoue (18th Sept. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Half Hour Of Power : Punkrockers Bowl Vol.11 Feat. Razors Edge, Melt-Banana, Wrench (10th Sept. @ Shinjuku Loft)A Mind Is An Awesome Thing To Blow
: Fantomas & Zu (5th Sept. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)With A Little Sake Always Makes For A Good Night : Cubismo Grafico Five with Sakerock (27th Aug. @ Liquidroom Ebisu)Cool Sounds From The Underground : "What's That Sound?" Feat. Four Tet, Caribou, Mugison (20th Aug. @ Laforet Museum Roppongi)Expect The Unexpected : Metalchicks with Kiiiiiii and Asa-Chang & Junrei (16th Jul. @ Shibuya Lush)All The Young Dudes : Jude (10th Jun. @ Yokohama Blitz)The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades : Date Course Pentagon Royal Garden (6th Jun. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)The Life Aquatic With Yo La Tengo : Yo La Tengo (28th May. @ Laforet Museum Roppongi)The 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 Ethier |