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v/a - Miyagi in Spring

posted by: Tim de tweede on 10 July 2006

Miyagi

I don’t think I really need to explain why DIY is a great concept on a hardcore e-zine. I mean, I think that should be either well known or derived through logical reasoning.

But not all concepts work out well when practiced. There are more than a number of instances where idea and the real world didn’t quite mix. This first release from the Hamburg-based DIY label Miyagi Records shows, however, that DIY can have beautiful results. This four way split looks like the product of love and devotion. I don’t mean the hippie kinda love, but the genuine love-for-your-work, that seems to lack in many “units” that are “pushed” by “major labels”.

This all means a really beautiful gatefold sleeve, with a really thick piece of 7” vinyl inside. The four bands on this record are rather different, but share a similar vibe, which is rather hard to describe. Maybe I could say: it’s the vibe that Mogwai shares with Level Plane bands, or that Dischord shares with Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. This has got to be confusing if you don’t hear the songs. So maybe it can be made clear from the descriptions of the individual bands.

The band that starts off this split is Culm. They play a kind of old school indie rock, with mainly clean guitarriffs and vocal outbursts. References: The Robocop Kraus and Fugazi, I’d say.

After that, Kenzari’s Middle Kata is up. They bring an instrumental track, with a rather conscious, precise build up, post-punk style. It really sets a certain mood, it’s no wonder the band uses this as the start of their live-shows, most of the times. References: At the Drive-In. But more together, in a way.

Then it’s time to flip this baby over, for the second half, that is kicked off by Tenlike. These Swedes provide us with rather sweet singer-songwriter stuff (indiepop?), with pretty good dynamics. References: Nick Drake, Elliott Smith. But sweeter.

The last song is from Mercer. Rather minimal post-whatever indie-rock, another instrumental one. References: Karate, but without a voice.

It seems impossible to pick favourites on such a record. All bands have something going for them, and the record really functions as a whole package. So I won’t. Just see for yourself.
If Miyagi Records continues to release records with the quality of ‘Miyagi in Spring’ with all that love and devotion behind it, the name of the website of the label couldn’t be more right for anyone with a soft spot for post-hardcore and indie: www.ilovemiyagi.de.

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Author	Message
elliottovich	Posted on 11.07.2006 (09:15) goto top
	OK, klinkt/ leest zeker interessant!

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