Until recently, their ensemble has consisted of drums, bass, guitar, keyboard, and female vocals (Nami Sagara, ex-The Eccentric Opera). With their latest album, Angherr Shisspa, they have replaced the guitar with reed player Komori Keiko (mainly on soprano sax). With this change in instrumentation, their style has veered into a new direction to match the change in tone color.
Through their evolution of style, their rhythmic and formal complexity have expanded greatly, incorporating polyrhythms, asymmetrical time signatures (i.e. not all beats are the same length), as well as more complex and varied sections, often containing polyphony and counterpoint. However, through all these impressive technical feats, they have managed to keep the overall feel very simple and melodic, to the extent that most other music feels hideously normal after listening to Koenji Hyakkei.
Formed in Tokyo, Kantô, Japan in 1991. Note that there is no official way to romanise the band's name, which accounts in part for the wide variety of tags across last.fm. Koenji Hyakkei and Koenjihyakkei have been used most commonly by official sources, but KoenjiHyakkei, Koenji-Hyakkei, and others have also been seen. 高円寺百景 is the Japanese tag for the artist, and a more accurate romanisation for the name would be Kōenji Hyakkei or Kōenjihyakkei, although these are rarely seen.
Studio discography:
1994 - 高円寺百景 (Hundred Sights of Koenji)
1998 - 弐(II) (Viva Koenji!)
2001 - Nivraym
2005 - Angherr Shisspa
Live discography:
2002 - Live at Star Pine's Cafe
2006 - Live at Doors
2008 - 070531
2010 - Live at Koenji High
Grahbem Jorgazz
Koenjihyakkei Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bequore Yavariss Overom Zweedo Grossyas Dhiss
Qlidannes Kalaviddo Zeppalis Korrba Sredoh
Kaizell Silbah Grahbem Jorgazz
Krebill Porvass Fardha Tzlaut Plydini Quallo Frim
Irgha Servoth Polassindi Flamtoss Karvema Lazzoh
Quilldai Minttiguar Ferstta
Karddivai Lamdoh Qavizzi Martigha
Morrqu Zharr Sisskimfa Parrdah
Kaizell Silbah Grahbem Jorgass
Kaizell Silbah Grahbem Jorgass
Villba Quaranggi Irundoh Sillzza
Villba Quaranggi Irundoh Sillzza
Villba Quaranggi Irundoh Sillzza
Elzakki Sivicca Ressadah
Bequore Yavariss Overom Zweedo Grossyas Dhiss
Qlidannes Kalaviddo Zeppalis Korrba Sredoh
Sollpalith Porfadeth Sollpalith Porfadeath
Sollpalith Porfadeth Sollpalith Porfadeath
Sollpalith
The lyrics of Koenjihyakkei's "Grahbem Jorgazz" is a mix of seemingly nonsensical words and phrases as well as made-up names. It's possible that this song is a piece of avant-garde or experimental composition, where melody and sound come first before meaning. It's common for artists in this genre to create their own lexicon or language to express their ideas, and "Grahbem Jorgazz" could be one such example. However, there might be some way to make sense of the lyrics if one looks closer.
The words that are repeated throughout the song are "Kaizell Silbah Grahbem Jorgazz" and "Villba Quaranggi Irundoh Sillzza" - these could be the main characters or themes of the song. The other words and phrases, such as "Qlidannes Kalaviddo Zeppalis Korrba Sredoh", "Karddivai Lamdoh Qavizzi Martigha", and "Irgha Servoth Polassindi Flamtoss Karvema Lazzoh", could be describing these characters or the narrative of the song. The use of repetition and variation in the lyrics, as well as the unusual sounds and instruments used in the song, make "Grahbem Jorgazz" more of an experience than a traditional piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Kaizell Silbah Grahbem Jorgazz
This song is titled Grahbem Jorgazz by Koenjihyakkei
Bequore Yavariss Overom Zweedo Grossyas Dhiss
In this alternate dimension, Bequore Yavariss resides with Overom Zweedo and Grossyas Dhiss
Qlidannes Kalaviddo Zeppalis Korrba Sredoh
Qlidannes Kalaviddo brings together Zeppalis and Korrba Sredoh
Krebill Porvass Fardha Tzlaut Plydini Quallo Frim
Krebill Porvass encounters Tzlaut, Plydini, and Quallo Frim on their journey
Irgha Servoth Polassindi Flamtoss Karvema Lazzoh
Irgha Servoth meets with Polassindi, Flamtoss, Karvema, and Lazzoh
Forrzhai Limgessfoll Tabbalith Sillcado
Forrzhai Limgessfoll is also on the scene, along with Tabbalith Sillcado
Quilldai Minttiguar Ferstta
Quilldai Minttiguar appears before them as well, with Ferstta
Karddivai Lamdoh Qavizzi Martigha
Karddivai Lamdoh comes bearing Qavizzi and Martigha
Morrqu Zharr Sisskimfa Parrdah
Morrqu Zharr and Sisskimfa Parrdah join the group as well
Villba Quaranggi Irundoh Sillzza
Villba Quaranggi and Irundoh Sillzza dance their way into the scene
Elzakki Sivicca Ressadah
Elzakki Sivicca adds to the atmosphere with Ressadah
Sollpalith Porfadeth Sollpalith Porfadeath
The mysterious Sollpalith Porfadeth makes a strange appearance, and repeats their name
Kaizell Silbah Grahbem Jorgass
The song comes full circle with a repetition of its title, Grahbem Jorgazz by Koenjihyakkei
Contributed by Skyler T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.