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
Ioss
Koenjihyakkei Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dobbelli Vasstiell Vasstiell Vasstiell
Dobbelli Vasstiell Vasstiell Entzaid
Dobbelli Bediill Vasstiell Hamm Thaii
Evvedobbe Dobbelli Vasstiell
Wiido Wiido Wiido Wiido
Ioss Ioss Ioss Ioss
The lyrics to Koenjihyakkei's song "Ioss" are abstract and do not have a clear narrative. However, they are full of poetic imagery and evocative sounds that create a vivid atmosphere. The repeated use of the word "Dobbelli" and "Vasstiell" suggests a cyclic, repetitive pattern, as if the song is going through a loop. The line "Oh Dobbelli Deall Hamm Thaii Sunn Dovillendoh" imbues a sense of urgency, as if the singer is calling out urgently for someone or something.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Dobbelli Deall Hamm Thaii Sunn Dovillendoh
Spirits of goodness and evil, let your presence be known.
Dobbelli Vasstiell Vasstiell Vasstiell
May the power of the gods be with us.
Dobbelli Vasstiell Vasstiell Entzaid
May the gods guide our actions and thoughts.
Dobbelli Bediill Vasstiell Hamm Thaii
May our deeds be just and honorable in the eyes of the gods.
Evvedobbe Dobbelli Vasstiell
May the gods bring us prosperity and success.
Wiido Wiido Wiido Wiido
May our spirits be strong and unwavering.
Ioss Ioss Ioss Ioss
Through our devotion to the gods, we shall prevail.
Contributed by Jackson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
James Wisniewski
The magical thing about this type of music is how they somehow manage to stay so perfectly in synch despite the beat being all over the place. Just shows how good each musician is at what they do (and how much they must have practiced together).
Morris Jurgensen
One of the greatest bands on our planet.
Marcell Gyurján
most definitely
choirsoftheeye
I agree
Priya S.
Yes, absolutely yes.
Judge Dredd
Tatsuya Yoshida is a genius.
Mike Rapaich
this is probably the tightest band I've ever heard
Johnny LuckyLad
look up the French band MAGMA (1970's) on youtube.
David RB
No one on earth like this band! THANKS!!!!!!!
Sheers from Costa Rica!
Ben P.
Magma...