Few bands are more enigmatic than Koenji Hyakkei (written in Japanese 高円寺百景… Read Full Bio ↴Few bands are more enigmatic than Koenji Hyakkei (written in Japanese 高円寺百景). Though firmly grounded in the Zeuhl style of Magma, they have taken it to new and unexplored places. Fronted by drummer Yoshida Tatsuya, of Ruins fame, their lineup shifts as rapidly as their style does. However, two things remain constant in their music- lyrics in a made up (and probably nonsensical) language, and an exotic, almost folk feel to the music. The combination of the two gives a sense that you're listening to the music of a culture that exists only in minds of a handful of creative people.

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

Rattims Friezz
Koenjihyakkei Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Siqui Rahttu Pamonddista Siqui Rahttu Pamonddista
Siqui Rahttu Pamonddista Siqui Rahttu Pamonddista

Fillidan Pamuccallom Fillidan Pamuccallom
Fillidan Pamuccallom Fillidan Pamuccallom

Rattims Friezz Rattims Friezz
Rattims Friezz Rattims Friezz

Fillidan Pamuccallom Fillidan Pamuccallom
Fillidan Pamuccallom Fillidan Pamuccallom
Zigizzi Zyagiga Zyagiga Zigizzi Zyagiga Zyagiga
Zigizzi Zyagiga Zyagiga Zyah!

Vradhalliziss Guariboh Vradhalliziss Guariboh
Vradhalliziss Guariboh Vradhalliziss Guariboh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Koenjihyakkei's song Rattims Friezz are a mixture of nonsensical words and phrases that seem to be designed to evoke a feeling or mood rather than convey a specific message or story. The repeated phrases "Siqui Rahttu Pamonddista" and "Fillidan Pamuccallom" appear to be meaningless, although they are chanted with intensity and urgency, perhaps to create a sense of ritual or incantation. The title of the song, "Rattims Friezz," is also repeated throughout the song, and it too doesn't seem to have a specific meaning. However, the way it is pronounced with emphasis and fervor gives it a sense of importance and power.

The lyrics also include the phrase "Zigizzi Zyagiga" which is repeated several times before culminating in a final "Zyah!" exclamation. This phrase is particularly interesting in that it seems to be attempting to create a new language or dialect, or perhaps a new form of speech altogether. The way the words are chanted in rhythm with the music makes it seem like the band is trying to communicate something primal or urgent, and the repetition and emphasis on certain sounds gives the impression of a kind of shamanistic incantation.

Line by Line Meaning

Siqui Rahttu Pamonddista Siqui Rahttu Pamonddista
Repeating this phrase twice as an opening verse without specific meaning, just to make it sound interesting musically.

Fillidan Pamuccallom Fillidan Pamuccallom
Repeating this verse as a continuation of the opening phrase, without any intended meaning or purpose.

Rattims Friezz Rattims Friezz
The title of the song, repeated twice for emphasis, without any specific meaning assigned to it.

Fillidan Pamuccallom Fillidan Pamuccallom
Repeating a verse that has already been sung earlier, without assigning any particular meaning to it.

Zigizzi Zyagiga Zyagiga Zigizzi Zyagiga Zyagiga
Repeating a phrase that doesn't have any specific meaning, but is included for rhythmic purposes. The use of alliteration adds to the song's poetic nature.

Zigizzi Zyagiga Zyagiga Zyah!
Ending the rhythmic phrase with an exclamation that doesn't have any meaning, but is included to create a dramatic effect.

Vradhalliziss Guariboh Vradhalliziss Guariboh
Repeating a phrase that sounds interesting but doesn't have any specific meaning or purpose in the song.

Contributed by Ava L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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