Honing their skills over the past year or so, this ambient/electronic group finally released their debut EP, "Quarrel" in April. The six tracks are definitely not music you can dance to, but if you want to be transported to a lower-consciousness state of chill, this would be the disc for you.
ESOAC started out as the duo of Lu Lu-Ming on the keyboards/electronic gadgets, and Arny (ex-Maho/Naff Off) on bass. They've since added Bugs Of Phonon guitarist Koko to the lineup. When they performed as a duo, they would augment their shows with video accompaniment, giving a complete audio-visual experience. With the addition of the third member, the live show is now more focused on the music.
Have you ever tried those self-help CDs that 'stimulate brain waves with binaural beats'? Yeah, me neither, but ESOACs new CD can likely accomplish the same thing, but with way more enjoyment.
Their name is derived from the Japanese word for 'pufferfish' or 'blowfish'. They are a three-piece band based in Kaohsiung, Taiwan and have been involved with the indie scene here for about 8 years. They're called Fuguko (Chinese band name: 河豚子) and are all the buzz right now.
The band history is simple: singer/guitarist/songwriter Wama, bassist Yuco and drummer Orca all once played in a band called Orange Doll (a band whose history is not so simple, but will likely be featured here in the future), which was melodic, dream-pop indie guitar music with plenty of nods to slowcore and shoe gaze. That band was augmented by the only male member, lead guitarist Leo, who was one of the more underrated guitarists on the island's indie scene. When Orange Doll disbanded in 2011, the three female members decided to carry on under the new name Fuguko, but with a decidedly different sound than their previous project. Wama has staunchly distanced herself from all her previous work, instead taking her music to new sonic territory; a territory where skinny-tied post-punkers once plied their trade. One listen to their new album "You're Not Human" will reveal an almost new-wave-meets-punk bent in their new sound. In addition to seriously fuzzed-out guitars, manic tempos and thumping bass, there are smatterings of electronics and keyboards which further set this band's stuff apart from their prior girl-pop musings.
Wama always had a natural gift for songwriting and creating a great melody, although she downplays her talents to a point of complete self-unawareness. She's said in the past that "people have different ways to pass the time. Some play video games, some play basketball, some keep a journal. I write songs, it's not really that different from what other people do for their hobby." But, if everyone were capable of writing songs as well as Wama, then theoretically the music that tops the mainstream pop charts would be much more listenable than it really is.
This tiny island is home to some of the best indie rock and pop you've never heard. Everything from emo, punk, ska, dream pop, shoe gaze and folk to post-rock. It's all here in one convenient little package. The coolest thing about the scene here is that the existence of independent/underground music is relatively brief in its lifespan compared to the rest of the civilized world (more on that in a later post). Only in about the past 15-20 years has the 'indie-rock' ethos been developing, so over this time period Taiwan has seen much evolution and experimentation in its homegrown music, along with the requisite growing pains. This blog will provide band bios, links, history lessons on indie music in Taiwan, and what we hope will be a weekly podcast featuring the best underground tunage that you need to hear, as well as gems from the past that will give you a clearer picture of what the scene here is all about.
