OOIOO

Japanese experimental rock band

Experimental rock
neo-psychedelia

Years active1996–presentLabelsTrattoria Records, Thrill JockeyMembersYOSHIMIO
KayaN
AyA
MISHINA
Past membersKyoko
Maki
YoshikoWebsiteooioo.jp

OOIOO is a Japanese experimental rock band. The four-piece ensemble was founded by Yoshimi P-We (also known as Yoshimio), the drummer and occasional trumpeter for Boredoms.^[1] The band's origin lie in a photo shoot that Yoshimi was asked to do for a magazine. She invited a few of her friends to join her, and they created a fake band for the shoot, which they later decided to make real.^[2] The band quickly gained attention by being the opening act for Sonic Youth in 1997 on their Japan tour.^[3]

According to AllMusic's Kieran McCarthy "It's next to impossible to describe their sound, because — by design — it rarely follows consistent patterns".^[1] Some of their music has been described as having "a majestic ebb and flow that suggests natural wonders"^[4] or a "witchy, tribal side".^[4] Either way, at any one time it may incorporate chanting and punchy drums,^[4] dancey polyrhythms^[5] atonal composition^[5] or psychedelia.^[6]

Discography

Albums

OOIOO (1997)
Feather Float (1999)
Gold and Green (2000)
Kila Kila Kila (2003)
Taiga (2006)
Armonico Hewa (2009)
Gamel (2013)
Nijimusi (2019)

EPs

OOEYヨOO -EYヨ REMIX (Eye Remix EP) (2007)

Compilations

Shock City Shockers 2 (2001)
- compilation of remixes including mixes by Yamantaka Eye, Kan Takagi, Nobukazu Takemura, and Kiyoshi Izumi; also includes "Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly", a cover of the Chick Corea/Flora Purim jazz fusion song
COCOCOOOIOO: The Best of Shock City 1997–2001 (2004)
- highlights from their first three albums, with a remixed track from the Shock City Shockers 2 compilation

Personnel

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)

Current members

YOSHIMIO - vocals, guitar
KayaN - guitars, vocals, keyboards
AyA - bass
MISHINA - drums

Former members

Ai — drums
Kyoko — vocals, guitar (died July 19, 2015)^[7]
Maki — bass, keyboards
Yoshico — drums (Her real name is Yuka Yoshimura. She is currently a member of CATSUOMATICDEATH, METALCHICKS, and a former member of DMBQ)

Guest musicians

References

^ ^a ^b McCarthy, Kieran. "( OOIOO > Biography )". AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
^ "OOIOO by Scott Davis - BOMB Magazine". bombmagazine.org. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
^ "Gold & Green, by OOIOO". Ooioojp.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
^ ^a ^b ^c Phares, Heather (2005-09-13). "( Gold and Green > Overview )". AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
^ ^a ^b Dodero, Camille (2007-03-21). "New York — Sound of the City — Live: OOIOO's Yoshimi Doesn't Let Those Evil Robots Eat Me". Blogs.villagevoice.com. Retrieved 2009-10-01.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Interviews: OOIOO". Pitchfork.com. 2007-04-05. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
^ "RIP: Kyoko, co-founder of OOIOO". Tinymixtapes.com. Retrieved 2020-03-16.