|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Although fra-foa's raw sound seems to come straight out of a garage, the intensity of their songs puts them, in my humble opinion, amid all the soulful bands that shaped music history. A "garage sound" is far from being a derogatory term in my mind; I feel there is nothing greater than a cocktail of unprocessed passion and creativity. This is precisely what they achieve with great success, even if they are not as popular as they should be. Well, not yet, anyway.
Chisako also composes all of the band's music as well as writes her own lyrics. And speaking of lyrics, you cannot know how truly intense her works are before reading her distressing words. Her poems are often about general themes such as love and life but also personal issues like in Aojiroi Tsuki, where she pours her heart out following the loss of her older brother. Grant it, the music does not particularly transcend in originality but it is always suiting, distinct and oh so mesmerizing. Above and beyond, I could not imagine it any differently; it is hard rocking or melodious whenever the mood requires it to be. The fact that Chisako is an integral part of fra-foa does not, by any means, signify its supporting members are anything short of great musicians. Manabu, Koji and especially Seiji play their positions marvelously well. It is hard to notice at first, since Chisako's voice stands out so much and that there are usually many simultaneous high-decibel sounds, but when focusing your ear on different instruments, their true abilities show quite well.
Their first album, Chuu no Fuchi, came out in February 2001 and a singles line-up immediately followed for the introduction of their second album, 13 Leaves, a mere seven months later. They never stopped playing live but simply had a bigger area to cover now that their name was starting to evoke interest. At
the end of 2002, Mikami Chisako stated that she was getting married to someone
unknown in the music industry. This was accompanied by the announcement of her pregnancy
and a short break for fra-foa. Aside from one concert, a few
unhatched plans and some solo work, not much had been heard from the band
since. Then on may 14, 2005 fra-foa made the fatidic announcement
of their separation. Now, dry those tears at once; every member of fra-foa
are still active independently. Takahashi is now a N.E.S. member,
Sasaki is with Uragaese Orewo and Hiratsuka with Wreep.
Mikami Chisato is three-album deep in a solo career. I don't think
she shines as brightly on her own, but c'est la vie.
|
|||||||||
13 Leaves
I have to admit I like fra-foa's two albums just about the same. Both Chuu no Fuchi and 13 Leaves include an all-star line-up of incredible and diverse songs plus a bonus track. However, three songs more and overall length make this one a better buy.
|
Why Light of Sorrow?
A bit more reserved than, say, Sumiwataru but Chisato's voice is just as amazing when she sings softly. This uplifting song works on many levels, and I have never met anyone who disliked it.
|
||||||||
|
Official Site: http://www.fra-foa.net Mikami Chisako's Official Site: http://www.mikamichisako.com N.E.S. (featuring Takahashi)'s Official Site: http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~nes Uragaese Orewo (featuring Sasaki)'s Official Site: http://www.uraore.com Wreep (featuring Hiratsuka)'s Official Site: http://www.wreep.com
English Fan Site: fra-foa - uNofficiAl: http://www.geocities.com/fra_foa_unofficial
|
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
fra-foa appeared
in 2001 like the light at the end of a tunnel with their debut album, Chuu
no Fuchi, when many artists were on hiatus or disappointing streaks.
Some might claim they were at the right place, at the right time but this
impression only comes before experiencing the slap in the face that is
this band. Besides, they have been playing long before anyone knew they
existed. 
The
resourcefulness of fra-foa rests mostly on the small shoulders of
its vocalist and her emotion-filled music. Much like 
Fronted
by its vocalist, Mikami Chisako, fra-foa began its journey in 1998
when Chisako thought up the meaning-deprived name simply because it
phonetically represented a floating sensation she would like to imbue in
her songs. Without actively searching for a label, the group played in
Live Houses and festivals around their hometown, Sendai. They were, however,
picked up in 2000 by Toy's Factory, a record company specializing in
underground bands.
