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His beats are accompanied by one of the greatest vocal talents in Japan: Yanada Keiko. Her voice is simply astounding as she flirts with its breaking point during high pitches and intense moments. The blend of passionate singing and multi-layered, progressive electronic music results in one of the milestones in J-Pop. Tried and tested, their sound has reached every corner of the actual globe and influenced a generation of Japanese disc jockeys. It is also the best therapy against languor.
 Unlike
a few figures
in electronic music, Tetsuya Komura does a lot more than press play
on a synthesizer. Music runs through his blood and his omnipotence allows
him to record every sample he desires; guitar, piano, violin, harmonica...
if it is an instrument, he plays it. His music also has a tremendous depth because of the innumerable amount of different layers
progressively added in his songs. I am still discovering new music lines I
did not catch before every time I listen to one of globe's
songs for the millionth time. He now splits composition with Yoshiki, who
has so far added a bit more piano and softness without drastically
affecting the band's style.
Komura's wonderful ear also allowed him to spot the incredible potential in Keiko's voice, which he immediately put to use as an essential member of globe. Not only does she have an incredible range but also sings with passion, inspiring admiration from fans and competition alike. If you are frustrated by the undistinguishable generic voices you hear in clubs, Keiko will come as a revelation. I see Marc Panther as the third leg of this trio as I generally could go without his senseless jabbering of English and French exhortations but even he sometimes surprises me with emotional singing and thoughtful lyric composition as he wrote for a few of the group's recent works. globe as a whole, though, defines for me how dance music is meant to be: beats that do not stale and a variety of styles and tempo.
The thrill of the stage pulled Komuro back into the spotlight as he decided to become a public member of globe. Ever since their first single, Feel like dance, Japan has been all ears for yet another resounding success signed Tetsuya Komuro. Eight albums later, in November 2002, globe astounded Japan with two of the biggest news of the year: Keiko and Komuro were getting married and the worshipped Yoshiki, ex-leader of X Japan, was joining the band. That lasted about a year. Yoshiki did not add much to Level4, the only album he participated in, and this did not break up globe in any way. Besides each having a little something on the side (245 for Marc, KEIKO for Keiko and TK has collaborated with over 100 artists these past few years), globe is still active and a new mini-album was released in mid-2006.
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Faces Places
For once, I do not have to ponder this over during countless nights. This is my favourite album, hands down. Less weird interludes, more Yanada Keiko and, of course, Anytime Smokin' Cigarette, Can't Stop Fallin' in Love and Faces Places. The two-disc compilation, Cruise Records 1995-2000, is however, what non-initiated fans should buy first and foremost. |
Very gradually, beats in this work of art cumulate layer after layer. Enter Keiko with her most emotional singing to date, and to her own back-up vocals, no less. You'll wish the song never ends when it reaches the apex. I mean, even Marc Panther shines in this one!
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Official Site: http://www.area-globe.com Marc Panther's Official Site: http://www.mulligan.jp Tetsuya Komuro's Official Site: http://www.komuro.net Keiko's Official Site: http://www.keiko.ne.jp (Tip: use AltaVista's Babel Fish translator)
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If you were one to
associate electronically mixed music with simplicity and droning, allow me
to introduce globe. This trio formed by musical mastermind Tetsuya Komuro
is a cut above anyone else in the industry. His music is certainly dance
inducing but also has the refinement and complexity I found was lacking in
many songs played on American dance floors. 
Tetsuya Komuro is
one of the most prolific producers and composers in Japan. He first
became famous as a member of TMN. When his band
disbanded after ten years, Komuro turned to production. In 1994, he
teamed up with his long-time friend, Marc Panther, who was a model and
video jockey at the time and started open auditions for a lead female
vocalist. Keiko tried out, fell off the stage during her performance but
also blew the competition away.
