Artist/Band Review: chatmonchy

I mean fuck, I’ve just survived two tests for Environmental Science and Biology worth 20% and 40% respectively, a lab which I accidently did the wrong pre-lab making at least a minimum of 1.5% in that subject go up in flames. Fuck me I am a fucking smart-ass, thank god the mid-semester break is coming up after this next week or I’d still be injecting coffee into my bloodstream just to keep me awake. The Olympics haven’t made my situation any better…Instead of studying for my test I have on the following day, I stay up to watch Usain Bolt win the 200m in spectacular fashion…at 2 in the morning, luckily the test wasn’t overly hard but it wasn’t easy, (you get my point)…sigh. Maize and I have been exceptionally tired since the Olympics began, she has been having hardly any sleep and I’m on the same boat… Now that I’ve actually “finished” (I still have an assignment due at the end of next week) this first half of the semester I can actually get back to blogging, but god damn, I’ve lost it. The urgency and determination, the whole drive to pull out a blog entry is gone, I’m just too knackered. I just need to get back into the swing of things by posting in my own blog and contributing for International Wota. So this is an attempt to get back into the hang of things…

During my rough few weeks, I had the time (oh the irony...) to check out some new artists and one jumped out at me like a crazed paedophile that just saw a group of little girls. Chatmonchy, an all-female pop-rock group which hails from Tokushima have totally blown me away with their unique pop-rock sound. Their songs which are known to be emotional, deep and melancholic have recently took a turn to be more catchy and edgy type of poppy rock.

chatmonchy erases the whole masculinity vibe from their instruments, instead, it's replaced with emotion, in its rawest form. Renai Spirits is a good example of this; the song isn’t exactly complex but the amount of heart shown from the watching these girls play this song is a spectacle in itself. Chatmonchy play their instruments as an art; a sound refined into poetry, compared to playing an instrument because it is “necessary” for the song.



Chatmonchy is definitely an acquired taste, mostly due to the vocalist, Hashimoto Eriko’s voice. Her voice is a world apart from what I’ve been hearing to. Her nasally and high pitched voice can put some people off their music because people have been engulfed in a sense that girls who are vocalists for a rock band (which still boggles some peoples’ minds as females, to them, shouldn’t be touching the rock scene) should have more powerful voices, while girls who have a higher pitched voice should be suited for “bubblegum pop” kinda music. But once you take a good look at the whole picture, Shiina Ringo is another case of the high and nasally voice, but her voice has taken to great heights as a soloist and in Tokyo Jihen. When I first listened to Ringo, I thought she sounded like a dying cat drowning in its own vomit wailing for help, but once I experimented more of her music, I was immediately hooked. While Ecchan’s voice may not be as distinct as Ringo or as strong as ayaka, I personally cannot see anyone other than Ecchan who could be the vocalist for chatmonchy. Ayaka would just be too overpowering since she is a soloist, while Ringo isn’t really suited for indie pop-rock music, but she excels exceptionally in swing and jazz (although I still need to fully listen to her full discography again to get a better overview).

Their musical direction has changed since their humble beginnings; “chatmonchy has come” was their debut album and honestly think I think this is the best album which portrays chatmonchy’s true character. The melancholic feel is extremely profound and a good amount of the songs it seems like Ecchan is showering me with her emotion, mainly due to her high but darkish voice. She is almost pleading me to listen to her story or she wants someone to listen to her worries. She uses song as a medium to let herself open up to all her bad experiences compared to the majority of us who just use plain speech...How gut-wrenching is that. But all these melancholic and emotional songs don’t come with a cost. Ecchan has gone through a lot throughout her life and these past experiences have been interpreted into song, so it no wonder why she’s pouring her heart out. “chatmonchy has come” showcases the best in chatmonchy, from their signature heartfelt rock ballads to fast yet anxious poppy rock.



Personally, I believe that “Renai Spirits” from their second album, Miminari is the absolute pinnacle of chatmonchy greatness. It is an epic fusion of strong melancholic elements structured by an emotional and heartfelt backbone. The vocal solo which Ecchan perfectly performs at the start gives me chills down my spine...every single time I listen to it. She’s giving everything into this song, vocally and lyrically, from the solemn and saddened tone at the beginning to pouring her heart out in utter desperation to open a guy’s eyes to see that he isn’t with another girl and that he must be faithful…Even though the guy is totally blinded by love, she still loves him, no matter the circumstances.

Renai Spirits is a song about doubt, reassurance and painful love. Just epic…absolutely gorgeous.



On the contrary, their latest single Kaze Fukeba Koi is a long shot from being deep and melancholy. It has a fast tempo, great vocal melody especially in the chorus and jam packed of energy. Ecchan’s does a bloody good job at keeping the overall intense feel of the song with a well-balanced voice without resorting to screaming out the lyrics, even though I know deep down she wants to scream out the lyrics. But hell, the energy which auras out from the song makes me want to scream out the lyrics and head bash with the girls.



Their musical direction has gone to a more, I wouldn’t say mainstream, but a whole lot more poppy-rock lately. Their new stuff are extremely catchy and an absolute joy to listen to such as Shangri-la, Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira and Kaze Fukeba Koi. It breathes a cherry and optimistic atmosphere which I haven’t experienced from the girls. Although it’s an utter delight listening to their newer releases, I feel like they’ve lost pieces of the backbone which provided the raw emotion and melancholic elements to their music. I can totally justify chatmonchy trying to attract a wider audience and by playing more edgy tunes like Kaze Fukeba Koi. With a substantial lack of all girl rock bands now days in the Japanese music industry (with the loss of Nakanomori BAND lately) it’s definitely tough for these girls to get big. And with a growth of *noooo SB control yourself now* boybands and RnB acts such as (GReeeeN and Funky Monkey Baby’s) it has definitely brought on more competition. Thus, a new frontier must be experimented in order to keep their flame burning and burning brighter than ever, even if it does mean slightly adjusting to their usual ways.

Hopefully for their next release, they’ll “find their feet” and return to their original and soulful ways which have captured my utmost attention for these past 2-3 weeks. I couldn’t any happier if these girls hit the big time, because they fully deserve it.

Credits: kiwi-musume for the translation of Renai Spirits

Who can't resist a cute chick rocker?