Flipper's Guitar
Encyclopedia
Flipper's Guitar were a Tokyo
-based Japanese pop
band led and later duo by Keigo Oyamada and Kenji Ozawa
. The band were influenced by the chirpy sound of British
80s pop
groups like Haircut One Hundred, Exhibit B, The Style Council
and Aztec Camera
, as well as the fashionably eclectic sounds of early 90s Britain, from indie dance to acid jazz
. The sonic experimentation of Brian Wilson
was also evident in some tracks.
The group were an important part of the Tokyo Shibuya-kei
scene in the late 1980s to early 1990s, and Oyamada went on to produce work for Pizzicato Five
and his close friend Kahimi Karie
.
The band shows their influence on their sleeves, and their song titles often cited their British artists' influence — Goodbye Our Pastels
Badges, Haircut One Hundred, The Colourfield
Following the demise of the band in 1993 the two members pursued solo careers, Ozawa releasing the album The Dogs Bark But The Caravan Moves On under his own name, and Oyamada recording under the name of Cornelius
. It was as Cornelius that Oyamada gained a minor cult following
outside Japan, as well as remix
work for the likes of Blur
, Beck
, and the Manic Street Preachers
.
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
-based Japanese pop
J-pop
, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
band led and later duo by Keigo Oyamada and Kenji Ozawa
Kenji Ozawa
Kenji Ozawa is a Japanese musician born in 1968 in Sagamihara, Kanagawa. His uncle Seiji Ozawa is a world-famous conductor. Ozawa's first claim to fame was as a member of the pop duo, Flipper's Guitar.He graduated from Tokyo University...
. The band were influenced by the chirpy sound of British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
80s pop
1980s in music
For music from a year in the 1980s, go to 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89For a history of music in all times, see Timeline of musical events....
groups like Haircut One Hundred, Exhibit B, The Style Council
The Style Council
The Style Council were an English band, formed in 1983 by the ex-The Jam singer and guitarist Paul Weller, with keyboardist Mick Talbot. The permanent line-up grew to include drummer Steve White and Weller's then-wife, vocalist Dee C. Lee. Other artists such as Tracie Young and Tracey Thorn also...
and Aztec Camera
Aztec Camera
Aztec Camera were a Scottish New Wave band from the Glasgow suburb of East Kilbride, formed in 1980 and centered around teenage singer-songwriter, Roddy Frame. Their album Love was among the nominations for Best British Album at the 1989 BRIT Awards....
, as well as the fashionably eclectic sounds of early 90s Britain, from indie dance to acid jazz
Acid jazz
Acid jazz is a musical genre that combines elements of jazz, funk and hip-hop, particularly looped beats. It developed in the UK over the 1980s and 1990s and could be seen as tacking the sound of jazz-funk onto electronic dance: jazz-funk musicians such as Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd and Grant Green are...
. The sonic experimentation of Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
was also evident in some tracks.
The group were an important part of the Tokyo Shibuya-kei
Shibuya-kei
is a sub-genre of Japanese pop music which originated in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. It is best described as a mix between jazz, pop, and electropop.- Overview :...
scene in the late 1980s to early 1990s, and Oyamada went on to produce work for Pizzicato Five
Pizzicato Five
Pizzicato Five was a Japanese pop group best known to audiences in the West in their later incarnation as a duo of Maki Nomiya and Yasuharu Konishi...
and his close friend Kahimi Karie
Kahimi Karie
Kahimi sings in English, French, and Japanese with whisper-like vocals.-Albums:* 1997 - Larme de crocodile * July 15, 1998 - K.K.K.K.K. * May 24, 2000 - Tilt...
.
The band shows their influence on their sleeves, and their song titles often cited their British artists' influence — Goodbye Our Pastels
The Pastels
The Pastels are a group from Glasgow, Scotland, UK.Their early records for labels like Whaam!, Creation, Rough Trade, and Glass Records, had a raw and immediate sound, melodic and amateur, which seemed at odds with the time...
Badges, Haircut One Hundred, The Colourfield
The Colourfield
The Colourfield were a British band formed in 1984 in Manchester, when former Specials and Fun Boy Three frontman, Terry Hall, joined up with ex-Swinging Cats members Toby Lyons and Karl Shale...
Following the demise of the band in 1993 the two members pursued solo careers, Ozawa releasing the album The Dogs Bark But The Caravan Moves On under his own name, and Oyamada recording under the name of Cornelius
Cornelius (musician)
Cornelius is a Japanese recording artist and producer.-Career:Oyamada's first claim to fame was as a member of the pop duo Flipper's Guitar, one of the key groups of the Tokyo Shibuya-kei scene...
. It was as Cornelius that Oyamada gained a minor cult following
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
outside Japan, as well as remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
work for the likes of Blur
Blur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
, Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
, and the Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
.
Studio albums
- Three Cheers for Our Side! (1989)
- Camera Talk (1990)
- Doctor Head's World Tower (1991)