Vola and the Oriental Machine (also known as Vola) is a four-member Japanese rock band formed by ex-Number Girl

Number Girl

was a rock band formed in Fukuoka, Japan in August, 1995 by guitarist and vocalist Mukai Shutoku. They disbanded in 2002 following bassist Nakao Kentarou's departure from the band....

 and Zazen Boys

Zazen Boys

Zazen Boys is a Japanese band formed by former Number Girl guitarist and vocalist Mukai Shutoku. Stylistically, their music consists mostly of complex rhythmic songs reminiscent of math rock, as well as extended improvisational songs characterized through live performances.-History:After the...

 drummer Ahito Inazawa in 2005. The group is named after the soccer team Vola F.C. Which was also the name of the short-lived band formed by Inazawa before Number Girl's disbandment in 2002.

History

After parting ways with Zazen Boys

Zazen Boys

Zazen Boys is a Japanese band formed by former Number Girl guitarist and vocalist Mukai Shutoku. Stylistically, their music consists mostly of complex rhythmic songs reminiscent of math rock, as well as extended improvisational songs characterized through live performances.-History:After the...

 due to creative differences in early 2005, drummer Ahito Inazawa formed Vola and the Oriental Machine. Inazawa, well known for his maniac drumming in Number Girl

Number Girl

was a rock band formed in Fukuoka, Japan in August, 1995 by guitarist and vocalist Mukai Shutoku. They disbanded in 2002 following bassist Nakao Kentarou's departure from the band....

, Zazen Boys and numerous other projects, surprised the Japanese rock scene by ditching his drumsticks and taking the position of a frontman instead. He took on the moniker Vola and handles guitar and vocals in the band. Aoki Yutaka from downy

Downy (band)

downy were a Japanese band often classified under the genres and sub-genres of post-rock, ambient, post-metal, and shoegaze.downy released four studio album releases in the 2000s, all titled Mudai, which roughly translates to Untitled. Each release has a distinct yet mutually comparable sound...

 joined him on the guitar, Nakahata Daiki from Syrup16g

Syrup16g

Syrup16g is a Japanese rock band formed in the suburbs of Tokyo. They're known for the style of their songs and for their depressing lyrics.- History :...

 was recruited to handle the drums and Arie Yoshinori from Lost in Time on the bass guitar.

The band released their debut, a 7-track mini-album Waiting for My Food on January 25, 2006. The band's first full album Android: Like a House Mannequin was released April 11, 2007. The CD includes a remix of Yume Shindan produced by Polysics

Polysics

is a Japanese new wave and rock band from Tokyo, who dubs its unique style as "technicolor pogo punk". It was named after a brand of synthesizer, the Korg Polysix. The band started in 1997, but got their big break in 1998 at a concert in Tokyo...

 lead singer, Hiroyuki Hayashi. Music from the album was featured in a commercial for the popular Japanese magazine, PS (Pretty Style).

Current

• Ahito Inazawa (アヒト・イナザワ) Born on June 6, 1973 in Fukuoka
  Fukuoka Prefecture
  is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
  
  , Japan
  Japan
  Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
  
  .
• Arie Yoshinori (有江嘉典) Born on December 25, 1969 in Fukuoka
  Fukuoka Prefecture
  is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
  
  , Japan
  Japan
  Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
  
  .
• Daiki Nakahata (中畑大樹) Born on July 25, 1974 in Aomori
  Aomori Prefecture
  is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region. The capital is the city of Aomori.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Aomori prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
  
  , Japan
  Japan
  Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
  
  .
• Eisuke Narahara (楢原英介) Born on August 6, 1981 Chiba
  Chiba Prefecture
  is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
  
  , Japan
  Japan
  Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
  
  . Previously performing as a support member after Aoki Yutaka's departure, Narahara, joined the band as a full-time member on December 1, 2008.

Past

• Aoki Yutaka (青木裕) Born on January 29, 1970 in Ibaraki
  Ibaraki Prefecture
  is a prefecture of Japan, located in the Kantō region on the main island of Honshu. The capital is Mito.-History:Ibaraki Prefecture was previously known as Hitachi Province...
  
  , Japan
  Japan
  Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
  
  . Withdrew from the band on September 30, 2008 in order to devote more time with instrumental rock band unkie.

Albums

• [2006.01.25] Waiting for My Food (mini)

1. Principle of Machine
2. A Communication Refusal Desire
3. Concour
4. Nageri to Kasuppa
5. Yume Shindan
6. Fatal Incident (Please Take My Breath Away)
7. Song of Ruin

• [2007.04.11] Android: Like a House Mannequin

1. Oriental Machine
2. Mexico Pub
3. Waiting for My Food
4. Hane no Hikari (album ver.)
5. Mind Control
6. Food's Next
7. Blue Song
8. Yume Shindan (Carte.......Nashi.......mix)
9. To-Ki-Me-I-Te Tonight flight
10. The Counterattack of the Dreamer (Yumemibito no Gyakushu)

• [2008.10.08] Halan'na-ca Darkside (mini)

1. S.E.
2. Self-Defense
3. An Imitation's Superstar
4. 深海における捕食行動考 (Interlude)
5. Soft Genocide
6. 人造人間症候群 (Interlude)
7. Internal Division
8. X線技師の苦悩 (Interlude)
9. Double Standard

• [2009.07.29] Sa-Ka-Na Electric Device

1. Oriental Melancholy
2. Turning Turning
3. Weekend Lovers
4. Dark Emperor
5. No Dream
6. In the Morning
7. The Sea of the Sand
8. A Sick Island
9. Dead or Dance!!
10. Kirakira Future days

• [2010.09.22] Principle

1. The Empire of Vola
2. Thank You My Force
3. Risky the Stars
4. Magic Tantric Dancehall
5. Rough Consensus: 特定問題に関する「集団の感覚」
6. Flag
7. 80s Man
8. Hello Darkness, My New World
9. Panic in the Tokyo
10. The Beginning of the Beginning

Singles

• [2006.10.25] Hane no Hikari

1. Hane no Hikari
2. Comeback in Darkness
3. Kamu Neko

• [2009.06.17] 50/50

1. Weekend Lovers
2. Sweet Men

External links

• Vola and the Oriental Machine - Official website
• Vola and the Oriental Machine - Universal Japan
• Musicwhore.org Waiting for My Food review
• Musicwhore.org Halan'na-ca Darkside review