Laputa (band)

Laputa
Origin Nagoya, Japan
Genres Gothic rock, post-punk, alternative rock
Years active 1993–2004
Labels Toshiba-EMI, Nippon Crown
Members Aki
Kouichi
Junji
Tomoi
Past members Hiro
Hideno
Kusuba

Laputa was a Japanese nagoya kei rock band, active from 1993 to 2004. The band chose its name from the flying island in Gulliver's Travels and tried to portray a similar unrealistic view of the world with their performance. Musically the essence of the band sound was extracted from "Dark, Hard, and Melodious". Their sound is characterized by Kouichi's unique chord progressions and aki's high-pitched vocals. Although not extremely commercially successful, they were influential on developing bands. Their 1997 album Emadera was named one of the top albums from 1989-1998 in a 2004 issue of the music magazine Band Yarouze.[1] Laputa's early sound was influenced by Dead End, Loudness, Anthem and Bauhaus.[2]

History

Laputa was formed in July 1993 by aki and Tomoi, high school friends who were previously in the band AI SICK FACE together, and were also Roadies for band Kuroyume. They met some success in 1995 in the visual indie scene with their first indie album Memai, and shot a music video for Vertigo. They released a mini-album (Kurumeku Haijin) in 1996, and also released a live video (Hakoniwa) featuring performances from the concert at SHIBUYA ON AIR WEST from the Paradoxical Reality TOUR IV.

With their increasing popularity in the visual indie scene, Laputa caught the attention of big record companies and signed to the major label Toshiba-EMI in August 1996. Laputa released their first major single GARASU NO SHOUZOU in September 1996, which peaked at #34 on the Oricon singles chart. In October Laputa's first major album KAGEROU was released. Laputa released 4 more albums and several videos in the following 4 years.

In 2000, Laputa released a collection of their B-sides (c/w songs) "Coupling Collection + xxxk [1996-1999 singles]". They also released a three-disc best-of album "3DISC BEST ~1995-1999 except Coupling Collection~", which featured 32 songs in all including Laputa's eight major singles and 24 other songs. After these releases, Laputa left Toshiba-EMI and signed to a smaller major label Nippon-Crown.

While on Nippon Crown Laputa released 4 albums/mini-albums and 3 singles which made it on to the top 50 of the Oriocon charts. Glitter, a mini-album which was released in 2002, had a more electronic-oriented direction.

Laputa's lead songwriter Kouichi was reportedly in a hospital or clinic for much of 2002. Because of this, he wrote only two songs on the New Temptation album, and Laputa's tour for the album consisted of less than ten concert dates. Junji wrote more of the songs on 誘～New Temptation～惑 than any other member, and would remain Laputa's lead songwriter for the rest of their career. Tomoi also began to contribute more in writing songs and lyrics.

In May 2004 Laputa announced through their fanclub that they were disbanding, citing a desire for each of them to evolve. They released a best-of CD+DVD of their material from their years on the Nippon-Crown label titled "BEST AL+CLIPS 2000~2004" on July 28, 2004, toured from August to September, and played their last live on September 5, 2004 at Shibuya Koukaido. A DVD of the last live titled "ALL BURST" was released on December 15, 2004.

After Laputa's disbanding all four musicians stayed in the music business and three of them started solo projects. Aki began to release material under his own name, while Kouichi started Everlasting-K and Junji started HALATION. On the other hand, Tomoi first joined MILK FUDGE, and then played support for JILS. After JILS disbanded, he formed a new band, called C4 in 2008, together with Junji, JILS' guitarist Shunsuke and singer Toki, formerly of 90s' visual kei band Kill=slayd.

Members

Former members

Discography

Singles

Date Title Album Oricon Singles Chart
May 5, 1994 私が消える (Watashi ga Kieru) – –
Sep 9, 1996 ガラスの肖像 (Glass no Shouzou) 蜉～かげろう～蝣 (Kagerō) 34
May 28, 1997 eve～Last night for you～ 絵～エマダラ～斑 (Emadara) 33
Nov 12, 1997 Meet Again 麝～ジャコウ～香 (Jakō) 20
Feb 4, 1998 揺れながら… (Yurenagara...) 麝～ジャコウ～香 (Jakō) 25
Sep 23, 1998 Feelin' the sky 翔～カケラ～裸 (Kakera) 15
Jan 1, 1999 Breath 翔～カケラ～裸 (Kakera) 29
Mar 17, 1999 Chimes 翔～カケラ～裸 (Kakera) 25
May 19, 1999 Virgin Cry 翔～カケラ～裸 (Kakera) 23
Oct 25, 2000 Shape～in the shape of wing～ 楽～ヘブン～園 (Heaven) 26
Feb 21, 2001 Silent on-looker 楽～ヘブン～園 (Heaven) 43
June 21, 2002 深海/Brand-new color (Shinkai/Brand new color) – 58

Albums

Date Album Label Oriocon Albums Chart
Feb 24, 1995 眩～めまい～暈 (Memai) – –
Feb 25, 1996 眩めく廃人 (Kurumeku Haijin) – –
Oct 23, 1996 蜉～かげろう～蝣 (Kagerō) Toshiba-EMI 24
Jun 25, 1997 絵～エマダラ～斑 (Emadara) Toshiba-EMI 24
Feb 4, 1998 麝～ジャコウ～香 (Jakō) Toshiba-EMI 10
Jun 9, 1999 翔～カケラ～裸 (Kakera) Toshiba-EMI 10
Feb 23, 2000 Laputa Coupling Collection+×××k Toshiba-EMI 43
Oct 25, 2000 Laputa 3DISC BEST～1995-1999 except Coupling Collection～ Toshiba-EMI 41
Mar 16, 2001 楽～ヘブン～園 (Heaven) Nippon-Crown 50
Mar 21,2002 glitter Nippon-Crown 66
Jul 24, 2002 誘～New Temptation～惑 Nippon-Crown 50
Apr 23, 2003 Sparks Monkey Nippon-Crown 75
Mar 17, 2004 Material Pleasures Nippon-Crown 89
Jul 28,2004 Best AL+CLIPS 2000～2004 Nippon-Crown –

References

  1. ↑ "Top 44 Albums from 1989 - 1998". jame-world.com. 2004-05-09. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
  2. ↑ 『Laputa―from the cradle to the grave 1999 (Fool’s Mate extrax)』、 FOOL’S MATE、1999年、ISBN 4938716186

External links

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