Kirinji -- Futago-za Graffiti（双子座グラフィティ）

 

This is going to be another entry in Yutaka Kimura Speaks within the next few weeks, so let's get on this one right now. Perhaps it's kinda weird but when it comes to how I see the beginnings of the great group Kirinji（キリンジ）, I always go to their romantic ballad "Aliens"（エイリアンズ）from 2000. Not only is it because it was the first time I'd heard of Yasuyuki and Takaki Horigome（堀込泰行・堀込高樹）, but the song itself made such an impact on me.

But of course, Kirinji fans know that the initial duo began life in 1996 with their two indies singles coming out in 1997 followed by their first major single being released in August 1998. That was "Futago-za Graffiti" (Gemini Graffiti) which was also placed in their debut album "Paper Drivers' Music"（ペイパードライヴァーズミュージック）that hit the record store shelves a couple of months after the single.

I've sometimes mentioned that it's always interesting to go back to the early days of a long-running singer or band to listen to how they sounded back in the day. And with "Futago-za Graffiti", which was written and composed by Yasuyuki with Tomita Lab（富田ラボ）handling the arrangement, the song seems like something from the Original Love basket thanks to the smart horns and the sunny groove. In fact, I'd say that the only difference is that it isn't the lonesome cowboy soulful voice of Takao Tajima（田島貴男） behind the mike but the early fresh-faced vocals of one of the Horigome boys. Not sure if the girl of the protagonist's dreams is a Gemini but he's head-over-heels in love with the lass to the extent that no Hollywood or Broadway producer is capable of writing their story.

Several years ago, I wrote about one other track from "Paper Drivers' Music", "New Town", which has a bit more of the 70s soul vibe.