Kangaroo -- Nigai Namida（にがい涙）/The Far East

Charles J. Sharp via Wikimedia Commons

 

It was almost five years ago when I first got to know this band Kangaroo（カンガルー）that has been called the Japanese Shakatak. To be honest, I had to get to know Shakatak as well, and both are these rather smooth and sophisticated urban contemporary bands that got their start in the 1980s. My trigger for Kangaroo was the title track from their final album to date "A Night in New York" (1986).

Another track from that album is "Nigai Namida" (Bitter Tears) which was written and composed by vocalist Midori Fukuhara（福原みどり）. It starts with a galloping bass beat and the keyboards that the band was first known for back in their instruments-only days. It's a cool song to be sure, although sometimes when I hear the keyboard playing solo, I feel that the riff belongs in a video game.

Speaking of those early days when there were no vocalists for Kangaroo, I have here the track "The Far East" on the band's very first album "Steppin'" from 1983. With that title, I had been expecting something rather exotic kayo, but instead it's a fairly contemplative fusion piece with those keyboards on full display and some screaming guitar solos. It's also not totally vocal-free as the background singers come in. If I'm not mistaken, it could be the sister trio of EVE.