Sydney, Australia
"Emotional content Daniel-son, not anger."
"Hwayah!"
I was thinking the other day that the greatest Karate master of all time, Mr Miyagi, not only had passed on this wisdom enriched statement to his understudy but to all bands that have a knack of tugging a heart string, jerking a tear or pulling a crowd. Yes I watched Karate Kid I and II (III was shit, as the understudy did not have any 'miyaginess' to her - lame). I was bewildered by such a small, frail man hammering nails into walls with one crisp strike just as skillfully as he caught flies in mid air with his chopsticks! Finesse combined with power, charged with emotional content. What a combo!
Listening to the productions of Sydney band MIYAGI, that are more than music, I instantly found myself dwelling in the mindspace of a Karate master. My first listen was "I Believe Theres Something Us Belivers Can't Believe In". Smooth, syncopated, rhythmic movements were flowing from my brain to my limbs (that weren't able to execute with the same level of finesse as what brain intended). I vanished from my desk for a moment. The infinite layers of guitars and electro-samples flirted with the percussion riffs, begging them to follow as each band member evoked a certain amount of emotional content from each of their instruments.
Continuing on this journey of sound and movement I listened to "Bathroom Floor" (my fave) where, simultaneously, the instruments reach a tantric like high (instruments have G spot? I thought it was a myth? W.T.F?). The guitars dipense with their bows (as in 'violin' bows) and pick up plectrums and a more vibrant pace as the percussion says "time for your body to jive". Cowering to its command your body says "hmmokay!".

Miyagi - I Believe Theres Something Us Belivers Can't Believe In

Miyagi myspace

NEXT GIG:
The Hopetoun, Sydney, July 21 @ 8pm.

Clearly these boys from Sydney have no qualms about chopping and changing sounds and styles. On the whole an experience to say the least. Although they are unsigned, I feel that the talent of these guys commands copius amounts of respect, way more than just some band trying to get airplay on myspace. At the end of it all, limbs 'lactic acidly' flopped and my mind left wandering, I couldnt help but anticipate hearing Miyagi belt out their sound to a live audience. They certainly get back to the rawness of what music is about: Movement, emotion and satisfying the senses. Something that Mr Miyagi would be proud of.

Labels: Miyagi, Sydney