Extraordinary coup de cœur of Ichiko Aoba x "A buried treasure of the Japanese underground"

GEZAN (curated by Ichiko Aoba)
One of Ichiko Aoba's great favourites is undoubtedly the Japanese GEZAN (JP), with whom she has a very special bond. She, in fact, once formed the duo NUUAMM with frontman Mahito the People, a collaboration that resulted in two folk-oriented albums: NUUAMM (2020) and w/ave (2020). In addition, Aoba is featured on their album Never End Roll (2021) and played at the annual underground festival Zenkankaku-sai organised by GEZAN (the 'All Feeling Festival').

GEZAN's signature sound is radically opposite to NUUAMM's. GEZAN describes itself as "a dizzying blend of punk, prog, jazz and art rock." These credentials speak volumes: their album Silence Will Speak (2018) was produced by Steve Albini (R.I.P.) and featured the Japanese noise master Merzbow as special guest. Uganda's Nyege Nyege Festival had no doubts about inviting them. And by the way, GEZAN are independent as fuck and run their own label 十三月, or 'Jusangatsu' ( 13th Records).

GEZAN is still a hidden gem in the west, but in their home country, they easily fill the Budokan indoor arena (capacity: 14,000) - known from the live album At Budokan (1979) by Cheap Trick. A tour de force that they are to repeat in 2026.

Finally, here's a telling quote from YODA (KiliKiliVilla): "In a music industry that often values numbers - streams, ticket sales, chart positions - above all else, GEZAN challenges that system like a bare blade held to its throat. They are not here to play by the rules. They're more like a red-handled blade: sharpened, unsheathed, and pointed at both the structures of society and the ears of their listeners. They are accusers, warriors, and catalysts."

Fancy a GEZAN deep dive? Buried Treasures Of Japanese Underground vol.4 GEZAN｜KiliKiliVilla Official. Watch this documentary about GEZAN's annual festival Zenkankakusai, too.