Grimm Grimm is the musical moniker of London-based Tokyo-born singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Koichi Yamanoha. Yamanoha’s debut Grimm Grimm EP, Kazega Fuitara Sayonara, was released in late 2014 via Charlotte Courbe and Kevin Shields’ Pickpocket Records, followed by his debut album, Hazy Eyes Maybe, on ATP Recordings in 2015. His forthcoming sophomore album, Cliffhanger, will be released by Some Other Planet in partnership with Kartel Music Group in June 2018.
Cliffhanger features otherworldly forays into baroque folk, futurist lyricism and electroacoustic oddities. Watch his latest video for Ballad of a Cell Membrane (Directed by Daisy Dickinson), comparable to the sonic fragility of Syd Barrett’s later recordings and the cosmic folk leanings of Vashti Bunyan.
At its most abstract Cliffhanger is a sonic soundscape evocative of the soundtrack music of a 1960’s John Frankenheimer thriller. These are set in contrast with touching and expansive minimal acoustic ballads included here. When asked about what inspired the name of the album, and informed the underlying theme, Yamanoha explains “I believe that we are all born again and our lives are like episodes of intense blockbuster films and for the title of the album I wanted to choose something that captures this feeling”.
Cliffhanger has some star guest turns, Shayou features synth tones from Kohhei Matsuda of cult noise rock band Bo Ningen plus vocals from Charlotte Courbe (Le Volume Courbe), it also includes samples of the playing of Theremin great Clara Rockmore. Other guests include singer Dee Sada who appears on the title track Cliffhanger. The album was mixed in Berlin by producer Goh Nakada.
During Yamanoha’s time working with ATP, he was invited to perform at the ATP festival curated by artist mavericks Jake & Dinos Chapman and he toured with and supported luminaries such as Simon Finn, Dinosaur Jr, Wire, Thurston Moore, Lee Renaldo and The Undertones. A Grimm Grimm track (Last Word Is Mine) from the ATP released album Hazy Eyes Maybe was used over the end credits for the Aaron Brookner directed documentary film Uncle Howard (2016), featuring William Burroughs. Grimm Grimm will be making a return to the live arena this summer, with tours and festivals across the world.
ALBUM LAUNCH
Grimm Grimm album launch, with special guest Laetitia Sadler, 14th June 2018, Stoke Newington Old Church