It's been 13 years since the first time we recorded an album with Steve. Was it easy to achieve what you wanted with him, given your history of working together in the past? The last album we worked on with Steve was Hymn to the Immortal Wind back in 2009. Because of this, I wanted to record with Steve Albini again. With no unnecessary elements, just simply and organically, leave the chemistry between the four of us as the 9th album. What motivated the decision to work with Steve Albini again on Requiem for Hell?įor this album, I wanted to leave the sound as a band who's been together for 17 years. I guess compositions are like my way of meditating in a way. By doing so, it feels like I myself get saved by those songs. Of course, there are times that I can't simply write songs as I envision, but I never give up and turn them into songs. Each album represents what was deep inside of my heart at the time. This year is our 18th year anniversary, and we've so far released 9 albums. Over the course of nearly 20 years, have you ever found yourself lacking inspiration or motivation to compose and create? Is ‘writers block’ something you ever worry about? I myself have been involved with a few films and TV drama soundtracks so. These kinds of surprises give me a big stimulation. "If I was the composer, I would be writing music like this, but they decided to write like this" etc. At the same time, I am also drawn towards the soundtracks. Do film soundtracks inspire you creatively? It’s perhaps an easy observation to make about instrumental music in general, but your work has always had an air of the cinematic about it. I just love art in general, especially when the piece is something original and unique that no one else can create. I'm hugely inspired by art outside of music, such as films, paintings and of course books. Has literature always been a source of inspiration for your music? At the end of the album, I want the listeners to wonder and feel what awaits at the end of the pure white vortex for the two characters. I think this really is the true wealth that will forever stay with you, give you strength, and continue to shine your path.įor the album cover, we used Gustave Doré's illustration from Divine Comedy's last scene. Things you can only take to your afterlife are beloved, positive memories not your rank or honour. I personally live my life every day thinking 'we only have limited times in our lives'. On top of it all, I ended up really liking how the story was, in fact, a grand poetry written for love, towards one woman. I was fascinated by the character's story – going through afterlife Hell, Purgatory and Heaven, and I felt very empathetic towards the theme of soul's salvation. After reading the book, it felt like all the roads opened up suddenly. When I finished writing the basis for the new album, I stumbled upon Divine Comedy. I believe what I'm looking for ultimately is meant to manifest from deep inside of my heart. Between things that should change and will not change, I challenge myself between deconstructing and reconstructing what I couldn't express before for each new album.Ĭan you explain what role Dante’s Divine Comedy had in creating Requiem for Hell, and the comparisons you draw between the two pieces? I know for a fact that if I actually try to do something new, I won't be able to discover anything. If I write songs, I can tell what's echoing and what stopped echoing inside of me. The last two albums seem to be slightly darker – musically and thematically – than those that preceded them (in the last decade at least). Now in their eighteenth year the band have 9 albums under their belt, the latest of which – 2016's Requiem For Hell – saw them working with legendary producer Steve Albini and exploring themes of death and rebirth.Īhead of their headline appearance at Reverence Santarém this September, the band's founder and creative force Takaakira 'Taka' Goto gave some insight on what motivates him creatively, what is was like working with Albini again, and the band's plans for a tenth album. Along with the likes of Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, they have helped bring the sound to a global audience, having toured extensively across Asia, America and Europe. Japanese four-piece MONO are one of the most respected 'post-rock' outfits anywhere in the world.
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