Ongaku Cafe (The ’80s) – Pizzicato V – Pizzicatomania! (1987)

If you are a Japanese music fan looking for a taste of a different style of Japanese music and not so commercial, “Pizzicatomania!” is an album worth listening to!

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GROUP: Pizzicato V

ALBUM: Pizzicatomania!

LABEL: Non-Standard/Techiku Records Co., Ltd.

CATALOG #: TECN-15256

DURATION: 35 Minutes

RELEASE DATE: 1987

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1. 59番街の歌 (the 59th street bridge song)
2. ボーイ・ミーツ・ガール (Boy Meets Girl)
3. 九月 (September Song)
4. オードリー・ヘプバーン・コンプレックス (The Audrey Hepburn Complex)
5. パーティ! パーティ! ゴー! ゴー! ゴー! (from party to party)
6. アクション・ペインティング (action painting)
7. ちょっと出ようよ (Let’s go away for a while)
8. ホワッツ・ニュー・ピチカート? (what’s new, pizzicato?”

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In 1986, Pizzicato V released their first album “Pizzicatomania!” through Hosono Haruomi’s Non-Standard label (a sub-label of
Teichiku Records Co., Ltd.).

Ten years after the group formed and released their first album, “Pizzicatomania!” is being re-released by Non-Standard, despite the group having changed a lot in the last ten years.

Back in 1986, there were five members of Pizzicato V, which consisted of members Konishi Yasuharu, Takanami Keitaro, Kamomiya Ryo, Miyata Shigeo  and lead vocalist Sasaki Mamiko.

While Shigeo quit the group, the four would continue as Pizzicato V and would be signed to a major label later in the year and release their second album “Couples” in 1987, which was a failure.

Lead vocalist Sasaki Mamiko and Kamomiya Ryo would leave the group, leaving only Konishi and Takanami before recruiting Original Love vocalist Tajima Takao  as their new vocalist.

Unfortunately, their next three labels were commercial failures leading to Tajima to leave the group. “Pizzicato V” now became “Pizzicato Five” and by 1990, they would have a new vocalist named Nomiya Maki who is currently the main vocalist of the group today.

Having listened to Pizzicato Five with Nomiya as the main vocalist, I happen to spot “Pizzicatomania!” at the aisle in our local Tower Records and I had to give the album a try, considering it was one of the cheaper P5 albums available.

And immediately this CD is all I have been listening as of late.

The CD comes in a thin jewel case with a quad-fold insert with the song titles in English and Japanese.

The first track “The 59th street bridge song” is a cover of on Simon & Garfunkel’s popular song with a gentle beat, captivating bass and bell synth sounds. I love the sync between Mamiko and I’m guessing Konishi and their vocals in this track.

The second track definitely has the ‘80s synth but a smooth and catchy track and playful vocals throughout.

Possibly my favorite song on the entire album is “from party to party” (or the real Japanese title “Party! Party! Go! Go! Go!”) which has a catchy melody and addictive bass line. I Love Sasaki’s vocals in this track!

“Action Painting” is another fun track on the album with synth brass, but it’s a fun track with is “Action Painting” vocals.

I found the ending song “what’s new, pizzicato?” to be an interesting medley of ten-second clips of other Pizzicato V songs and made me wonder why they didn’t include those other songs in this short album.

But if you are a Japanese music fan looking for a taste of a different style of Japanese music and not so commercial, “Pizzicatomania!” is an album worth listening to!

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