When a few of us here at Reverb caught a set from Tokyo–based psychedelic band Kikagaku Moyo on their way through town, we couldn’t help but invite them to the studio to shoot a quick set of videos. Fittingly, Kikagaku Moyo translates to “geometric patterns,” which is exactly what we heard them craft on stage.
Tomo Katsurada and Ryu Kurosawa showed up with a fully loaded pedalboard and electric sitar in tow, respectively, to show us how they develop their cosmic sound.
For Tomo, it’s all about finding a tape echo stompbox that could closely approximate the clunky Binson he leaves at home. The rest of his board is cultivated with mostly vintage classic and clone specimens that produce only the spaciest and fuzziest sounds.
Meanwhile, Ryu talked with us about his shift from playing more traditional instruments, like piano, to the sitar. He also talks about the relationship between Eastern instruments and psychedelic music, and how he marries the two within a jam–heavy Kikagaku Moyo set.
To find out more about Kikagaku Moyo, check out their website.