The Anime Blog – We Go Beyond Anime!

Not very often (translation: never) does an opening act impress me as much as the headliners. By definition, the opening acts are supposed to be a warm-up to the main event. However, at the end of The Pillows “People and Music” show in Shinjuku’s Loft last summer, I found myself shelling out the yen for Waiting For My Food, the first album release from VOLA & THE ORIENTAL MACHINE.

VOLA’s sound pushes the limits of traditional rock and roll. A pulsating, almost funky baseline permeates through most of the songs, infusing the driving rock riffs with a more eclectic sound. Fans of early Incubus albums will instantly feel at home when they crank up the album for the first time. However, this album might cause some dance floor ambiguity. It can be hard to figure out if you want to just sit around waxing existential with your friends and a few drinks or get up and jump around madly. It’s a great choice either way.

The energy that the quartet brings on stage is quite noticeable. During the songs they jump, yell, spin, and generally lead the audience to feel like they are having more fun than we are; which is how a rock concert should feel. In the quiet seconds between songs, when they are dropping the tuning on their guitars or grabbing more picks to fall victim to the relentless thrashing, the dialog with audience members borders on hysterical. Everything from unseasonably warm weather to swimming class as a child was mentioned. Not typical of a rock show, but typical of a band who doesn’t put up a hard front to impress the fans.

As far as the CD; Waiting For My Food carries the same energy as a live show. There are some throw-away tracks, which is sad since the album is relatively short. One track that will make the favorites playlist is “a communication refusal desire”. It was only a few plays before I was wailing along with the infectious hook.

All-in-all, VOLA may not be the most conventional J-rockers out there, but damned if they aren’t some of the hippest and charming. Waiting For My Food is an admirable freshman attempt. However, now that they have made this album, it is time to make an even better one. I predict that if they keep the soul of the music intact and hone in on the sound that breaks the surface a few times in Waiting, they will blow us all away.