Headed by vocalist/composer/drummer Tatsuya Yoshida (Ruins, Samla Mammas Manna),and possessing a three-woman/two-man band lineup, the Japanese ensemble Koenji Hyakkei has been described as a mutant cross between Area, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Deus Ex Machina, Kenso and Magma. The band have recently released their fourth album “Angherr Shisspa”, their first domestic release in the USA (on Skin Graft Records). It has been compared to Stereolab, Yes, Queen, Melt-Banana and “something so far off-Broadway it’s on the moon”. Koenji Hyakkei explodes with glittery keyboard lines, speedy bass/drum workouts, emotive reed respites, and operatic female vocals that take the listener from sheer exuberance to absolute apocalypse. All of this music is performed with superhuman technique in extremely catchy, complex arrangements, with an insane amount of passion and energy. Is it prog-punk? Is it zeuhl-fusion? Be sure not to miss Koenji Hyakkei’s opening set of unclassifiable, energetic music at NEARfest X!