Madame Cats
PHOTO BY MIKE CONNOLLY

Feline foursome capture 'sound of Shinjuku'

Monday 06th July, 06:28 AM JST

By Chris AJ Coulter

TOKYO —

There’s terror running through the streets of old Tokyo tonight as I meet up with the Madame Cats in the dingy backroom of their rehearsal studio on the very edge of Kabukicho. No one has ever claimed that this city is anything other than reassuringly “safe,” but the Madame Cats intend to singlehandedly turn that idea on its head. Together for some three years now, they aim to bring “the sound of Shinjuku” to your ears.

With influences drawn from a multitude of sources, the foursome isn’t above borrowing the sounds of scratchy old vinyl rock ‘n’ roll, dark delta blues and even a spot of the old freak beat.

“We all have a fairly similar taste in music: rock, blues, especially the Stones and ’60s garage acts like The Sonics,” says lead screecher Madame Fusako.

Keen not to tie themselves down to one particular genre, the band members cite movies, art and other non-musical sources as equally important factors in shaping their overall style.

“I don’t think our sound is beyond definition, I think it’s the sound of Shinjuku!” exclaims Madame Fu. “I mean, in Tokyo there are so many bands, but most try too hard, you know? Very few remain true to themselves. They do what they think they need to do to be popular. We’re not interested in gaining fame if it comes at the cost of changing ourselves, our music or compromising in any way.”

“The most important thing for us is to share our vision and play our music to as many people as possible,” pipes up drum smasher Little. “Too many Japanese garage bands totally miss the point—they’re only interested in aping their idols. They look the same, sound the same, play the same instruments… it’s so boring. We want to affect people. We want to scare people and get them dancing wild.”

The Madame Cats’ “sound of Shinjuku” is their own unique take on the gritty city within a city. It expresses a genuine love for Sanchome and Kabukicho, with all the neon, cafes, dive bars, and human flotsam that brings a particular edge to the district. Sometimes the music harbors a distinctly threatening vibe or creates a feeling of unease, like a walk down the wrong, dark back-alley on your own at midnight. This is the spirit that the foursome try to invoke in their live performances.

And invoke it they do, four women clad in black playing the most unholy, dark, primal and pounding rock ’n’ roll. A vision of flailing limbs and instruments being given the what-for. Madame Fusako leans forward into the crowd to scream into some wide-eyed and petrified young thing’s face before collapsing backwards, all with a deft shake of her maracas.

“The places we play and the bands we play with share a similar mentality,” notes bass slinger Natch. “The community in which we exist is pretty tight-knit; we’re all friends of friends. We get a lot of support from our contemporaries, especially the Vivian Boys, the Fadeaways and Theee Bat. Honda from the Vivian Boys kind of took us under his wing and even chaperoned us when we played in London recently.”

Sadly, the world of rock ’n’ roll is still predictably male dominated, if only in terms of numbers.

“I know: that’s why, being a band of four girls, we’re seen as sex symbols,” says guitar strangler Rie with a giggle. “Originally, Natch wanted us to get some hot guy drummer, but when we saw Little play, we knew that the lineup was perfect then—she’s too cute!”

Little frowns; best to move on.

The Madame Cats have already self-released their eponymous EP, available on both CD and 7” vinyl (naturally). “Our last record is still selling pretty well here and abroad, but we’d like to release some new stuff again quite soon,” says Little. “We’re working on new songs now. They’re darker and a little heavier, but they’re still going to make you want to move your feet.”

“I want to play to more people too,” chimes in Rie. “Every time we play, we see the regulars, the superfans and the groupies! I want to play to more non-Japanese.”

“We always get a lot of people from Canada, Europe and so on, but I want more and more people to hear us,” Fusako explains. “If you want to learn about the real, current Japanese underground music scene, then you should come and see the Madame Cats.”

“Yeah, handsome boys please come to our gigs!” says Natch, laughing manically. “In fact, we want cherry boys! We’ll teach you everything!”

And probably leave you screaming for mercy when they’re done.

Madame Cats will perform at Green Apple, July 11 and Statto, July 20. Available at Disk Union stores.

This story originally appeared in Metropolis magazine (www.metropolis.co.jp).

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Latest 15 of 19 Total Comments Show All

thepro at 07:14 PM JST - 6th July

How is recycled 60s rock the sound of Shinjuku?
bcbrownboy at 09:43 PM JST - 6th July

Some of the worst cr@p I've ever heard.
usaexpat at 12:11 AM JST - 7th July

Sounds like they actually rock, I'd check them out. There was a lot of girl screamer J punk band music floating around the US underground when I was in college. Can't remember the names but it sounds like there are still some interesting acts.
mael at 01:38 AM JST - 7th July

Well they aren't completely lacking in talent. Almost completely void of it, but there is something there. Madame Cats, eh? Hmmm!

I found this on YOUTUBE:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMdFXrbZHKM

Cats' chorus is a suitable name for this group. I heard them and remembered British late-night radio and thought of the more radical groups who got on the John Peel show yonks back in he UK - the groups I tried to pretend I'd never heard. Still! Someone likes them and that's good. The girls seem to enjoy themselves as well so everyone's happy I guess. (But it's bl**dy awful really) :D
DenDon at 11:04 AM JST - 7th July

they sure ain't no 903号室.
USNinJapan2 at 11:47 AM JST - 7th July

MADAME Cats? So they're all married???

Madame Fusako leans forward into the crowd to scream into some wide-eyed and petrified young thing’s face before collapsing backwards, all with a deft shake of her maracas.

So a post-post-modern rehash of Yoko Ono and her manifest lack of musical talent. Move on...
BAYANI98 at 01:14 PM JST - 7th July

Bah , Japanese entertainment for the japanese , not for foreigners in Japan . Why bother complaining about something when you're not even the target audience in the first place anyway eh?!
PepinGalarga at 01:30 PM JST - 7th July

how can they play any instruments if they're tied up all the time?? looks like a greenpeace protest.
Samuraiiki at 02:32 PM JST - 7th July

I said: Meooooooooooooow!!!!!!! She said: Not Now!!!!
scoobydoo at 02:36 PM JST - 7th July

lead screecher Madame Fusako

Scares me what they sound like just reading this line, hmmm probably like every other J-Pop goth, rock, glam, metal, acid, punk whatever style band.
scoobydoo at 02:44 PM JST - 7th July

Stopped in on the youtube mael posted. They sound like the band I heard on Kill Bill last night on tele hahahaha. They could be OK if they got some good tuition and practised to try to get some musicianship but at the moment they just clean out ear wax, kill earwigs and cause your ears to bleed.
Nessie at 04:03 PM JST - 7th July

Don't know about the Cats, but that's some turgid prose in the first graf.
TokyoHustla at 04:32 PM JST - 7th July

Awww...so adorable! They want to be in a band...so cute.
Jdudeo at 07:58 PM JST - 9th July

I wonder if we'll ever see musically interesting acts reach the mainstream, anywhere...
DenDon at 01:58 PM JST - 13th July

Bah , Japanese entertainment for the japanese , not for foreigners in Japan . Why bother complaining about something when you're not even the target audience in the first place anyway eh?!

read the article before you say something stupid next time. they toured Europe and specifically requested foreigners to come to their gigs. duh