OOIOO

Led by YoshimiO on percussion, guitar, and vocals—a founding member of Boredoms—OOIOO channels collective drive into far-flung sonic experiments that draw upon and reshape fusion, kosmische, prog rock, and international traditions through constantly shifting forms whose very unpredictability heightens their impact. The 1997 self-titled debut emerged from the same noisy, psychedelic terrain then occupied by Boredoms, yet the quartet soon redirected its call-and-response vocals, sprawling structures, and propulsive rhythms elsewhere: 1999’s Feather Float reveled in motorik repetition, while the following year’s Gold and Green ventured into extended pastoral passages. Subsequent releases pursued African sources on 2006’s Taiga and Javanese gamelan on 2014’s Gamel before paring instrumentation to guitar, bass, and drums for 2020’s Nijimusi. Whether because of or in spite of perpetual change, the group projects an uncommonly vivid, animated presence.

OOIOO originated in 1995 when YoshimiO formed a fictitious ensemble solely for a magazine photo session; the lineup—guitarist/vocalist Kyoko, bassist/vocalist Maki, and drummer/vocalist Yoshiko—quickly began performing in earnest. In 1997 the band supported Sonic Youth throughout that group’s Japanese dates and issued its debut album, which featured appearances by Pussy Galore’s Julia Cafritz, Cornelius’ Keigo Oyamada, and Boredoms’ Yamantaka Eye. Although OOIOO echoed YoshimiO’s other project, it offset its noise explorations with prominent melodic elements. Kill Rock Stars brought the album to American listeners in 1998; a year later the more streamlined yet kinetic Feather Float appeared.

Continued rapid evolution marked 2000’s Gold and Green, a gentler, introspective collection that introduced longtime guitarist Kayan and included contributions from Sean Lennon and Yuka Honda. The next year the remix anthology Shock City Shockers 2 incorporated a version of Flora Purim’s “Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly.” Bassist Aya joined in time for 2003’s Kila Kila Kila, whose lean yet expansive pieces featured drummer Yuka Yoshimura, also of DMBQ and Metalchicks. Birdman Records handled U.S. editions of both Feather Float and Kila Kila Kila; Thrill Jockey released Gold and Green domestically in 2005 and issued the expansive, nature-themed Taiga—introducing drummer Ai—in 2006. Early 2007 brought OOEYEOO, a set of Eye remixes.

Armonico Hewa arrived in 2009 as a modestly heavier outing whose title blended Spanish and Swahili terms for air in harmonious balance. Gamel, loosely shaped by Javanese gamelan traditions, followed in 2014. Founding member Kyoko passed away the subsequent year. Drummer Mishina entered the fold in 2016, appearing first on 2020’s Nijimusi, the band’s initial return in some time to conventional rock instrumentation.