Biography
Emerging in 1979, Japanese new wave band P-Model was assembled by its central figure Hirasawa Susumu from the remnants of his prior progressive rock group Mandrake. Alongside contemporaries the Plastics and Hikashu, P-Model is frequently recognized as a co-founder of Japanese techno-pop, and the group's reach has extended across multiple generations of Japanese musicians. Produced by Sakuma Masahide of the Plastics, the band's 1979 debut In a Model Room reinforced the early ties between the two acts. Although steeped in new wave and techno-pop, P-Model's sound leaned more toward the sharp post-punk edge of British acts such as XTC than the conceptual approach favored by Sakuma's own band. Landsale, issued in 1980, followed a comparable path, yet Potpourri in 1981 adopted a markedly darker tone through multi-layered synthesizers and increased distortion paired with guitar effects. Its tracks took on a more experimental character, incorporating elements of dub and industrial music. Perspective carried this exploratory direction forward in 1982, evoking the heavy, echoing synth rock of outfits like Magazine. P-Model maintained a demanding release pace through One Pattern in 1986, at which point Hirasawa remained the sole original member. Solo work then occupied Hirasawa, and the band's output paused for several years until a fresh lineup returned in 1992 with a self-titled album that emphasized sequencers and dance beats. Together with its 1993 successor Big Body, the record established the style that would characterize Hirasawa's output, blending techno with sounds and melodies shaped by time spent in Thailand. Throughout the 1990s Hirasawa also deepened his partnership with new bandmate Konishi Kenji, whose presence left a clear mark on 1995's Fune. In the late 1990s several bands based in Tokyo and nearby Chiba began championing the 1980s new wave generation, placing P-Model at the center of renewed attention; Polysics in particular adopted substantial portions of the early P-Model aesthetic and even wore identical "P" badges during performances. The group nevertheless disbanded at the close of 1999, allowing Hirasawa to focus on solo endeavors and multiple animated-film soundtracks.
Albums
