4 the SUMMER in you
［ 特集 ］夏フェスを聴こう、2015。
今年もこの季節がやってきました! 楽しい日々をもっと楽しくするために、スケジュール調整といっしょに耳の夏支度もそろそろ始めませんか～!?
Tjiros
烈風を起こすT字路sのエンターテイメント・ブルース!
「日本全国津々浦々でたくさんのライヴをやってきたけれど、結成5年を経て定番となってきたカヴァー曲も増えてきたので、一度ひとつの作品にまとめてみようと思って」（伊東妙子、ギター／ヴォーカル：以下同）。
伊東妙子と篠田智仁（ベース）の激情ブルース・デュオ、T字路s。彼らの日本語曲カヴァーといえば、烈風吹き荒ぶライヴの呼び物でもある。ということから、異貌のカヴァー・アルバム『Tの讃歌』は、T字路sのハイライトを並べてみせた〈ザッツ・エンターテインメント〉的な作品と呼ぶことも可能かと。それにしても、これほど痛快極まりないものになるとは。啖呵の歯切れの良さでこちらの耳を釘付けにしてしまう伊東が話を続ける。
「実際に取り組んでみて、大変なものに手を出してしまったと血の気が引きましたよ。オリジナルは出来上がった時点で曲の世界観も自然と出来上がっているけど、カヴァーの場合はその曲に込められた思いや世界観を解釈したうえで、T字路sらしさを出していかなきゃならない。それを12曲ですから。なかなかの難産でした」。
とはいえ、本作は〈らしさ〉のオンパレードだ。森進一の数倍ドスが効いた“襟裳岬”のやさぐれぶりはどうだろう。伊東の裸系の歌唱が冴え渡る越路吹雪の“愛の讃歌”はもっと壮絶。「全世界のシャンソン愛好家に〈全然わかってない!〉って怒られるだろうねと話していました。我々ならではの開き直りかと」と笑うが、この美しく混濁した世界はひたすら胸を衝く。ゲストの佐藤良成（ハンバート ハンバート）による郷愁を誘うフィドルをフィーチャーした浅川マキの“少年”やブルーハーツの“夕暮れ”も素晴らしく、優しさに満ちた叫びに心が締め上げられる。
「今回は好きな曲をたくさんカヴァーするので、ここは唸るように低く、とか歌い方にも変化をつけようと試みたんです。でも出来上がってみたら、我ながらあまり差を感じなかったですね。結局は、〈メーター振り切っちゃったわ〉的な、良くも悪くも全力投球な作品になっていて。〈自分不器用ですから〉といったところでしょうか」。
東映時代の高倉健的な男気や侠気を反映し、胸のすくような作品となった『Tの讃歌』。本作を引っ提げて、今夏は〈フジロック〉〈RISING SUN〉などに出演する彼ら。最後にその意気込みを。
「我々を知ってる人も知らない人も、聴くつもりの人もそうでない人にも、多くの人のお耳に届けられる貴重な機会。コンディション万全でズバッと振り抜きたいですね」。
ズバッと振り抜いた二人のカッコ良さったらない。思いっきりうっちゃられること間違いなしだ。
4 the SUMMER in you
［ Special Feature ］Experience the summer festivals, 2015
Tjiros "T no Sanka (meaning T's Hymn)"
Entertainment blues from Tjiros sends stormy winds!
"We have performed a number of live concerts across Japan since the formation 5 years ago and now have an increased the number of cover songs that have become standard numbers for us. So, we decided to compile them into an album," says Taeko Ito (Guitar/Vocal).
Tjiros is a Japanese emotional blues duo of Taeko Ito and Tomohito Shinoda (bass). Their covers of Japanese songs are one of the highlights of their stormy live shows. For that reason, this unique cover album "T no Sanka (meaning T's Hymn)" can be called a sort of 'THE Entertainment' piece lining up Tjiros' highlight songs. And yet, nobody would have expected this to be such glorious fun. Ito, who fascinates us with her clear-cut singing, continues:
"Soon after we started working on the album, we got pale realizing we have a difficult road ahead. With new original songs, it already has its own world once we finish writing. But in the case of cover songs, we have to understand the feelings or the world described in the song, and then add our own touch to them. Completing a total of 12 songs in that way was a tough work."
Nevertheless, this album is filled with their 'own touch.' You'll be amazed at the roughness in "Erimo Misaki (meaning Cape Erimo)" sung in a voice several times gruffer than that of the original singer Shinichi Mori (Japanese male enka singer). The cover of Fubuki Koshiji (former Takarazuka Revue top star and chanson singer)'s "Aino Sanka (Hymne a l’amour/If You Love Me)" is even more startling, with Ito's bare-ish singing standing out. "We were telling each other that chanson fans around the world would get pissed listening to this song saying, 'they don't know what chanson is about at all!' But this is our own version of chanson," Ito says with a smile, though the beautiful muddling world relentlessly shocks your mind. Featuring the nostalgic fiddle melody played by guest musician Ryosei Sato (of Japanese music duo Humbert Humbert), the brilliant covers of Japanese jazz and blues singer Maki Asakawa's "Shonen (meaning A Boy)" or "Yugure (meaning Dusk)" of the Japanese punk rock band The Blue Hearts will wrench your heart with the tender cries.
"With a lot of favorite songs to cover this time, I tried to change the way of singing depending on the atmosphere of each track, thinking ‘this part should be sung in a rather low voice like growling’ and so on. But after completing the album, I found they were not so different from each other. After all, I sang in full blast throughout the album for good or ill as if 'my singing meter went off the scale.' I guess I’m that kind of a ‘heavy-handed’ singer."
Reflecting manly and chivalrous air just like what the Japanese actor Ken Takakura had when he used to appear in Toei Studios movies, "T no Sanka " is highly satisfactory. Bringing along this album, they will perform at 'Fuji Rock Festival' and 'RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL' this summer.
"These are valuable opportunities for us to reach many people, whether or not they know us and whether or not they intend to listen to us. We have to be well-prepared to throw a live show in full swing."
Their performance in full swing is way beyond cool. No doubt you'll be totally hooked on it.
