Montreal's Teke::Teke debut with Shirushi on May 7

Initially begun as a Takeshi Terauchi tribute act, Montreal's Teke::Teke have evolved beyond all expectations with Shirushi. 

Here's the scoop...

Montreal's seven-piece Japanese psych-rock band TEKE::TEKE are releasing their debut album Shirushi, out May 7 via Kill Rock Stars. You can pre-order a copy via Bandcamp right here. 

Shirushi (“sign of big changes to come”) was inspired by the Japanese practice of kintsugi, the art of mending broken pottery by fusing the pieces back together with seams of gold, silver, or platinum lacquer. “There’s always something hopeful that comes after destruction,” explains guitarist Serge Nakauchi-Pelletier. “Next comes rebirth, and we get to learn again.” The album glues classic Japanese balladry, surf rock, psychedelia, and more together into a set of songs that play like soundtracks to a wildly eccentric epic film saga. The band incorporates traditional instruments, influences from ‘60’s/70s Japanese soundtracks, and the sentimental balladry of Japanese enka - yet Shirushi manages to sound as if it comes from some distant future. 

Lead single “Kala Kala” perfectly encapsulates this refusal to be contained, building from an expansive ambience to an elephantine instrumental hook, singer and visual artist Maya Kuroki’s voice darting over the top. “The Japanese language allows for visual, colorful poetry, and the lyrics tell a story with a lot of different colors, strong vibes, and emotional themes,” Kuroki says. In that way, each individual track plays out like a lost classic soundtrack with its own genre and storyline, even for those who may not have the benefit of the literal translation of Kuroki’s lyrics. A trained actor and visual artist, Kuroki’s place at the front of the stage for TEKE::TEKE masterfully amplifies their already dramatic arrangements. 

Takeshi Terauchi and a few of his guitars

After initially forming as a tribute band for Japanese guitar legend Takeshi Terauchi (check out a selection of his amazing recordings with The Bunnys and Blue Jeans right here), TEKE::TEKE learned that they had to tear up their surf-tinged covers and build something new. Since then, the Montreal-based seven-piece have expanded their already wide scope into a dazzling journey through classic Japanese balladry and Brazillian psychedelia alike. Fusing everything from traditional Japanese instrumentation to punk guitar, TEKE::TEKE have created their own musical universe - one that’s continuously expanding. You can still hear elements of Takeshi Terauchi's groundbreaking concept of mixing Japanese folk forms with rippin' surf guitar in the track "Yoru Ni" in which TEKE::TEKE neatly weave blazing guitar runs with traditional Japanese shamisen and shinobue.   

The band also recently shared cinematic new single & video for “Meikyu” (“labyrinth” in Japanese) - animated by Serge Nakauchi-Pelletier along with Maya Kuroki. "When plans with a hired animator fell through, Maya and I decided to take things into our own hands,” Nakauchi-Pelletier says. Kuroki adds, “I'll make some drawings or paintings and then use whatever tools we have, learn new software on the spot and ways of working as we go.’’  

Check out TEKE:TEKE's videos for "Yoru Ni," "Kala Kala" and "Meikyu" after a performance of "Barbara" below.