Reviewing Japan's overlooked rock veterans Ningen Isu - Thirteenth part: Hoochie Koo (2006)

Playful, dynamic and beautiful as the rabbit on the cover artwork

Hoochie Koo is the thirteenth studio album by Japanese rock and metal trio Ningen Isu. It's the second release in the group's most consistent line-up that still exists as I'm writing this review.

The album includes important participations from each member, both musically and vocally. Opener ''Raijin'' is a gloomy, heavy and raw tune that impresses with bassist Suzuki Kenichi's throaty vocals. Up next, ''Nijuuichi Seiki No Hoochie Koo'' features guitarist Wajima Shinji's more epic, melodic and story-telling vocals as the instrumentation is also more diversified, playful and uplifting. Drummer Nakajima Nobu performs lead vocals on the third song ''Rock 'N' Roll Tokkyuu'' that is indeed a dynamic, energizing and sympathetically old-fashioned hard rock tune that invites to dance and sing along without ever sounding predictable or shallow.

After this strong opening trio comes what might be the band's best song ever with ''Shinagawa Shinjuu'', a doom metal song with epic proportions that tells the gloomy story of a lovers' suicide. The heavy guitar riffs meander from slow and thunderous section to fast and energetic passages. The bass guitar play is particularly vivid throughout the song. The drum play is variable with punching precision in the slower parts and ferocious grit in the fast sections. The lead vocals by Wajima Shinji carry through eight entertaining minutes. The interesting lyrics find their climax in a creative middle section with a theatrical dialogue. Despite its massive length, the song was rightfully chosen as the album's lead single and the wonderful cinematography of the music video blends in perfectly as well. If you only had to listen to one single song by Ningen Isu to discover the band, I would recommend this one without a doubt.

The rest of the album includes a few other highlights such as ''Koritsumuen No Shisou'' that finds the perfect balance between more sinister lyrics and catchy sing-along passages as the track walks graciously on the thin line between hard rock and heavy metal or the gloomy closer ''Maboroshi Iro No Kotou'' that finishes the record with a cinematic, epic and sinister note that leaves a lasting impression.

The only issue with this album is that it's perhaps a little bit too long for its own good. Usually, I'm truly in favour of longer records with generous lengths but twelve tunes with a total running time of seventy-one minutes are a little bit too much. If the record had been reduced to its eight best tracks, it would have been one Ningen Isu's very best albums. As it is now, Hoochie Koo is a very good release that is certainly recommended to fans and newcomers alike but it cannot be considered a flawless masterpiece.

Final rating: 86%