During its short existence, Ajico established itself as one of the best groups on of the Japanese music scene. The band got together in 2000 when Kenichi Asai, vocalist-guitarist with Kansai-based rock trio
Blankey Jet City, suggested to female vocalist
Ua that they collaborate on a new musical project. Asai was looking for something new to do, given that BJC was scheduled to break up at the end of 2000, and
Ua – who's the type of artist that's always looking for new musical challenges – agreed. Asai and
Ua had already worked together - he wrote the beautiful ballad "Strawberry Time" for her (that song appeared on Ua's 1999 album,
Turbo. Asai and
Ua then recruited Tokie, bassist with rock-rap trio
Rize, and drummer Kyoichi Shino, who had also previously worked with Ua. Unlike many other supergroups, Ajico possessed an organic unity that made it much more than the sum of its parts, although Ua's distinct voice was easily the band's most identifiable feature. The band released its first album,
Fukamidori (Deep Green), in February 2001 and it immediately won rave reviews, although some critics were less than complimentary about Asai's rather nasal vocal style. Ajico gave
Ua and Asai an opportunity to be a little more laid-back and experimental, which was especially good for Asai, who seemed to need a break from being BJC's front man. The members of Ajico showed that the band wasn't just a one-off project by touring and releasing an excellent live album,
Ajic...
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During its short existence, Ajico established itself as one of the best groups on of the Japanese music scene. The band got together in 2000 when Kenichi Asai, vocalist-guitarist with Kansai-based rock trio
Blankey Jet City, suggested to female vocalist
Ua that they collaborate on a new musical project. Asai was looking for something new to do, given that BJC was scheduled to break up at the end of 2000, and
Ua – who's the type of artist that's always looking for new musical challenges – agreed. Asai and
Ua had already worked together - he wrote the beautiful ballad "Strawberry Time" for her (that song appeared on Ua's 1999 album,
Turbo. Asai and
Ua then recruited Tokie, bassist with rock-rap trio
Rize, and drummer Kyoichi Shino, who had also previously worked with Ua. Unlike many other supergroups, Ajico possessed an organic unity that made it much more than the sum of its parts, although Ua's distinct voice was easily the band's most identifiable feature. The band released its first album,
Fukamidori (Deep Green), in February 2001 and it immediately won rave reviews, although some critics were less than complimentary about Asai's rather nasal vocal style. Ajico gave
Ua and Asai an opportunity to be a little more laid-back and experimental, which was especially good for Asai, who seemed to need a break from being BJC's front man. The members of Ajico showed that the band wasn't just a one-off project by touring and releasing an excellent live album,
Ajico Show, in July 2001. Since then the Ajico project seems to have been put on the back burner permanently, but the band remains one of the most noteworthy footnotes in the history of Japanese music.
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