Tenniscoats | Profile Psychedelic folk popsters Tenniscoats are made up of two core members - Saya and Takashi Ueno - often supported by a revolving cast of friends and other likeminded musicians on the fragile, wistful records they are now famous for worldwide. The band released its first EP, The Theme of Tenniscoats, in 1999 on their own majikick label to instant critical acclaim, drawing kudos from none other than twee pop kingpins The Pastels. Their second EP, The Ending Theme, dropped on majikick in 2002 - more of the same yearning guitar-driven pop, followed up by their first full length in 2004, entitled We Are Everyone. In the time between recording and releasing Tenniscoats records, the pair keeps busy with a slew of side projects. Saya is a support member of DIY gurus Maher Shalal Hash Baz (with Tori and Reiko Kudo) and Puka Puka Brians among other bands, and has also released solo works on record as well. Takashi also releases as a solo artist, and has worked on soundtracks for movies including Dead End Run (2003) and Electric Dragon 80,000 V (2001), both directed by Sogo Ishii and starring Tadanobu Asano and Masatoshi Nagase, as well as 2000's Gojo (2000) among others. They have also recorded and released together with DJ Klock as Cacoy. In 2005, Chapter Music released a live album from the band entitled Live Wanderus, a word apparently created by Saya to encompass themes from the words "wander", "wonder", "wondrous", and "us". The record provides live interpretations of songs from all three Tenniscoats studio releases along with a number of previously unreleased tracks. A variety of lineups keeps things interesting, as the band collaborates with members of Acid Mothers Temple, Stars, and Maher Shalal Hash Baz, and showcases an intensity not apparent on the band's studio releases. by Bill Haw
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