Volcano Choir. Volcanic, rather than choral.

It is rather volcanic.  Really, on stage.

As far as I’m concerned, this one-time unit by Collection of Colonies of Bees and Bon Iver (Justin Vernon) represents how contemporary American popular music has evolved over the past decade, during which I almost ignored (indie) pop music, since I foolishly decided I was not so young to eagerly and excitedly listen to “that kind of” music when I turned (around) 30.

Now age 42, and I was stunned to be able to experience kind of a sublimity no other artist could achieve in the way they did in a series of live performance in Japan.  I joined one of them in a club called “sunsui” in Osaka. Featured band was Volcano Choir, which is one-time project by 2 units, one Collection of Colonies of Bees, the other Bon Iver.  The 45-minutes opening act by Collection of Colonies of Bees was followed by Volcano Choir.

Collection of Colonies of Bees is a group of experienced virtuosos of rather experimental minimal sound.  The guitar of Chris Rosenau creates every sound that decides overall tone (ambient, environmental, noisiness and noiseless at the same time) of the band, which was led by intense and heavy bass drum beats of John Mueller, for whom this Japan tour would be the final performance as a member of Collection of Colonies of Bees.

The sight to see was the presence of Bon Iver a.k.a. Justin Vernon.  Of course, you are familiar with the sure and resounding pitch of his voice on his studio work For Emma, Forever Ago and “Blood Bank.”  Actually, Peter Gabriel (with “Flume”) and Kanye West (with “Woods”) are the ones who could not resists to take Justin’s voice into account for their music career.

Tonal/atonal, high-/low-pitched, emotional/impassive,  serene/stirring, divine, celestial, angelic.

Still, provocatively volcanic.

Difficult is to find appropriate expression to describe Justin’s voice and presence there.  NPR commented on Volcano Choir’s ”More choral than volcanic” on their studio work.  Once you witness their actual performance on stage, you find, ultimately, the reality of their volcanic nature, rather than just serene and quiet ones.

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