Tricot (band)

Tricot (Japanese: トリコ, Hepburn: toriko, (often stylised tricot)) is a Japanese math rock band from Kyoto. The band was formed in 2010 by vocalist and guitarist Ikumi "Ikkyu" Nakajima, guitarist Motoko "Motifour" Kida and bassist Hiromi "Hirohiro" Sagane. Known for their intricate rhythms[1] and visual identity,[2] they have released four full-length studio albums and five EPs. Their musical style has been described by Rolling Stone as "adrenalized math rock sped up and given pop's candy coating".[3]

Tricot
Origin	Kyoto, Japan
Genres	Math rock indie rock post-rock
Years active	2010–present
Labels	Bakuretsu Tower Big Scary Monsters Topshelf
Associated acts	Chon Covet Polyphia toe (band) Strawberry Girls
Website	tricot-official.jp
Members	Ikumi "Ikkyu" Nakajima Motoko "Motifour" Kida Hiromi "Hirohiro" Sagane Yuusuke Yoshida
Past members	Kazutaka Komaki Miyoko Yamaguchi

Tricot have toured extensively in Japan, as well as playing in Singapore,[4] the United Kingdom and Europe. In 2015, they launched their first North American tour, followed shortly by a full European tour in 2016, and a presentation in Mexico City in 2018.[5]

History

Tricot was formed in Kyoto in 2010 by vocalist and guitarist Ikumi "Ikkyu" Nakajima, guitarist Motoko "Motifour" Kida and bassist Hiromi "Hirohiro" Sagane.[6] Sagane is a native of the city, while Nakajima and Kida are from neighboring Shiga Prefecture.[2] Prior to forming Tricot, the three musicians played in various local bands in the Kyoto area, where they became acquainted with one another.[7] Kazutaka Komaki joined the band as drummer in May 2011.[8] Shortly after, they established their own label, Bakuretsu Records.[8] In 2013, Tricot released their first full-length album T H E, which charted at number 18 on the Oricon Albums Chart.[9] In March 2014, Komaki left the band due to musical differences.[10] In his absence, the remaining trio opted to tour and record with a rotating cast of musicians.[11] Later that year, Tricot embarked on a tour of five Asian countries,[8] then toured Europe for four music festivals.[12] They later supported Pixies at the Eden Sessions festival in the United Kingdom.[13]

Tricot's second album A N D, released in 2015, charted at number 34 on the Oricon Albums Chart.[9] The band's third full-length album, 3, was released in 2017, peaking at number 20 on the Oricon Albums Chart.[9] It was supported by a world tour and later 47-prefecture tour in Japan. At the end of the tour's final concert, it was announced that Yuusuke Yoshida, who had been touring with Tricot since 2016, had become a full-time member and thus the second official drummer in the band's history.

Members

• Ikumi "Ikkyu" Nakajima – vocals, guitar (2010–present)
• Motoko "Motifour" Kida – guitar, backing vocals (2010–present)
• Hiromi "Hirohiro" Sagane – bass guitar, backing vocals (2010–present)
• Yuusuke Yoshida – drums (2017–present; 2016–2017 touring)

Former members

• Kazutaka Komaki – drums (2011–2014)
• Miyoko Yamaguchi – drums (2015–2016; touring)

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak positions
		JPN [9]	US World Albums [14]
T H E	Released: 2 October 2013 (JPN) Label: Bakuretsu Formats: CD, LP, digital download	18	—
A N D	Released: 18 March 2015 (JPN) Label: Bakuretsu Formats: CD, LP, digital download	34	—
3	Released: 17 May 2017 (JPN) Label: Bakuretsu, Big Scary Monsters, Topshelf Formats: CD, LP, cassette, digital download	20	5
Makkuro (真っ黒, Black)[15]	Released: 29 January 2020 (JPN) Label: Cutting Edge Formats: CD[16], digital download	27	—

EPs

List of extended plays, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak positions
		JPN [9]
Bakuretsu Tricot-san (爆裂トリコさん)	Released: 2 August 2011 (JPN) Label: Bakuretsu Formats: CD, digital download	46
Shōgakusei to Uchū (小学生と宇宙)	Released: 9 May 2012 (JPN) Label: Bakuretsu Formats: CD, digital download	57
Bakyūn EP (バキューンEP)	Released: 5 December 2012 (JPN) Label: Bakuretsu Formats: CD, digital download	51
KABUKU EP	Released: 27 April 2016 (JPN) Label: Bakuretsu Formats: CD, digital download	46
repeat	Released: 20 March 2019 (JPN) Label: Bakuretsu Formats: CD, digital download	34

References

1. Bryan, Beverly (May 17, 2012). "Kyoto's Tricot Resuscitates Post-Rock With a Whisper and a Howl". MTV. Archived from the original on May 19, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
2. Snapes, Laura (February 2, 2015). "Meet Japanese Rock Three-Piece Tricot – And Watch Their Stylish New Video For 'E'". NME. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
3. "10 New Artists You Need to Know: April 2015". Rolling Stone. April 16, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
4. Gender role reversal - Japanese math rock tricot live in Singapore
5. Limón, Antonio M. (26 June 2018). "Tricot en México, Vertiginosos Sonidos Desde El Lejano Oriente" [Tricot in Mexico, Dizzying Sounds from the Far East] (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 June 2020.
6. Buchanan, John D. "Tricot (Biography)". AllMusic. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
7. St. Michel, Patrick (October 24, 2015). "Meet Tricot, The Japanese Trio Making Math Rock Cool Again". The Fader. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
8. "Profile" (in Japanese). Tricot.tv. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
9. "tricot" [tricot Products]. Oricon. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
10. "大切なお知らせ / Announcement (*English below)" (in Japanese). Tricot.tv. March 2, 2014. Archived from the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
11. St. Michel, Patrick (June 27, 2017). "Tricot fine-tunes a formula that got the trio noticed overseas on '3'". The Japan Times. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
12. tricot heads to Central Europe for Four Music Festivals.
13. UK Review: The Pixies rock Eden.
14. "Tricot Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
15. "tricot - 真っ黒". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
16. "tricot - 真っ黒". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-02-01.

External links

• Tricot on Facebook