wooza
Joined: Apr 24, 2006
Posts: 1618
Ithaca, NY
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Posted on Nov 21 2006 02:35 AM
Listening to songs at random, I just passed over the Mach IV's Il Eko Eleki, which has only further inflamed the question that's been itching so long: What exactly is eleki? I guess I've got a sense of what it is, as touched upon by the Ventures and Yuzo Kayama and the like, but what is/are the defining characteristic/s? Or am I just totally missing something? 
ps. I don't have the liner notes on hand, but I remember the Mach IV's album providing something of a roundabout explanation which only confused frustrated me when I first read it (but I was but a hatchling of a surf fan at that time).
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Klas
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 2309
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted on Nov 21 2006 01:16 PM
In short:
Ventures inspired guitar instrumentals by Japanese bands of the 60s but often wilder than the typical Ventures record.
— T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S
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PolloGuitar
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 5097
San Francisco
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Posted on Nov 21 2006 01:40 PM
To build on Klas's explanation, Eleki typically has the double time rhythm guitar with a very thin, scratchy tone. The lead guitar is plucky with tons of reverb. In general, the melodies seem much more innocent than minor key American surf of the same period. It should also be mentioned that eleki continue on much longer in Japan than surf did in the US.
The Mach IV CD really has nothing to do with Eleki (we just liked the name), although it has two songs (Astro Boy and Teke Teke Teke) which are very much in the Eleki tradition.
--ferenc
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Nov 21 2006 02:07 PM
The lead guitar also tends to utilize the fuzz sound quite often (as of course did the Ventures), or at least amp overdrive. In general, the lead guitar playing is also a lot more technically impressive and challenging, with a lot of bending and fast playing. Much higher technical ability in general compared to the average American sixties surf lead guitarist - again, Nokie's influence (Nokie was and is a monster technician). Also, eleki is somewhat influenced by traditional Japanese music and their stringed instrument (koto?).
Ivan
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teenage
Joined: Nov 11, 2006
Posts: 14
San Diego, CA
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Posted on Nov 21 2006 02:31 PM
IvanP
Also, eleki is somewhat influenced by traditional Japanese music and their stringed instrument (koto?).
Ivan
Ive also noticed this...you can tell with the scales they play and even the playing technique itself, that eleki was also influenced by the traditional Japanese music and maybe played in similar ways to the Koto or the Shamisen. Takeshi Teracuhi and The Sharp Five are a couple I can think of where you can really hear it. Also, theres a lot of really cool organ sounds; they seem to utilize the volume pedal a lot to make the organ really dynamic and expressive. Ive noticed that those two bands differ a lot from Yuzo Kayama's style...like they maybe had a little less Ventures influence.
Well, Im rambling...Im obsesses with everything Japanese, so Ill stop before I loose control.
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CaptainSpringfield
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 4387
Under the Sun
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Posted on Nov 21 2006 03:13 PM
A lot of traditional Japanese songs have been covered by eleki bands--Terauchi Takeshi in particular. Yuzo's style was a lot more pop-oriented. He was (and still is?) a movie star; music was just a hobby. I'm fairly sure Terauchi Takeshi started out as a c/w guitarist.
What's interesting to see is which non-Japanese bands besides the Ventures had an influence on the genre--the Astronauts in particular. Not too many bands released material that made it to Japan, so the cover songs on most eleki albums fall into three main categories:
1.) Ventures originals and songs covered by the Ventures
2.) Traditional Japanese songs
3.) Songs on the rare 45 or LP that did get imported--there's a lot of covers of "Point Panic" and "Tragic Wind"
In short, though, Klas pretty much summed it up perfectly. It's the Ventures, only ballsier, wilder, and Japanese-ier.
-Warren
— That was excessively violent and completely unnecessary. I loved it.
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wooza
Joined: Apr 24, 2006
Posts: 1618
Ithaca, NY
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Posted on Nov 21 2006 04:17 PM
Thanks a lot, guys. I can rest easy now.
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CaptainSpringfield
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 4387
Under the Sun
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Posted on Nov 21 2006 04:56 PM
wooza
Thanks a lot, guys. I can rest easy now.
You should pick up the Royal Fingers' "Wild Eleki Deluxe"--it's probably the best (modern) introduction to the genre I can think of. There's four Terauchi Takeshi covers, three Yuzo Kayama covers and a Sharp Five cover, plus some great originals.
And you can find it pretty cheap, too:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Wild-Eleki-Deluxe-The-Royal-Fingers-CD-2001_W0QQitemZ4845435803QQihZ003QQcategoryZ307QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00005EBJF/ref=dp_olp_2/102-8721105-1013736
-Warren
— That was excessively violent and completely unnecessary. I loved it.
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MPoppitt
Joined: Apr 23, 2006
Posts: 133
Austin TEXAS!
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Posted on Nov 23 2006 04:31 AM
So, is it a sound that is more common now?
Where would one look to find some cool original, 60's, fuzzy Eleki?
— 
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Klas
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 2309
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted on Nov 23 2006 07:03 AM
CaptainSpringfield
It's the Ventures, only ballsier, wilder, and Japanese-ier.
I think this pic tells the story. Nokie would never act like that.
MPoppitt
Where would one look to find some cool original, 60's, fuzzy Eleki?
I've bought almost all my 60s eleki CDs from Amazon Japan. I would especially recommend the great Kachinuki Eleki Gassen comp for anyone interested in checking out the genre.
Also, take a look at this thread for more tips on what's worth getting.
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Wraydar
Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 265
San Antonio, TX
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Posted on Nov 23 2006 09:08 AM
Oh, OK never knew what it meant either.
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wooza
Joined: Apr 24, 2006
Posts: 1618
Ithaca, NY
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Posted on Nov 23 2006 01:32 PM
Whew, so I wasn't the only one.
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CaptainSpringfield
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 4387
Under the Sun
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Posted on Nov 23 2006 06:48 PM
MPoppitt
So, is it a sound that is more common now?
If anything it's less common. Most current Japanese instro bands tend to go for straight surf, straight Ventures, or fuzz/feedback. It seems like there's a lot more bands reviving the Group Sounds era that followed eleki rather than eleki, though several bands--Surf Coasters, Whys, Switch Trout, Goggle-A, etc.--have covered eleki tunes. (Usually either "Test Driver" or "Black Sand Beach.")
The same lineup as the Royal Fingers put out an album under the name Wild Sammy & the Royal Tones called Speed Crazy that's also full-on eleki. Some of the songs are the same (both covers and originals). The performances are hotter, but the production's a little worse. IvanP wrote a review of it that can be found here: http://www.surfguitar101.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=55
MPoppitt
Where would one look to find some cool original, 60's, fuzzy Eleki?
For vinyl, eBay's your best bet. For CDs, Amazon (JP and US) occasionally stocks some interesting stuff, though it'll cost ya.
-Warren
— That was excessively violent and completely unnecessary. I loved it.
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MikeG
Joined: Mar 29, 2006
Posts: 309
Springfield, Oregon
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Posted on Nov 26 2006 12:13 PM
Here's a tune by Takeshi Terauchi, I'm not sure of the name.
Note the blending of Western and Japanese influence in the melody and scales.
http://thesurfonics.com/Takeshi_Terauchi.mp3
(4.2MB download, right-click and "save as...")
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WaveOhhh
Joined: Apr 24, 2006
Posts: 236
Plantation, FL
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Posted on Nov 27 2006 11:36 AM
I seem to remember some european classical music done eleki-style by a Japanese group named the Bunnies or the fuzzy bunnies or something.
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Klas
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 2309
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted on Nov 27 2006 12:57 PM
FinDicator1
I seem to remember some european classical music done eleki-style by a Japanese group named the Bunnies or the fuzzy bunnies or something.
Takeshi Terauchi and the Bunnys - Let's Go Classics
— T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S
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CaptainSpringfield
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 4387
Under the Sun
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Posted on Nov 27 2006 07:18 PM
FinDicator1
I seem to remember some european classical music done eleki-style by a Japanese group named the Bunnies or the fuzzy bunnies or something.
-Warren
— That was excessively violent and completely unnecessary. I loved it.
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CaptainSpringfield
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 4387
Under the Sun
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Posted on Nov 27 2006 07:20 PM
Alright, so Klas only beat me to it by what, eight hours? It's a cool album--really energetic in some places.
-Warren
— That was excessively violent and completely unnecessary. I loved it.
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Klas
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 2309
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted on Nov 28 2006 04:25 AM
Yeah, it's great and I don't even like classical music. For anyone interested, it's among the recently reissued Terry CDs.
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Dec 01 2006 01:53 PM
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