Shugorei make fascinating music, combining “vibraphone, digital samples, analogue synthesizer, drums, jumbles and bricolage”, in both crafted compositions as well as free-form improvised pieces. In a way it reminds me a little of Stereolab, as well as some of Frank Zappa’s compositions. The instrumentation makes references to Peter Gabriel, it’s a heady mix!
Formed in 2019 by Nozomi Omote and Thomas Green, Shugorei (Japanese for ‘Guardian Spirit’) explores the interplay between Noz’s Japanese heritage and musicianship with Tom’s extensive influences and experiences.
Between the two of them they have a weath of experience which they bring to this project… Nozomi Omote is a classical percussionist who handles several different genres, including her own improvisational style, often playing with professional orchestras and chamber groups throughout Australia. In 2004, She was an excellent performer at the 3rd Hokuriku Rookie Toryumon Concert, and in the same year, she was an overseas trainee at the Ishikawa Art Internship, and received the Griffith University Academic Excellence Award in 2005.
Thomas Green is a composer and performer of electronic and instrumental music, who combines a classical training with decades of experiments with electronic forms. Thomas’s music has been premiered around the world, in the UK, Italy, France, Croatia and China. Besides Shugorei, Thomas writes for classical groups locally and abroad and has created arrangements and original compositions for Josh Pyke and Katie Noonan.
The album Shugorei is released by Australian label 4000 Records and is available to purchase or download from Bandcamp.
