Mass of the Fermenting Dregs
Encyclopedia
Mass of the Fermenting Dregs （マス オブ ザ ファーメンティング ドレッグス, Masu Obu Za Faamentingu Doreggusu） is a post-rock
/shoegaze trio formed in Kobe, Japan in 2002. They are also popularly known by a shortened form of their name, Masu Dore (マスドレ). They are known for a tightly arranged, guitar-driven style, melodic pop
vocals and a high-energy stage presence at their live events.
They have been signed to the Japanese
indie rock
record label
AVOCADO Records since the release of their self-titled EP
in January 2008.
, Hyogo Prefecture
, with the original all-female lineup of Natsuko Miyamoto, Chiemi Ishimoto and Reiko Gotoh. Following Reiko’s departure from the band in October 2007, the band toured with the official lineup of Natsuko and Chiemi, with various musicians serving as a “support drummer”. Their breakthrough came at the 2007 “Road to Tarbox Audition” competition held by EMI
Japan, which put the band in contact with noted American
record producer Dave Fridmann
(The Flaming Lips
, OK Go
) of Tarbox Road Studios. With Fridmann producing, they recorded two tracks, I F A Surfer and Bears (ベアーズ), which appeared on their 2008 self-titled E.P. In 2010, support drummer Yoshino Tsutomu became an official member of the band, prior to the release of their major label debut album.
acts, notably NUMBER GIRL
(ナンバー・ガール). They are often associated with the alternative
/progressive rock
act 9mm Parabellum Bullet
(キューミリ・パラベラム・バレット), with whom they toured in early 2009.
The English version of the band’s website also claims western alternative rock
bands Sugar
, The Wedding Present
, and The Smashing Pumpkins
as influences on their songwriting.
: “It doesn’t have any particular meaning, we just lined up a few words that we liked.”
MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS - released 1-16-2008, AVOCADO Records
World is Yours (ワールド イズ ユアーズ Waarudo Izu Yuaazu) – released 1/21/2009, AVOCADO Records
ゼロコンマ、色とりどりの世界 – released 8/04/2010, AVOCADO Records
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
/shoegaze trio formed in Kobe, Japan in 2002. They are also popularly known by a shortened form of their name, Masu Dore (マスドレ). They are known for a tightly arranged, guitar-driven style, melodic pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
vocals and a high-energy stage presence at their live events.
They have been signed to the Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
AVOCADO Records since the release of their self-titled EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
in January 2008.
Members
- Natsuko Miyamoto (宮本菜津子) b. April 9, 1983 – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Yoshino Tsutomu (吉野功) active 2010–present, drums
Former Members
- Reiko Gotoh (後藤玲子), active 2002-2007 - drums, backing vocals
- Chiemi Ishimoto (石本知恵美) b. March 25, 1984, active 2002-2010 guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, backing vocals
Early career
Mass of the Fermenting Dregs was formed in 2002 in KobeKobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
, Hyogo Prefecture
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
, with the original all-female lineup of Natsuko Miyamoto, Chiemi Ishimoto and Reiko Gotoh. Following Reiko’s departure from the band in October 2007, the band toured with the official lineup of Natsuko and Chiemi, with various musicians serving as a “support drummer”. Their breakthrough came at the 2007 “Road to Tarbox Audition” competition held by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
Japan, which put the band in contact with noted American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
record producer Dave Fridmann
Dave Fridmann
Dave Fridmann is an American record producer and musician. From 1990 onwards he co-produced all releases by Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips...
(The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
, OK Go
OK Go
OK Go is a rock band originally from Chicago, Illinois, USA, now residing in Los Angeles, California, USA. The band is composed of Damian Kulash , Tim Nordwind , Dan Konopka and Andy Ross , who joined them in 2005, replacing Andy Duncan...
) of Tarbox Road Studios. With Fridmann producing, they recorded two tracks, I F A Surfer and Bears (ベアーズ), which appeared on their 2008 self-titled E.P. In 2010, support drummer Yoshino Tsutomu became an official member of the band, prior to the release of their major label debut album.
Departure of Chiemi Ishimoto
It was announced that the bands guitarist of six years, Chiemi Ishimoto, would be leaving the group after completing the bands national tour on December 11, 2010. Her reason for leaving is due to a medical panic disorder. Ishimoto's last performance will be held at the Shibuya Club Quattro.Related Bands
The band’s sound is often compared to that of other influential Japanese post-rockPost-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
acts, notably NUMBER GIRL
Number Girl
was a rock band formed in Fukuoka, Japan in August, 1995 by guitarist and vocalist Mukai Shutoku. They disbanded in 2002 following bassist Nakao Kentarou's departure from the band....
(ナンバー・ガール). They are often associated with the alternative
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
/progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
act 9mm Parabellum Bullet
9mm Parabellum Bullet
9mm Parabellum Bullet is a rock band formed in March 2004 from Yokohama, Japan. It consists of; vocalist and rhythm guitarist Takuro Sugawara, guitarist and backing vocalist Yoshimitsu Taki, bassist Kazuhiko Nakamura, and drummer Chihiro Kamijo, who came up with the band's name...
(キューミリ・パラベラム・バレット), with whom they toured in early 2009.
The English version of the band’s website also claims western alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
bands Sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
, The Wedding Present
The Wedding Present
The Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms...
, and The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
as influences on their songwriting.
Origin of the Band’s Name
Natsuko explained the origin of the unusual band name in an interview with music retailer HMVHMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
: “It doesn’t have any particular meaning, we just lined up a few words that we liked.”
Discography
Kirameta (demo) - released 9-15-2006, independentIndependent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS - released 1-16-2008, AVOCADO Records
World is Yours (ワールド イズ ユアーズ Waarudo Izu Yuaazu) – released 1/21/2009, AVOCADO Records
ゼロコンマ、色とりどりの世界 – released 8/04/2010, AVOCADO Records