Helsinki Lambda Club
Album: Eleven Plus Two / Twelve Plus One
Release Date: 2020
Japan
Formed in the summer of 2013, Helsinki Lambda Club is a Japanese alternative rock band led by vocalist Kaoru Hashimoto, whose musical roots go deep into 70’s rock all the way to modern indie pop, resulting in a concoction of music that encompasses the attitude of garage punk, as well as the spirit of new wave and psychedelic. With highly addictive melodies, playful lyrics, and experimental soundscapes that can morph from sunny surf rock into full-on psychedelia on the next track, their music transcends borders of genre and culture.
They have become an irreplaceable force in the Japanese rock scene, making performances at festivals and selling out large-scale venues, as well as touring in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, and Taiwan. Just as US and UK rock were embraced by the world regardless of language, the music of Helsinki Lambda Club holds the same power; to give listeners an elated, feel-good experience. [HelsinkiLambdaClub.com]
Will you please introduce your band and tell us how you got together?
In 2013, I formed the band with a member of the light music circle at the university where I was attending. Bass player Inaba was the only one at a different university, and I was introduced to him by the band members I used to play with. We won an audition for UK.PROJECT in 2014 and made our debut CD. After that, Kumagai joined us as a guitarist after a member change, so it became the current lineup in 2018.
What is the story of your band’s name, Helsinki Lambda Club?
The name itself does not have any particular meaning… First, I had an idea to make it a something-something-club, so I decided to make it a club that wouldn’t exist. I first came up with the name Ramadan Club, and I wanted to add a word that was not related to Ramadan, so I named it Helsinki, the capital of Finland, which is not related to the Islamic world. I also liked Bombay Bicycle Club, and I think that I longed for a city name to be in the band’s name. After that, I thought that I should avoid the religious word Ramadan, and changed it to the word lambda, which had a similar feeling.
How would you describe HLC’s music? What are the main elements of your genre&culture-fluid music?
When we formed the band, we wanted to do garage rock-based music like The Strokes, The Libertines, The Vines, The View, etc. But then we had too many elements of soul, funk, psychedelic, and electro, and it was a completely different band before we knew it! I think that is what makes it attractive, though.
In terms of lyrics, we have been influenced by Japanese bands such as Yura Yura Teikoku, Spitz, Quruli, etc. I think their lyrics have a splendor and a literary nature.
Yura Yura Teikoku 
Spitz 
Quruli
I really appreciate you for sticking with the Japanese language. It’s a shame that we, non-Japanese speakers, miss your playful lyrics but it must be magical for you to draw such attention from all around the world. What kind of feedback have you received with your new album, Eleven plus two / Twelve plus one?
Thank you. Even though the language we’re singing is Japanese, we’re very happy that people from overseas can enjoy it because of the sound of the melody.
I have a feeling that the response from overseas has gradually increased since we have toured Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan in 2019. After the release of our album, something really amazing happened! Ezra of Vampire Weekend introduced our song, Mitsubishi Machiato, which was a tribute to his band. We also reached [the Canadian garage rock band] Peach Kelli Pop, which also appears in the lyrics of the same song.
Oh, please tell us more about your contact with Ezra!
Well, he seemed to listen to us and introduced us on his Instagram! I couldn’t believe it at first, but then I thought it was something that could happen these times we live in. I haven’t met him in person yet but I’ve been a fan since I was a teenager, and I really hope to play together when they come to Japan.
All of your videos are so cinematic, too. Who do you work with and why is visuality so important for you? Do you have any movie projects for the future?
We have been working with our old filmmaker friends who know us well recently. This is because they know how to bring out our best selves, and they can just relax and take pictures. It is also easy to exchange ideas about the images of the video. The importance of video can be seen from the business aspect as to how music is listened to and discovered nowadays, but there is simply a desire to see what I myself visualized the world of music. Whether it’s something close to the image I was imagining when I was making a song or something that combines distant ideas that I had never imagined, you can enjoy it either way. As for the future, I think it would be interesting to be able to show a new side if we could make a work that collects behind the scenes of the band.
Your videos also remind me of that Japanese movie I have once seen and loved, Fish Story. Has that movie been an impact on your art, by chance?
I really like the movie as well as the original novel. I don’t think I have never been directly aware of the Fish Story itself while I am making my works, but since the work of the original author Kôtarô Isaka has been an influence in general, we may have unconsciously had such an element in our videos as well. I really like the atmosphere of the band of Fish Story.
For our loop-songs series, we have chosen your beautiful song, 眠ったふりして (Pretend To Sleep). Will you tell us what the song’s about and how it came together?
Thanks! This song was actually made when I was in my old band before the formation of HLC, and this time I was able to revive the Helsinki Lambda Club style with the arrangement of Kumagai on the guitar. Originally it was a little more Japanese pop-like arrangement, but in this re-arrangement, I was kind of influenced by Black Pool and Men I Trust. Inspired by the Japanese movie Don’t Laugh at My Romance, the theme is the passing of the heart in love. Considering the content of the lyrics, I think that there is a similar atmosphere to movies like Blue Valentine and Revolutionary Road.
What is the significance of this song for you or the album?
It may be relatively easier to be accepted overseas with an uptempo and melodious song. But in Japanese, especially with the melody line of the chorus being very Japanese; how would we be able to make it enjoyable outside of Japan? With that in mind, I was strongly conscious of the beat feeling that you can feel comfortable even if you do not understand the meaning of the words even though it is a slow song. I think it is a song that is very meaningful in the album in that it was able to shape that challenge.
I know that the Japanese indie music scene is very rich and flavorful. Will you recommend to us a couple of Japanese songs you listen to on loop-mode before we finish?
- 踊ってばかりの国 / 世界が見たい
- ミツメ / トニック・ラブ
- うみのて / Sayonara Baby Blue
All of these bands have interesting Japanese lyrics and also the beats are way pleasant. Having both the influence from overseas and the uniqueness of Japan combined together in their music makes each of them great bands.
Interview Text in Japanese
Kaoru Hashimoto talks to Infected Ear
Will you please introduce your band and tell us how you got together? (Members, Formation, UK Project, etc.)
2013年に僕の通っていた大学の軽音楽サークルのメンバーと結成しました。(ベースの稲葉だけは別の大学で、昔僕がやっていたバンドのメンバーの紹介で入りました。2014年にukprojectのオーディションに優勝しCDデビュー。その後メンバーチェンジを経てギターに熊谷が入り、2018年から現体制となりました。結成した当初はThe Strokes, The Libertines, The Vines, The Viewなどのガレージロックをベースにした音楽をやろうと思っていましたが、いつの間にか様々な要素を取り入れ過ぎて想定とまったく違うバンドになっていました。でもそこが魅力だと思っています。
What is the story of your band’s name, Helsinki Lambda Club?
名前自体に特に意味はないのですが…。最初に、◯◯クラブにしようというアイデアがあり、ありそうもないクラブにしようということにしました。まずラマダンクラブという名前が思いつき、更にラマダンに関係のない言葉をくっつけようと思い、イスラム圏に縁遠いフィンランドの首都ヘルシンキの名前を冠しました。Bombay Bicycle Clubとかも好きでしたし、都市名が付くのも憧れていたのだと思います。その後、ラマダンという宗教的な言葉は避けた方がいいかという考えになり、語感の似ていたラムダという言葉に変えました。
How would you describe HLC’s music? What are the main elements of your genre&culture-fluid music?
結成した当初はThe Strokes, The Libertines, The Vines, The Viewなどのガレージロックをベースにした音楽をやろうと思っていましたが、いつの間にかソウルやファンク、サイケやエレクトロなと様々な要素を取り入れ過ぎて想定とまったく違うバンドになっていました。でもそこが魅力だと思っています。
歌詞の面で言えば、ゆらゆら帝国やスピッツ、くるりなどの日本のバンドからの影響を受けています。彼らの歌詞には余白があり、文学性があると思います。
I really appreciate you for sticking with the Japanese language. It’s a shame that we, non-Japanese speakers, miss your playful lyrics but at the same time, it must be magical for you to draw such attention from all around the world. What kind of feedback did you get with your new album, Eleven plus two / Twelve plus one?
ありがとうございます。歌っている言語は日本語ですが、メロディの響きなどから海外の方にも楽しんでもらえるという自負があるのでとても嬉しいです。
2019年に香港、中国、台湾にライブで行ったこともあり海外からの反響も徐々に増えてきた実感はあります。このアルバムをリリースしてからは、ミツビシ・マキアートの歌詞のオマージュ元になっているVampire Weekendのエズラに曲を紹介してもらうという驚くべき出来事もありました。歌詞の中に出てくるPeach Kelli Popにも届きましたし。
All of your videos are so beautiful. Who do you work with and why is visuality so important for you? Do you have any future-length projects for the future?
最近は、自分たちのことをよく知る昔からの友人の映像作家と作ることが増えてきました。その方が自分たちの魅力の引き出し方を知っていたり、リラックスして撮影にも臨めるからです。それと映像についての意見も言いやすいですし。映像の重要性については、昨今の音楽の聴かれ方、発見のされ方というビジネス的な側面からも言えることですが、単純に僕自身が曲の世界を視覚化したものを見てみたいという欲求があります。それは自分が曲を作る時にイメージしていた映像に近いものでも、想像もしていなかったようなかけ離れたアイデアが合わさったものでも、どちらであっても楽しむことができます。今後に関しては、バンドのオフショットを集めた作品などが作れたら、また新たな一面を見せられて面白いんじゃかいかなと思っています。
Your videos remind me of that Japanese movie I have once seen and loved, Fish Story. Has that movie been an impact on your art, by chance?
フィッシュストーリーは映画も原作の小説も好きです。フィッシュストーリーそのものを作品を作るにあたって意識したことはありませんが、原作者の伊坂幸太郎の作品には少なからず影響を受けているので、もしかしたら無意識的にそういう要素が映像にも出ているかもしれないです。フィッシュストーリーのバンドの雰囲気とかとても好きですし。
For our loop-songs series, we have chosen your beautiful song, 眠ったふりして. Will you tell us what the song’s about and how it came together?
ありがとうございます。この曲は実はHLC結成前に僕がやっていたバンドの頃に作った曲で、今回ギターの熊谷のアレンジでHLC流に復活することができました。元々はもう少し日本のポップスっぽいアレンジだったのですが、今回のリアレンジにあたってはBlack PoolやMen I Trustなどを意識しました。日本の映画である「人のセックスを笑うな」という作品から着想を得て、恋愛における心のすれ違いがテーマになっています。「ブルー・バレンタイン」や「レボリューショナリー・ロード」のような映画とも歌詞の内容としては近い雰囲気があると思います。
What is the significance of this song for you or the album?
アップテンポでメロディアスな曲で海外でも受け入れられるのは比較的容易かもしれませんが、日本語で、特にサビのメロディラインは非常に邦楽的なもので日本以外でも楽しんでもらうためにはどうすればいいだろう？という思いが念頭にあったので、スローな曲ながらも言葉の意味がわからなくても心地良く感じられるようなビート感を強く意識しました。そのチャレンジを形にできたという点でとてもアルバムの中で意義のある曲だと思います。
I know that the Japanese indie scene is very rich and flavorful. Will you recommend to us a couple of Japanese songs YOU listen to on loop-mode?
踊ってばかりの国 / 世界が見たい
ミツメ / トニック・ラブ
うみのて / SAYONARA BABY BLUE
どれも日本語の歌詞が面白いバンドですが、ビートが気持ちいいですし海外からの影響と日本の独自性が合わさってとても良いバンドです。
Lastly, in your song, Mitsubishi Macchiato, you talk about a Vampire Weekend date. Have you ever got in touch with them (or vice versa) after the release of that song? I can totally picture you as their opener on their Japan tour!
さっきも少し触れましたが、ボーカルのエズラが聴いてくれたらしく、彼のInstagramで紹介してくれました！信じられない気持ちでしたが、今の時代ならではの出来事だなと思いました。まだ直接会ったことはないですが、僕自身10代の頃からのファンですし、ぜひ日本に来る際は共演したいと強く願っています。
Japanese Lyrics: 眠ったふりして
いったいどれだけ眠った？
見つからない答えを探した
とりあえずケータイを開いた
降り積もる雪は何を隠した？
僕らお互い勘違いのまま時は流れてゆく
一生かけても埋まらない
そんなこと言ったってつまらない
打算もルールもそこにない
だけど蟻酸みたいにほろ苦い
言えずに溜まった言葉たちは宙を待ってゆく
何してんのかな？
意味わかんないよな
厭んなっちゃうよな
僕は馬鹿みたいだな
信じているけどそれでも
都合の良いことばかり言う君はちょっと嫌いだよ
曖昧な世界の不確かな僕らは今日も朝を待つ
冷えたつま先 何度でも僕はそっと包み込む
いつしか君は靴下を履いて寝る
曖昧な世界の不確かな僕らの夜は夜なだけ
曖昧な世界の不確かな僕らは今日も朝を待つ
冷えたつま先 何度でも僕はそっと包み込む
曖昧な世界の不確かな僕らは
冷えたつま先 何度でも僕はそっと包み込む
僕は君の靴下をそっと脱がす
Tracklist: Eleven plus two / Twelve plus one
1. “ミツビシ・マキアート”
2. “Debora”
3. “それってオーガズム？”
4. “Good News Is Bad News”
5. “パーフェクトムーン”
6. “Shrimp Salad Sandwich“
7. “Mind The Gap“
8. “午時葵“
9. “IKEA”
10. “Sabai”
11. “眠ったふりして”
12. “Happy Blue Monday”
13. “you are my gravity”
