Riff-rain (EP) - School Food Punishment
math rock/ indie rock • 2008
8.1
School Food Punishment (SFP) is one of the most enigmatic bands to grace the late 2000s. by looking closer into their EP “Riff-rain” we can capture a pretty exquisite snapshot into a sound that flourished and died in a season long past. School Food Punishment is worth the look today for their brief and vibrant catalogue of work. in ‘rewind’ we aim to give artists and albums just like this a second chance at exposure. albums worth revisiting after the collective world has seemingly left them to collect dust in some cardboard box. SFP might as well be the poster child for such a category and should absolutely be revisited as soon as possible. so here we are, and here we go.
math rock/ electronic rock is the closest genre group i can reference to get us to the heart of the matter. if you’ve never heard of math rock before, you could hardly be blamed. it seems to be a more obscure (yet quite revered) current of music hidden around the fabrics of popular genre. with a small representation in america it seemed to have found stable footing in japan for a while. SFP was even featured in the ending theme of the anime “Eden of the East.” if syncopated jazz were rock, it would land somewhere around here. a rhythmic and progressive sound that plays with purpose. now throw in some electronic crunch and emotional reverb. it’s a strange collection of sums that equate to larger than their intended value. in danger of sounding chaotic and too bombastic, SFP rides a finely thin line into legible noise. beautiful noise. i’ve heard a bit of math rock before (see band Toe among others) but SFP finds their own voice in this niche pool.
i chose “Riff-rain” among their other work for one reason: the track “Egoist” is a one of one song that exists in sole singularity. a favorite song of all time, in fact. a song that remains fresh for all its repeat listens. while their other work is quite strong as well, there’s something about “Riff-rain” that feels a bit more focused. “Egoist” encapsulates the best of SFP’s output and defines them indelibly among the medium. in my opinion, of course.
the voice of their work comes from Yumi Uchimura. an evocative and rebellious voice that signatures all of their work. somehow in a saturated industry Uchimura is a voice that could easily be picked out from a blind test. Uchimura gives identity to the band through soaring power and restrained sensuality. she plays two sides of a performance with wonderful fortitude. each song, she owns. SFP is a band that does not merely benefit from their singer, but harmonizes with them to elevate their sound in totality.
with that said, let’s talk about “Egoist.” the song engages with typical rock instrumentation that quickly spirals out into electronic turmoil. the song plays balanced rhythm and forward momentum in its more natural instruments, meanwhile it plays noise and chaos from its artificial identity. signal feedback loops, harsh whining and general static play in layers over the track like some out of tune radio slipping into and out of clarity. that might sound painful but it’s Uchimarus voice that cuts through all the interference like a lifeline in a tempest. she carries us through the experience as the band plays out methodically, as layers of sound surge in waves of intensity. it’s in this short 5 minute window that School Food Punishment shines brightest. SFP submerges us in liminal obscurity with a decisive and clear through-line. Uchimura’s powerful plea of “hakidashite” in the final minute signals a meaningful breakthrough. by the end of the song, she peaks and maintains a level above the grime, the noise, the endless all-encompassing grain.
in all my own time listening to music i have not yet found anything else that sounds so exacting and non-uniform as School Food Punishment’s sound. it’s one thing to be unique in the never ending sea of music, it’s another thing entirely to own it. SFP has long been a favorite band of mine. maybe they’re a bit obscure, but i find that they have a vocal and dedicated listener base. even after their breakup in 2012, leading Uchimura to form a new band (La La Larks). SFP feels so very 2010 and still so very fresh. today not much is left but this rather short catalogue of their expression.
School Food Punishment is a band i’ve been dying to talk about for years and years. their work is so beautiful and singular. i think thye slot into a “hidden gem” territory. while I’ll have to limit my thoughts here i sincerely hope people will find their own way to School Food Punishment’s work. maybe, one day, i’ll do separate write up on “amp-reflection” and its song “sea-through communication.” a song near equally important to my musical upbringing. with that said…
go check them out already!!
written by Marcus Landeros
- highlights -
Flow
Egoist
Feedback
track list:
Flow
Feedback
Egoist
Killer
Futari Umi no Soko (二人海の底)
Over
