Mass of the Fermenting Dregs
{{Short description|Japanese musical group}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Mass of the Fermenting Dregs
| image = MOTFD Rock Chick.jpg
| caption = MOTFD in Roppongi (2009)
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| origin = Kobe, Japan
| genre = Alternative rock, post-hardcore, shoegaze, math rock
| years_active = 2002–2012, 2015–present
| label = AVOCADO Records
| website =
| current_members = Natsuko Miyamoto
Isao Yoshino
Naoya Ogura
| past_members = Reiko Gotoh
Chiemi Ishimoto
}}
{{nihongo|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 Fāmentingu Doreggusu}} (capitalized in its stylization) is a post-hardcore/shoegaze trio formed in Kobe, Japan, in 2002. In Japanese, they are also popularly known by a shortened form of their name, {{nihongo||マスドレ|Masu Dore}}. They are known for a tightly arranged, guitar-driven style, melodic pop vocals and a high-energy stage presence at their live events.
Starting with the release of their self-titled EP in January 2008, they signed to the Japanese indie rock record label AVOCADO Records. They have released four albums since their second EP. After their first album, they have released independently or gone through FLAKE SOUNDS.
History
=Early career=
Mass of the Fermenting Dregs was formed in 2002 in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, with the original all-female lineup of Natsuko Miyamoto, Chiemi Ishimoto and Reiko Gotoh. The name of the band was conceived by simply lining up words the members liked.{{cite web|url=https://www.hmv.co.jp/news/article/801070038?|title=MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGSインタビュー!! 1/2|first=|last=|website=www.hmv.co.jp|date=7 January 2008|access-date=22 December 2018|archive-date=13 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813063941/https://www.hmv.co.jp/news/article/801070038|url-status=live}} 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 Isao Yoshino became an official member of the band, prior to the release of their major label debut album.{{cite web |title=Next Music From Tokyo vol 13 |url=https://www.nextmusicfromtokyo.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222173232/https://www.nextmusicfromtokyo.com/ |archive-date=22 December 2018 |access-date=22 December 2018 |website=Next Music From Tokyo vol 13}}
=Departure of Chiemi Ishimoto=
In October 2010, it was announced that the band's guitarist of six years, Chiemi Ishimoto, would be leaving the group after completing the band's national tour on 11 December 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.tokyohive.com/article/2010/10/ishimoto-chiemi-to-leave-mass-of-the-fermenting-dregs|title=Ishimoto Chiemi to leave MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS - tokyohive.com|website=www.tokyohive.com|access-date=12 April 2016|archive-date=7 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307174205/http://www.tokyohive.com/article/2010/10/ishimoto-chiemi-to-leave-mass-of-the-fermenting-dregs/|url-status=live}} Her leaving was due to a medical panic disorder. Ishimoto's last performance was held at the Shibuya Club Quattro. Guitarist and lead vocalist Eriko Hashimoto of the band Chatmonchy attended the performance, sharing the enthralling experience of the final performance of "End Roll" on her official blog on her band's official website.{{Cite web |url=http://6109.jp/chatmonchy/?blog=205245 |title=チャットモンチーDiary |access-date=6 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219205642/http://6109.jp/chatmonchy/?blog=205245 |archive-date=19 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}
= Departure of Isao Yoshino =
In December 2011, Isao Yoshino announced that he would be leaving the group for undisclosed reasons. This left Miyamoto as the sole founding and active member of the band.
=Dissolution=
Though Natsuko Miyamoto, with the help of supporting members, continued to perform as Mass of the Fermenting Dregs through the spring of 2012, on September the 1st of the same year, she officially announced that Mass of the Fermenting Dregs would cease to exist as of that day. As a parting present, Miyamoto shared what was, at that moment, the last of the works recorded with Yoshino. A song titled "たんたんたん" (tantantan) was made available for download through a direct link placed within the page containing the departing letter to the fans on the official M.o.F.D. website.{{cite web|url=http://www.motfd.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010190452/http://www.motfd.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 October 2012|title=MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS|date=10 October 2012}}
=Reformation (2015–present)=
In December the M.o.F.D website started to update, deleting the departing letter on the website.{{cite web|url=http://www.motfd.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227104441/http://www.motfd.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 December 2015|title=MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS|date=27 December 2015}} Natsuko Miyamoto sent hints on Twitter about M.o.F.D, and the band was later confirmed to play on the New Year's Q2 Concert,{{cite web|url=http://www.garage.or.jp/3724|title=Q2 concert EXTRA ~ NEW YEAR FROM HERE ~|date=29 December 2015|website=下北沢GARAGE|access-date=26 December 2015|archive-date=26 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226024544/http://www.garage.or.jp/3724|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.last.fm/event/4202951+Q2+concert+EXTRA+~+NEW+YEAR+FROM+HERE+~|title=Q2 concert EXTRA ~ NEW YEAR FROM HERE ~ at Shimokitazawa GARAGE (Tōkyō) on 29 Dec 2015|website=Last.fm|access-date=22 December 2018|archive-date=16 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616193310/https://www.last.fm/event/4202951+Q2+concert+EXTRA+~+NEW+YEAR+FROM+HERE+~|url-status=live}} thus confirming the reunion of the band. In May 2016, the band played in three Canadian cities on the "Next Music From Tokyo" concert tour.
On 1 August 2022, the M.o.F.D. website was updated, announcing a new album titled "Awakening:Sleeping." Similar announcements were made on the same day on the band's Instagram accounthttps://www.instagram.com/p/ChXXop_J-jU/ {{Self-published source|date=August 2022}} as well as Natsuko Miyamoto's accounthttps://www.instagram.com/p/ChXOdtTJ4hN/ {{Self-published source|date=August 2022}} with a digital release marked for 17 August 2022, as well as a CD release on 7 October.{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CgtuxOGp20K/ | title=MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS on Instagram: "【CD Release】 🏟 会場先行販売 9/18、25、10/2 🛒 一般発売 10/7 CDは9月のリリースツアーにて先行という形で販売開始！一般発売日は10月7日、今回もFLAKE @FLAKE_RECORDS から出させていただきます📀 #massofthefermentingdregs #motfd #masudore #マスドレ #flakerecords" }} The band also announced that they would be planning to do a European Tour the following year.{{cite web | url=https://electricbloomwebzine.com/2022/05/interview-mass-of-the-fermenting-dregs-prepare-to-make-uk-live-debut.html | title=MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS prepare to make UK live debut | date=12 May 2022 }} On 9 September, the band had opened up for HARU NEMURI at the WWW X Shibuya before heading out on their second U.S. Tour.
Style and influences
The band's sound is often compared to that of other influential Japanese post-hardcore 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.motfd.com/english/|title=MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS: ENGLISH|website=www.motfd.com|access-date=10 April 2009|archive-date=3 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403050526/http://www.motfd.com/english/|url-status=live}}
Members
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Current members=
- {{Nihongo|Natsuko Miyamoto|宮本菜津子|Miyamoto Natsuko}} – Lead vocals, bass guitar (2002–present)
- {{Nihongo|Naoya Ogura|小倉直也|Ogura Naoya}} – Guitar, vocals (2010–present)
- {{Nihongo|Isao Yoshino|吉野功|Yoshino Isao}} – Drums, vocals (2007–2011, 2015–present){{cite web |title=MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS: profile |url=http://www.motfd.com/webpage/profile/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220151554/http://www.motfd.com/webpage/profile/index.html |archive-date=20 December 2016 |access-date=18 December 2016 |website=www.motfd.com}}
{{col-2}}
=Former members=
- {{Nihongo|Reiko Gotoh|後藤玲子|Gotoh Reiko}} – Drums, backing vocals (2002–2007)
- {{Nihongo|Chiemi Ishimoto|石本知恵美|Ishimoto Chiemi}} – Guitar, backing vocals (2002–2010)
{{col-end}}
= Timeline =
{{#tag:timeline|ImageSize=width:800 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:10
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/2002 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}}
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:1
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:2 start:2002
ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:2002
Colors =
id:bass value:red legend:Bass,_Lead_vocals
id:guitar value:green legend:Guitars,_Vocals
id:drums value:orange legend:Drums,_Vocals
id:Lines value:black legend:Studio_album
id:bars value:gray(0.95)
LineData =
at:01/16/2008 color:black layer:back
at:01/21/2009 color:black layer:back
at:04/08/2010 color:black layer:back
at:07/04/2018 color:black layer:back
at:08/17/2022 color:black layer:back
BarData =
bar:Natsuko text:"Natsuko Miyamoto"
bar:Chiemi text:"Chiemi Ishimoto"
bar:Naoya text:"Naoya Ogura"
bar:Reiko text:"Reiko Gotoh"
bar:Isao text:"Isao Yoshino"
PlotData=
width:11
bar: Natsuko from:01/01/2002 till:09/01/2012 color:bass
bar: Natsuko from:12/28/2015 till:end color:bass
bar:Chiemi from:01/01/2002 till:12/11/2010 color:guitar
bar:Naoya from:12/12/2010 till:09/01/2012 color:guitar
bar:Naoya from:12/28/2015 till:end color:guitar
bar:Reiko from:01/01/2002 till:06/01/2007 color:drums
bar:Isao from:06/02/2007 till:12/23/2011 color:drums
bar:Isao from:12/28/2015 till:end color:drums}}
Discography
Kirametal (demo) – released 15 September 2006, independent
{{Track listing
| title1 = delusionalism | length1=3:41
| title2 = I F A SURFER | length2=3:35
| title3 = skabetty | length3=4:44
}}
MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS – released 16 January 2008, AVOCADO Records
{{Track listing
| title1 = delusionalism | length1=3:41
| title2 = Highlight (ハイライト Hairaito) | length2=3:50
| title3 = skabetty | length3=4:46
| title4 = Endroll (エンドロール Endorooru) | length4=9:27
| title5 = I F A SURFER | length5=3:40
| title6 = Bears (ベアーズ Beaazu) | length6=4:46
}}
World Is Yours (ワールド イズ ユアーズ Waarudo Izu Yuaazu) – released 21 January 2009, AVOCADO Records
{{Track listing
| title1 = Kono Supīdo No Saki He (このスピードの先へ, tr. After this Speed)
| length1 = 3:24
| title2 = Aoi, Koi, Daidaīro No Hi (青い、濃い、橙色の日, tr. Blue, Deep and Orange Day)
| length2 = 4:41
| title3 = Kaku Iu Mono (かくいうもの, tr. Such Things)
| length3 = 4:03
| title4 = She is inside, He is outside
| length4 = 2:53
| title5 = Nan Nan (なんなん)
| length5 = 3:39
| title6 = World Is Yours (ワールド イズ ユアーズ)
| length6 = 3:31
}}
Hikizuru Beat / Made. (ひきずるビート / まで。 Hikizuru bīto/ made.) – released 2 October 2010, AVOCADO Records
{{Track listing
| title1 = Hikizuru bīto (ひきずるビート, tr. Dizzying beat) | length1=4:16
| title2 = Made. (まで。, tr. Until.) | length2=3:20
}}
ゼロコンマ、色とりどりの世界 – released 8 April 2010, AVOCADO Records
{{Track listing
| title1 = Zero Comma Iro Toridori No Sekai (ゼロコンマ、色とりどりの世界, tr. Zero Comma, Colorful World) | length1=4:32
| title2 = Made (Jounetsu Mix) (まで。情熱ミックス) | length2=3:21
| title3 = Owari No Hajimari (終わりのはじまり, tr. The Beginning of the End) | length3=2:58
| title4 = RAT | length4=3:18
| title5 = ONEDAY | length5=5:06
| title6 = Cider To Kimi (サイダーと君) | length6=3:32
| title7 = Zureru (ズレる) | length7=3:25
| title8 = Hikizuru Beat (ひきずるビート) | length8=4:17
| title9 = Sanzameku (さんざめく) | length9=4:56
}}
たんたんたん – released 9 January 2012 (via official website – download only)
{{Track listing
| title1 = tantantan (たんたんたん) | length1=4:21
}}
スローモーションリプレイ – released 3 January 2017 7" Vinyl
{{Track listing
| title1 = Slow-Motion Replay (スローモーションリプレイ) | length1=3:36
}}
No New World – released 7 April 2018, independent
{{Track listing
| title1 = New Order | length1=3:27
| title2 = あさひなぐ (ASAHINAGU) | length2=4:19
| title3 = だったらいいのにな (If Only) | length3=3:44
| title4 = YAH YAH YAH | length4=0:50
| title5 = No New World | length5=2:59
| title6 = HuHuHu | length6=2:40
| title7 = Sugar | length7=5:07
| title8 = スローモーションリプレイ (Slow-motion Replay) | length8=3:37
}}
Naked Album – released 14 August 2020, independent
{{Track listing
| title1 = decision (2011/5/15 at GALVASTUDIO) | length1=6:12
| title2 = くぼたさん (2011/5/15 at GALVASTUDIO) | length2=3:36
| title3 = うたを歌えば (2017/2/12 at OGC's ROOM) | length3=3:05
| title4 = New Order (2017/4/10 at Studio Revival) | length4=3:33
| title5 = Sugar (2017/1/14 at Studio Revival) | length5=5:04
| title6 = HuHuHu (2017/4/10 at Studio Revival) | length6=2:41
| title7 = あさひなぐ (2017/4/10 at Studio Revival) | length7=4:24
| title8 = だったらいいのにな (2011/5/15 at GALVASTUDIO) | length8=3:57
| title9 = ADIDAS (2019/5/2 at Studio Revival) | length9=3:13
| title10 = HOSSA (2011/6/15 at LDK Studio) | length10=2:40
}}
Awakening:Sleeping – released 17 August 2022, FLAKE SOUNDS
{{Track listing
| title1 = Dramatic | length1=3:47
| title2 = いらない (feat. 蛯名啓太 from Discharming man)
| length2=2:48
| title3 = MELT | length3=3:10
| title4 = 1960 | length4=8:28
| title5 = Helluva (feat. Taigen Kawabe from BO NINGEN) | length5=2:01
| title6 = Ashes | length6=3:06
| title7 = After the rain | length7=1:54
| title8 = 鳥とリズム | length8=3:18
| title9 = Just | length9=4:27
}}
LIVE IN JAPAN – released 1 March 2024, independent
{{Track listing
| title1 = 青い、濃い、橙色の日 (Live at TUPPENCE STUDIO, Tokyo, Japan, 2023) | length1=4:57
| title2 = かくいうもの (Live at TUPPENCE STUDIO, Tokyo, Japan, 2023)
| length2=4:37
| title3 = She is inside, He is outside (Live at TUPPENCE STUDIO, Tokyo, Japan, 2023) | length3=2:51
| title4 = delusionalism (Live at TUPPENCE STUDIO, Tokyo, Japan, 2023) | length4=3:37
| title5 = エンドロール (Live at TUPPENCE STUDIO, Tokyo, Japan, 2023) | length5=8:54
| title6 = I F A SURFER (Live at TUPPENCE STUDIO, Tokyo, Japan, 2023)
| length6=3:34
| title7 = ワールドイズユアーズ (Live at TUPPENCE STUDIO, Tokyo, Japan, 2023) | length7=3:32
}}
Citations
External links
- [http://www.motfd.com Mass of the Fermenting Dregs Official Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010190452/http://www.motfd.com/ |date=10 October 2012 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20101216023714/http://motfd.jugem.jp/ Mass of the Fermenting Dregs New Official Diary (Japanese)]
- [http://yaplog.jp/motfd/ Original Mass of the Fermenting Dregs Official Diary (Japanese)]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mass Of The Fermenting Dregs}}
Category:Japanese post-rock groups
Category:Japanese alternative rock groups
Category:Japanese shoegaze musical groups
Category:Musical groups from Hyōgo Prefecture
Category:Musical groups established in 2002
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2012