mono

Mono is the first Japanese band I have listened to and they have remained one of my favourites ever since. They are a Japanese instrumental rock band that formed in 1999. The band consists of Takaakira Goto (electric guitar), Yoda (electric guitar), Tamaki Kunishi (bass guitar, guitar, piano, glockenspiel), and Yasunori Takada (drum kit, glockenspiel, synthesiser). Although they belong to the post-rock movement, they understand their style rather related to classical music. It is not as much a question of style category, they say, music is about emotion.

"The Kidnapper Bell", may not be their best, but it's their first song I have listened to, the one that got me hooked on them and definetely representative in structure to most of their work: mesmerizing, it starts off in a very soft and delicate mood, builds up tension, holds the tension, holds it even farther and ends in an unbearable climax of melody mixed with crushing noise, leaving the listener (as a youtube user has noted) feeling like they would have only one more heartbeat left.