Life after DAI – Sparkling Tomiko

Almost an year ago one of the greatest J-rock bands ended it’s impressive 6 year career. I’m talking about Do As Infinity.

The core of the band were: Dai Nagao, master of guitar and note (although he stayed all the time at background he was the heart of DAI), Tomiko Van, fantastic singer and Ryo Owatari, another axe master and lyricist of the band. DAI released 6 studio albums and bunch of singles & compilations and a couple of DVDs.

I still listen my DAI CDs frequently and they sound as fresh now as they did when I got ’em. To me DAI was in a first place a Rock band but they did also some fine ballads. If you don’t know Do As Infinity yet, I recommend you to get yourself Do The A-side compilation with 2 CDs + DVD (with 21 PVs). Because DAI did also very cool promo videos.

When Do As Infinity were disbanded Tomiko started her solo career. Her debut album Farewell was released on March 2006. Her 2nd single Senkou is coming out September 27th. I love the PV of this new song! Dark, blue and rainy. And song, it’s a hit… at least for me. Simple but effective strong guitar wall with piano and Tomiko’s always cool singing.

Ryo has his own band now called Missile Innovation. MI’s debut album Be A Man was released this July. I havn’t heard it yet, but meybe I get it when ordering some stuff from YesAsia next time.

And then one alarming remark concerning my favorite bands:
They seem to have a tendency to breaking up far too soon. DAI did it. Whiteberry did it. Judy And Mary did it. Zone did it. Oh well, fortunately Puffy, L’arc~en~Ciel, Pink Panda & Maria are still going strong. I hope.