Japan's answer to Daft Punk.
Founded in 1989, Denki Groove (literally "Electric Groove") is a Japanese electronica band founded by two DJs from Shizuoka Prefecture: Takkyu Ishino and Pierre Taki. Known for their bizarre, ribald sense of humor as much as they are for their musical talent, Denki Groove has produced more than fifteen albums as of 2023 and have acquired a name for themselves in Japanese popular culture.
While they have become famous for making theme songs for anime series like Hakaba Kitaro, Eureka Seven and Coji-Coji, they developed an international cult following with their intro theme to DEVILMAN crybaby, "Man Human." Unfortunately in 2019, just in time for their 30th anniversary, Pierre Taki almost had his career obliterated after he was found guilty of cocaine possession. The outrage over his disproportionately harsh treatment was palpable, thanks to the "Free Taki" social media campaign, shedding a spotlight on the massive taboo surrounding narcotics in Japan (if not East Asia). Ki/oon Records read the writing on the wall and, upon Taki's release from prison in 2020, Denki Groove's music was rereleased on streaming platforms.
Studio Albums
- 662 BPM by DG (1990)
- Flash Papa (1991)
- U.F.O. (1991)
- Karateka (1992)
- Vitamin (1993)
- Dragon (1994)
- Orange (1996)
- A (1997)
- Voxxx (2000)
- Denki Groove toka Scha Dara Parr (2005) (with Scha Dara Parr)
- J-Pop (2008)
- Yellow (2008)
- 20 (2009)
- Human Beings and Animals (2013)
- Tropical Love (2017)
- 30 (2019)
Compilation Albums
- Flash Papa Menthol (1993)
- Drill King Anthology (1994)
- Recycled A (1998)
- The Last Supper (2001)
- Singles and Strikes (2004)
- Denki Groove Golden Hits: Due to Contract (2011)
- Denki Groove Decade 2008-2017 (2017)
- Tropical Love Lights (2017)
Live Albums
- Ilbon 2000 (2000)
EPs
- Dragon EP (1995)
- Orange Remixes (1996)
- Hirake! Pon-chak (1996) (with Epaksa)
- Drill King Golden Hits Vol. 1 (2001)
- Drill King Golden Hits Vol. 2 (2001)
- Drill King Golden Hits Vol. 3 (2001)
- Dessert (2001)
- 25 (2014)
Singles
- "Rhythm Red Beat Black (Version 300000000000)" (1991) (split with TMN)
- "Mud Ebis" / "Cosmic Surfin'" (1991)
- "Snake Finger" (1992)
- "Transistor Radio" (1993) (as Simon'z)
- "N.O." (1994)
- "Popo" (1994)
- "Kame Life" (1994)
- "Zinsei (Hardfloor Remix)" (1994)
- "Niji" (1995) - The ending theme for Eureka Seven
- "Dareda!" (1996)
- "Asunaro Sunshine" (1997)
- "Shangri-La" (1997) - The ending theme for Kuuchuu Buranko
- "Pocket Cowboy" (1997) - The ending theme for Coji-Coji
- "Flashback Disco" (1999)
- "Nothing's Gonna Change" (1999)
- "Twilight" (2005) (with Scha Dara Parr)
- "Saint Ojisan" (2005) (with Scha Dara Parr)
- "Shonen Young" (2007)
- "Mononoke Dance" (2008) - The opening theme for Hakaba Kitaro
- "The Words" (2009)
- "Upside Down" (2009) - The opening theme for Kuuchuu Buranko
- "Shameful" (2012)
- "Missing Beatz" (2013)
- "Fallin' Down" (2015)
- "Man Human" (2018) - The opening theme for DEVILMAN crybaby
- "Set you Free" (2020)
- "Homebase" (2022)
Tropes:
- An Odd Place to Sleep: One of the many bizarre vignettes in "Pierre Taki's 30th Birthday" involves him sleeping in a futon in the middle of a graveyard. At one point he rolls over in his sleep and exposes his bare ass.
- Big Ol' Eyebrows: Takkyu Ishino is always caricaturized as having these.
- The Cameo: One of the people interviewed in the Ningen President video is none other than Hideaki Anno.
- Hook Hand: A Running Gag with most of their music videos.
- Maniac Monkeys: A lab monkey featured in the 30th Anniversary video beats his professor, a punk rock girl and his professor. Again.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: The video for "Ningen President"
features an extremely unsubtle lookalike of Donald Trump. - Sampling: A lot. A strong example is the aforementioned "Ningen President", which is built almost entirely around samples from "Temporary Secretary" by Paul McCartney, "Beat Box" by Art of Noise and "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell at the same time.
- Surprisingly Gentle Song: Wicked Jumper and Smoky Bubbles.
- Surreal Music Video: This is their bread and butter, most notably with "Flashback Disco" and "Pierre Taki's 30th Birthday."
- Youkai: The central theme of Mononoke Dance and its video.
