KOKESHI - Doukei 憧憬 LP

Kokeshi's debut album Doukei is a hauntingly beautiful introduction to a band unafraid to navigate the murky depths of emotion and sound. Self-released in 2020 (later re-released on Tokyo Jupiter Records), the record stands as a raw, powerful statement from a Tokyo-based quartet that blurs the lines between post-rock, post-metal, blackgaze - without ever fully conforming to any of them.

Formed in 2017 by guitarist Adel and drummer Kazuma, longtime collaborators since their teenage years, Kokeshi’s sound began to take true shape with the addition of vocalist Nana and bassist Junichi in 2019. Together, they forge a sound that’s simultaneously delicate and destructive, fusing atmospheric tension with crushing weight.

At the heart of Doukei are seven tracks that radiate emotional intensity. Nana's vocals are a standout force, seamlessly shifting between moments of haunting vulnerability and visceral chaos. Her voice carries an almost theatrical sense of madness, bringing life to lyrics drenched in gloom and introspection. It's not just screaming into the void—it's singing from within it.

Instrumentally, the band creates a compelling push and pull. Shimmering, melancholic guitar lines collapse into walls of distortion, and spacious, echoing post-rock builds often give way to punishing crescendos. There’s a careful control here—chaos with a sense of purpose. The production feels intentionally unpolished, giving the album a rawness that makes the emotion hit even harder.

Next to the six tracks from the standard version of the album, the vinyl contains also the bonus song from the "monochrome edition".

In a scene filled with genre crossovers and sonic experimentation, Kokeshi manages to stand out - not just by combining influences, but by fully inhabiting them and pushing them into something deeply personal.  Doukei is more than a debut—it's an opening wound, and an invitation to dive into the band’s emotional abyss.

Tracklist:
1. propaganda
2. 他壊心操回路 
3. 洋灰の淵に
4. kairai 
5. The mantra doesn't reach 
6. 憧憬 
7. "暗い廊下"

1st Press (06.06.2025): 
250x transparent red