Courtesy of Avex

Is it rock? Is it punk? “Mmm…,” offers Masayuki Ichikawa, a.k.a. Low IQ 01, in the classic Japanese deferral of comment. “The sound has elements of punk, ska, rock…various styles,” he attempts to explain when pressed in an interview at his label Avex’s Aoyama headquarters. “From a general point of view, my music is rock, but I think of it as punk.”

And, in fact, it’s a punk spirit rather than a classic punk sound that defines Low IQ’s Master Low For..., the fourth album by Ichikawa and his band Master Low. Shaped by the varied experiences of the former leader of Japanese punk outfit Super Stupid, it’s the work of a veteran punk rocker who’s moved beyond the genre to embrace a range of styles.

Whatever mode Low IQ happens to choose for a song, it’s always imbued with the self-deprecating verve and wit of a self-described “rock baka” (“rock idiot”—a term Ichikawa insists is meant as praise). With his comic selection of hats and ties, Low IQ 01 (“01” stands for the “Ichi” of his name) comes off as a kind of Chaplinesque Japanese everyman, someone who might represent the nation’s losers.

“My music might appeal to a misunderstood minority—the music of the Sex Pistols spoke to the weak, and that’s how they were able to change the history of music,” he says, reflecting on the influence of punk, which his big brother exposed him to as a child. “If losers can relate to my music, that would be meaningful to me. I’m not trying incite a revolution, but if it makes them feel like someone understands and speaks for them, that would be special.”

Rather than exuding a sense of punk anarchy, Low IQ’s lyrics—ably translated and delivered in English—speak quietly for the underdog. Over a playful, high-velocity punk rhythm, “T·O·A·S·T” asks “Why do you pretend?/Why do you aim so high?” finally suggesting to its target, “You’re no longer who you are.”

“When people get together, there’s always pressure to try and be cool,” Ichikawa explains. “My idea is that people should be open, not put on airs, that putting on that kind of mental armor is a burden. I wasn’t thinking of anyone in particular, just expressing a personal hope that people won’t try and be too competitive or jealous, but instead try to take pride in themselves.”

Motivational messages for the underappreciated and unsung, a classic theme of post-hardcore punk, make up a good part of Low IQ’s Master Low For.... But it’s Ichikawa’s sly sense of humor and gentle jibes that make the album a pleasure. The funk- and rap-powered “Pepper U,” with its playful threat to “spice you up/make you hot” with Low IQ’s “mystic powder,” gets the nod for most fun on the album. “It’s meant to be a bit mysterious, a bit stimulating, but it’s not a drug reference!” Ichikawa insists.

Now an elder statesman of Japan’s punk scene, Ichikawa has mixed feelings about the mainstream commercial success now being enjoyed by today’s younger bands. “It’s already about 25 years since I got into punk, and during that time it’s come from something listened to only by a small minority to the mainstream,” he muses. “The media don’t hesitate to publicize it any more, either, but I wouldn’t really call so-called ‘punk’ bands like Asian Kung-Fu Generation punk. I think our audiences are a bit more mature than those for Ajikan or Ellegarden.”

Low IQ 01 and his seven-piece band, which features members of veteran ska unit Scafull King, conjure a festive mood on Master Low For.... If this and their ability to pull off styles from punk to ska and on to pop and swing is any guide, an upcoming headlining show at Liquid Room should prove to be a fine night out. “I hope you’ll be surprised,” says Ichikawa. “I don’t think there are many shows like ours—certainly not in America or Europe and maybe not even in Japan. Our style, the atmosphere… nothing is standard about our show.”

Liquidroom, June 30. See concert listings (popular) for details.

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