POiSON GiRL FRiEND @ The Foundry
Photos by Delaney Heckman
In early September, Japanese synth-pop legend nOrikO, best known by her performance alias POiSON GiRL FRiEND, kicked off her US/MX Tour at The Foundry.
nOrikO and her touring musicians, Makoto Otsu and Michiaki Kato, serenaded the crowd with a hypnotic synth-pop set that spanned three languages—French, English, and Japanese. While nOrikO was born and is currently based in Japan, she grew up attending a French-language school in Brazil and later spent time living in London. Her exposure to a multitude of cultures and languages in her early life undeniably informed her music, with tracks that feel contemporary over three decades following their release. nOrikO’s gently whispered melodic vocals create a feeling of calm that transcends language.
POiSON GiRL FRiEND’s released discography features a variety of covers that demonstrate their stylistic consistency. Many of the songs performed during the set were just that, and each track blended seamlessly with original works as strong stylization bled into every aspect of the performances. They began with an intense, electronic version of British post-punk band Public Image Ltd.’s “Poptones” and continued into “THOSE WERE THE DAYS,” a Gene Raskin cover featured on 1992 EP MELTING MOMENT. Fuzzy instrumental buffers and a soft falsetto defined their style and set the tone for the rest of the set.
Otsu, Kato, and nOrikO performed in perfect harmony, falsetto vocal melodies melding with fuzzy guitar instrumentals and seamlessly transitioning from one track to the next. They continued into “DOOMED LOVE,” a groovy, keyboard-driven track off POiSON GiRL FRiEND’s 1993 record, Shyness. Otsu and Kato each effortlessly commanded their instruments, coming off casual and cool in comparison to nOrikO’s shy, understated stage presence. The three had an incredible group chemistry, balancing each other’s energy without words and demonstrating a deep mastery of and love for the music they were playing together.
nOrikO sat on a wooden stool in front of the microphone as she softly crooned the next few tracks, at times holding a thin blue book in front of her face as if she were reading from it throughout the set. As the set neared its end, the trio launched into a cover of Julee Cruise’s “Falling” that sounded somehow more otherworldly than the original version. nOrikO’s effortless falsetto mirrored Cruise’s while the fuzzy, pitched-up instrumentals transported the song further into space. The red-velvet curtain behind them glowed blue with stage lights for the duration of the tribute.
The group rounded out their setlist with the track audience members were waiting for: “HARDLY EVER SMILE(without you).” The gloomy, downtempo love song was unreal to witness live– its simple, heartfelt lyrics were delivered in soft earnestness, while Otsu and Kato shone in the dramatic instrumental pauses between verses.
When the trio returned to stage for the encore, nOrikO perched again on the stool centered onstage. She leaned forward and said, “this is a very old American song,” before launching into a cover of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love.” The group’s understated style had a melancholic effect on the romantic track, ending the night on a calm, introspective note.
POiSON GiRL FRiEND’s discography is available to stream wherever you get your music. Keep up with upcoming releases and tour dates here.
