Denki Groove

Denki Groove (電気グルーヴ, Denki Gurūvu; "Electric Groove") is a Japanese music group founded in 1989. It consists of Takkyu Ishino and Pierre Taki.^[1]

Denki Groove
Pierre Taki (left) and Takkyu Ishino (right) performing live in Japan, 2011
Background information
Origin	Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Genres	J-pop synth-pop techno hip hop (early)
Years active	1989–2001 2004–present
Labels	SSE Communications Trefort Ki/oon Music
Members	Takkyu Ishino Pierre Taki
Past members	Mimio Koji Takahashi Jun Kitagawa Yoshinori Sunahara
Website	www.denkigroove.com

History

Denki Groove was founded in 1989 by Takkyu Ishino and Pierre Taki, both of whom are natives of Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture.^[2] They formed on April 26, the same day their predecessor group, ZIN-SÄY! disbanded.

The group's major-label debut studio album, Flash Papa, was released in 1991, the first being 662 BPM by DG in 1990.^[3] They also released a few albums, including U.F.O. (1991), Karateka (1992), Vitamin (1993), Dragon (1994), Orange (1996), A (1997), and Voxxx (2000).^[4] Their single, "Shangri-La", had sold more than half a million copies.^[4] They went on hiatus between 2001 and 2004.^[5]

In 2019, Pierre Taki was arrested on suspicion of cocaine possession.^[6] In response, Sony Music Entertainment Japan took Denki Groove's recordings off the shelves and stopped streaming the group's music.^[7] Streaming services were resumed on June 19, 2020.^[8]

Members

Current members

• Takkyū Ishino – vocals, production (1989–present)
• Pierre Taki – vocals, production (1989–present)

Former members

• Mimio – guitar (1989–1990)
• Koji Takahashi – production (1989–1990)
• Jun Kitagawa (CMJK) – production, turntables (1990–1991)
• Yoshinori Sunahara – production (1991–1999)

Discography

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)
• "Dareda!" (1996)
• "Asunaro Sunshine" (1997)
• "Shangri-La" (1997)
• "Pocket Cowboy" (1997)
• "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 Words" (2009)
• "Upside Down" (2009)
• "Shameful" (2012)
• "Missing Beatz" (2013)
• "Fallin' Down" (2015)
• "Man Human" (2018)
• "Set you Free" (2020)
• "Homebase" (2022)