Raindance 2011: Japanese Group Galileo Galilei Set to Rock London

· Debut single ranked in over one million download sales in Japan
· Top 5 ranking debut album ‘Parade’ available now across the UK.

Hokkaido’s hottest new talent, Galileo Galilei, prepares for success in Britain as a film inspired by their music gets its European premier at London’s Raindance Film Festival 2011 on 9 October.

The four-piece indie-rock group blasted into the mainstream after dominating Japan’s ‘Senkou Riot’ teenage talent festival. Since then, their debut single has surpassed one million download sales and their first major label album gained top five success in the country’s Weekly Oricon Album chart.

Now, a film named after the first song they ever wrote, ‘Control Tower (Kanseitou)’, sets to capture the emotion behind the chords and translate the lyrics’ message in a medium that transcends the language barrier. Upon first hearing the song live in concert, director Takahiro Miki knew that he wanted to make a film from it.

“We were surprised and thrilled when we first heard about the project,” says vocalist Yuuki Ozaki. “Kanseitou was about those feelings we had as teenagers, battling against an overwhelming sense of hopelessness as time inevitably ticks on.”

The film, screening on 9 October, tells how two alienated, directionless youths find their place in life through music and uses the band’s quaint hometown of Wakkanai in northern Japan as its setting.

‘Parade’, Galileo Galilei’s critically acclaimed debut album is available now in the UK from major digital outlets and includes ‘Kanseitou’, their breakthrough debut single ‘Hanamasu no Hana’ and nine other tracks that demonstrate why these Hokkaido boys are setting the standard for Japan’s teenage rock movement.

‘Parade’ is available from  iTunes  / Amazon 

Control Tower (Kanseitou) Directed by Takahiro Miki, “Control Tower (Kanseitou)” was the centre of attention before its theatrical release, drawing more than 10,000 applicants for its invitation-only premier.

Featuring upcoming teenage talent Kento Yamazaki and Ai Hashimoto (from Japan’s entry to 2010’s Academy Awards, ‘Confessions’), and inspired by a song of the same name by rock band Galileo Galilei, ‘Control Tower (Kanseitou)‘ follows Kakeru, a 15 year old boy, and Mii, a female transfer student who picks up the unfortunate nickname Little My for her resemblance to  a character from The Moomins. They are two lonely teens who cannot find their place in life, but who gradually learn to relate to each other through the power of music.

Official site:Galileo Galilei  (Japanese)   Control Tower Raindance Page  

Cinehouse and The Peoples Movies Will be attending the festival stay tuned for our  joint coverage, check out the movies trailer below:

trailer source Youtube