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JAPANAMANIA
This November we brought “UP OUR SLEEVE: the dublab covers project” to Tokyo and Kyoto. What a surreal excursion. Japan is far out. Tokyo is a megalopolis buzzing at the seams with inertia. No space is unoccupied for long. Human traffic flash floods every intersection. Great masses swirl in their busy courses weaving like bees bathed in neon. The constant bellows and barks of Parisians or New Yorkers are absent. The people of Tokyo move quietly. It is their buildings that do the talking. Giant video screens crown towers. Their flashes and screeches rapidly boast of the latest techno-gizmo as spazz-out techno breaks scatter across the block. It’s easy to experience vertigo from the ground here. Tokyo is compact and chaotic. Stores and restaurants are hidden deep within glass and steel exteriors. Want those boots? Take the elevator to the 16th floor, turn left, right, and try them on.
This is an altogether different land. If you don’t speak Japanese, voices splash your ears in chattering waves and Kanji phrases flutter like indecipherable butterflies into your mind. Give into the tide and you’ll fall in love. Or, get out and find piece of mind.
Kyoto is like Tokyo after deep breaths and bubble baths. It is an ancient city of mountainside temples and aromatic, alleyway shrines. Kyoto greeted our crew hugged by flaming autumn trees and sparkling streams. The city drifts on pleasant vibes. The pace is slow, the people warm. Kyoto and Tokyo have the exact same letters in their names. Is this coincidence or a sign of deeper power at work? You make the call. Meanwhile enjoy this article about Japan. Following are some random observations from an awestruck outsider.
???!!!JAPAN!!!???
CUTIES – Japanese girls are like beautiful bubblegum strolling the streets in leg warmers. All you can do to keep from chomping them up is fill your mouth with rice balls. (The wasabi and salmon variety are quite tasty.) Ladies don’t fret. This is not a place for one-sided gender shock. Everyone in Japan dresses fresh. They have ingrained fashion sense set on the future. My “relaxed” fashion sense looked slummy beside them. If I tied my shoes tight and smoothed my shirt on my next step I was sure to encounter a hip kid sans laces, sporting a giant wrinkled poncho and alligator mask. Damn it, they can pull off formal dress with a paper bag and string.
YUM – Food is cheap. It’s not dirt-cheap but who wants to eat dirt? You can score a tasty, filling lunch for $5. Dollar sushi spots are hot. If you are a vegetarian or avoid certain edible elements beware. If you’re a ten year old be even more aware. You’ll swear an extra from “Aliens” landed on your plate. If you’re an open minded eater chomp away cheerily. Octopus balls are a crispy culinary highlight. (Warning: there are no burritos in Tokyo).
INSERT COINS – Japan has the world’s most vending machines per capita. Around every corner these mechanical do-gooders give all night access your cravings. Whether that is underwear, beer, smokes, or chowder you’re in luck. The hot milk tea and hot apple tea will fill your life with love. They are always the perfect, tasty temperature. You’ll never encounter an empty machine or the magic elves that maintain them.
TRASH BAN – You’ll have more luck spotting a clan of bikini-clad daredevil armadillos than a trashcan in Tokyo. Most public refuse receptacles were removed after the serin gas attack by brainwashed cultists. Word is they stuffed ruthless wares in rubbish bins. At least the Japanese war on terrorism is reasonable. However, at any given moment I carried a pound of trash stuffed in my pockets. How does the place remain so sparkling clean? Refer to the magic elves above.
WONKA GONE WRONG – There is a very freaky trend in Japan. Some girls seemingly want to be reborn as Jamaicans. Walk in a mall and you’ll see ladies in “island attire” with bright orange skin and bleached perms. They look like bling bling Oompa Loompas. I’m not one to judge but if I did the score would be: CREEPY.
ROMPER ROOM – Traditional Japanese homes and restaurants cover their floors in woven Tatami mats. Before entering, slip off your shoes and ease into the comfortable world of straw. It’s fun to sit down for a meal and know at any moment you could reenact the famous underwear and socks slip’n’slide scene from “Risky Business.” If they question your undie undulations just reply, “I’m a baby Sumo!” Head to the powder room and you’ll find sandals awaiting your naked foot. It’s all quite liberating.
SHOP TIL YOU POP
I once heard that 80% of the world’s vinyl eventually ends up in Japan. Their record buying culture is intense. In some shops album prices hover between $200 and $500. If you want to pay your rent and still score some cuts here are a few suggestions.
ONSA RECORDS - This small, cozy spot in Shimokitazawa is an ultra-focused record boutique. It’s stocked with the hottest spectrum of slowbeat tunes. If you’re searching for Bubble Core, Warp, Fat Cat, Leaf, Tomlab, or other innovative micro-imprints this is the place. The attached teashop adds to the mellow vibe. Sip some oolong and spread almond cookie crumbs amongst next wave wax.
DISK UNION - This is a serious, pre-meditated threat to financial security. Floor upon floor upon floor of well-organized records greet vinyl lovers with a sinister grin. The extremely tasteful techno, experimental, and hip-hop floors inspire wide eyes but the used rock/jazz/world floor really floats the record collector boat.. Timeless albums by My Bloody Valentine, Can, Os Mutantes, Shuggie Otis, Serge Gainsbourg, Nico, Hugh Mundell, Stereolab, and more fill the shelves. The in-store stereo oozes vintage psych-rock sure to loosen joints and purse strings.
SPIRAL RECORDS – Nestled in Aoyama’s architecturally wowee-zowee Spiral Building you will find a specialty shop stocked with rich sounds. Equally offered are quiet electronics, unconventional hip-hop, dub, and Afro-Latin discs. This is also home to the excellent Farlove record label. If you visit, bow once, clap twice and buy their perfectly balanced Twilight World 2.0 compilation. It will serve as a superior sidekick on your Nippon trip.
STAR SEARCH
We were introduced to some delightfully dizzy new music in Japan. Many discs exchanged hands with greetings and smiles. Take a look at some new Japanese music masters below. If any of these become the next Yellow Magic Orchestra you will know where you heard it first. Oh yeah, don’t forget the folks we couldn’t fit: Nobukazu Takemura, Masakatsu Takagi, Win a Sheep Free, Sangatsu, Susumu Yokota, World Standard, Tujiko Noriko, Ogurusu Norihide, Fantastic Plastic Machine, United Future Organization, Kyoto Jazz Massive, ShingO2, Towa Tei, and Ryuichi Sakamoto.
PEPE CALIFORNIA – Our pals Kozyndan turned us onto this Tokyo-based outfit. Their album the Nice Nice is a sunny jaunt found on Farlove Records. Drums (steel, trap, and electronic), percussion, violin, guitar, and bass mesh to elevate ears. Pepe California asked us to play an opening set for their gig in Yokohama, then suggested we scratch along live with one of their tunes, and finally invited us to sing a Ramones tune with them. We thought what the hell we’re in Japan. The dublab crew was in rare form indeed, whipping around the stage belting out “Blitzkrieg Pop” to a crowd of bewildered kids.
KB – Pepe California’s guitarist/bassist in solo mode. His sound swings similar to the breezy tone of the group effort but slightly more slippery. It’s subdued and dreamy. Paid Holiday is rich, hypnotic music for rowing boats or painting sunsets. The stained glass sparrow cover design by Bluemark is stunning.
AZERU – If you are a fan of the swirling chimes, lightly plucked guitars, and soft voices of Mice Parade then say hi to your new pal Azeru. The album Anchoyu glimpses relaxed moments of Japanese living. You can almost taste the bamboo waving in the wind. If you do, you might be a panda bear.
SLOWMAN – The debut album from Spiral Records buyer Sohei Tsurutani. The Floating Deck hits a perfect stride between techno thump and ambient waves. His upbeat tones sound like Herbert set adrift on memory bliss. This is a nice start for hopeful sound.
www.bitofheaven.net/english/artists_e/slowman/slowman.html
CAPPABLACK – We have been playing their music for years and were thrilled out of our britches to meet Hashim B., one half of Cappablack. This cat was raised in San Diego and has a global ear for sound. Cappablack’s output on Tokyo’s Soup-Disk label turns ears on with deeply dynamic hip hop pop offs. Soon they’ll release an album on Berlin’s ~scape.
RIOW ARAI – An ace beat machine man. We played two shows with him and at each he really freaked it. Using only two discs he cut back and forth skillfully, creating chunky new edits of his already mind tumbling beats. Check for Device People on Soup-Disk and Mind Edit, new on Leaf.
Well friend, that was a teeny-weeny taste of Japan. Open your eyes for a second in Tokyo and you can take in ten thousand times what you just read. Regardless, I hope these words inspire you to dive deeper into Japanese culture. Start wearing a kimono each and every day, utter not an English word, and play the bamboo flute in local talent shows. There you go! You got it and got it good.
frosty
diskunion-ikebukuro.blog.jp/archives/17998244.html
40年以上に渡ってジャズ、実験的カットアップ・エレクトロニクス、ワールド・ミュージックなどなど特定のジャンル / スタイルに捕らわれず音楽を発信し続け、その全てが高い水準を誇る蘭サウンド・アーティスト / 電子音楽家MICHEL BANABILA。
SINGLES (2020 - 2022)
1980年代より活動し、SEANCE CENTRE、KNEKELHUIS、BUREAU Bなど優良レーベルからのリリース / リイシューが続く、オランダが誇るアンビエント / サウンド・アーティストMICHEL BANABILA。現在もその多作ぶりに脱帽せざるを得ないBANABILAの2020年~2022年までのコラボレーション音源をまとめたコンピレーション・アルバム『SINGLES (2020 - 2022) 』がCDリリース!
鬼才ベーシスト、BILL LASWELL、NYミュージシャンALEX HAASとの"THE WOODS"をはじめ、同国マルチ・インストゥルメンタリストCENGIZ ARSLANPAY、そして英クラリネット奏者GARETH DAVISらとのコラボレーション作品を収録。ニューエイジ、アンビエント、ミニマル・ミュージック、エキゾ、トライバル、霊性、バレアリック、第四世界といった要素を全て感じさせる蘭重鎮の衰え知らずなクリエイティヴィティを骨の髄まで感じさせる大推薦盤です。今回もJON HASSELLや、ROBERTO MUSCI好きを虜にすること間違いナシ!
ONE MOMENT IN TIME
世界的なパンデミックによるストレスを少しでも和らげ、気持ちを落ち着かせてもらう為に、12分間のピースフルなトラックを収録。ドローニーなシンセとイマジネーション豊かなエレクトロニクス、そしてスペイシーなギターが、テープエコーとリバーブのアナログ的質感の中で柔らかに融和したアンビエント・ドローン・コラボ作品となっています。
WINTER SKETCHES MIXTAPE
2019年11月にライブ・インプロヴィゼーションの準備のために制作されたテープ・ミックス作品。BANABILAの真骨頂とも言うべき巧みなアコースティック・インストルメンタル使いとロマンティックな旋律は格別!冬の朝の陽光を彷彿させる、ジンワリと心温かく包んでくれる内容です。MICHEL BANABILAのアンビエントはどの作品も素晴らしいです。特に、WINTER SKETCHES MIXTAPEはホワイトノイズが入ったり、鳥の声や自然音のような音が入ったりと、ゆったりと落ち着ける作品になっております
MORE RESEARCH FROM THE SAME DEPT.
JON HASSELL影響下のFOURTH WORLD AMBIENTなアプローチは鳴りを潜め、グリッチ、エレクトロニック、エクスペリメンタルをテーマとした作品です
Old issues of Stereo Sound Tube Kingdom and other audio magazines at the Jazz department along Guitar Street.
Disk Union #1 record store Shibuya, Tokyo 2008 Udagawacho 30-7, Antenna 21 4F - Mostly vinyl, some used, with a good selection of CDs as well.
The jazz guitarist
Model: Taichi Minagawa
My handsome coworker in my office has just released the brand new jazz album.
3/23 on sale!
Everyone go and get it and experience the new feeling of excellent jazzy groove!
..........................
NOW ON SALE!
"Obscur. Alternative by Svreca"
A1 : Obscur (Claro Intelecto Remix)
A2 : Jade
A3 : AW08
B1 : SS09 (Yuji Kondo + Katsunori Sawa / Steven Porter Remix)
B2 : Seda Muerta
Svreca - Obscur. Alternative (Semantica) Comentários: New release on Semantica [SEMANTICA 18Y] by Enrique Mena aka Svreca (Madrid), "Obscur.
Alternative" features 5 tracks of abstract/idm and dub techno.
This is serious material! Includes remixes from Yuji Kondo + Katsunori Sawa / Steven Porter. and Claro Intelecto
Available on digital and vinyl format, 12" limited to 400 copies. First 100 copies on clear vinyl for mailorder.
www.semanticarecords.com/s18Y.htm
www.phonicarecords.com/product/view/68229
www.juno.co.uk/products/411609-01.htm
www.rushhour.nl/store_detailed.php?item=57470
www.chemical-records.co.uk/sc/servlet/Info?Track=SEMANTIC...
www.normanrecords.com/vinyl/122317-svreca-ft-claro-intele...
www.redeyerecords.co.uk/asp/productsound.asp?product=19012
boomkat.com/vinyl/370913-claro-intelecto-various-obscur-a...
Das Berliner Lieblingsprojekt und Discoplattensezierwunder Soundstream gastierte in Tokyo. Leider just an unserem Abreisetag. Ich als Österreicher hingegen darf wohl noch lange auf einen Wien-Gig hoffen.
Lifesketch ....
Mit dem digitalen Skizzenbuch unterwegs im kitev / Bahnhofsturm des Hauptbahnhofs Oberhausen. Bei Posto packt's an im Gespräch mit ehemaligen Oberbürgermeistern (Friedhelm van de Mond und Burkhard Drescher)
"Dokument 2006-2009" by ENG (electronoise group)
www.myspace.com/electronoisegroup
release date: 14th Sep. 2009
price: 1,890 Yen (Tax Inc.)
buy: Disk Union
diskunion.net/portal/ct/detail/IND3909
cat number: NI006R
format: CDR
cover design: shotahirama
Track List:
1.Geisha Rape Blues (from Kollaps released by Alg-a, 08)
2.For Emil Ruder (live rec from Enban, 09)
3.Jehovah Genocide (Unpublished track from magic book records, 09)
4.Sun (from Kollaps released by Alg-a and NTNS Radio, 08)
5.Zomanna (from Kollaps released by Alg-a, 08)
6.Animalia's hand job (live rec from Enban, 09)
7.Funeral Music for dadaism (from TAO released by Tecnonucleo, 09)
8.Panik (Unpublished, 08)
9.BPM as Broken Penis Moonlight (Unpublished, 09)
10.Germanik (Unpublished, 08)
11.Dada corrupted (Unpublished track from Raash Records, 06)
12.Ich bin konkret poesie (from Barcelona released by Tecnonucleo, 07)
13.Sambient (Unpublished track from Raash Records, 06)
14.Silent (from Chainindividual released by Edition NIkO, 07)
15.No name (live rec from BankART 1929 museum, 06)
16.No name (live rec from Akihabara GOODMAN, 06)
17.Anarchitektur (Unpublished and mastering by shunjiTAKAMI, 07)
18.Auto (Unpublished and mastering by shunjiTAKAMI, 07)
19.Fruhling (from 81.3 J-WAVE Radio Sakamoto, 08)
20.Wahrnehmungen (Unpublished, 07)
21.Esplendor Paisaje (live rec from Kasama museum, 07)
22.Model Control Organism (Unpublished, 09)
23.Cruising Geisha (live rec from Enban, 09)
Info:
New release from shotahirama, his band "ENG/electronoise group". The Ultimate DOKUMENT of time of a historical Band. ENG (electronoise group), a Myth, a Cult, a Philosophy. After more than 6 months of planing and organising this momumental release is finally realised. Edition NIkO is proud to present a limited 100 copies paper sleeve CDR that documents the first 4 years and the first stage of the band. CDR with original design by shotahirama dedicated to his respect John Heartfield. Besides the official File-Releases such as Barcelona, Kollaps from Tecnonucleo and Alg-a, this CDR also includes live recordings from their concert at BankART 1929 museum, Yokohama in 06, and also Shunt Club, London in 08, their first concert at loopline in 06, the Enban Concert at Tokyo in 09, plus a few more live-documents. (-text by Edition NIkO)
詳細:
shotahiramaを中心としたコンクレ−トノイズ集団、ENG (electronoise group)による２枚組CDRの発売。
"Dokument 2006-2009"と題された今作は、Nurse with woundやHNAS等のビザール音響をモデルに日本のサウンドアート新世代として０６年の結成以来、１００以上のライブ、インスタレーション、そしてヨーロッパでのインスタレーションフェスティバル出演等、その活動を精力的に行ってきた彼らの初のベスト盤となる２枚組CDRによるドキュメント作品。不特定多数による集団即興や、テープコラージュ、ノイズコンクレートをモデルにした、彼らの2006年から2009年までの活動音源をすべてコンパイル。
最初期のインスタレーション音源（横浜BankART 1929 museumや東京Loopline）、そして彼らのリリース作品（"Barcelona"、"Kollaps"）からの代表曲はもちろん、イギリス、ロンドンでのツアー音源（Dada Lives Tour）、またJ-WAVE Radio Sakamoto、オーストリアGrantzにてOAされた"Fruhling"、さらには幻のリリースとなったアメリカRaash Recordsからの作品"Behind your blind lies"からの作品等、未発表曲を含めた全２３曲を収録。 オリジナルフォトモンタージュにライナー、インナースリーブスも付いた100セット限定販売。(-text by diskunion)
for more information go to Edition NIkO official website
www.signaldada.com/editionniko.html
for more shotahirama' information go to