Not sure if a C.C.C.C. thread already exists (when I did a search, 22 pages of results came up, so it was hopeless to go through them all), but if so, please let me know. I'm looking for recommendation about what to buy by them. Somehow I've never heard anything by them except for the Early Works 4 CD box which I didn't like much, to be honest. I appreciate its historic/documentation aspect, but these live recordings listened to at home just weren't very interesting for me. However, from what I've read, their studio work is meant to be quite psychedelic. What would be a good place to start as far as their studio recordings are concerned?
LOVE & NOISE has always been a good go-to album.
a really epic roaring harsh noise landscape of sound with lots of fast climbing and falling.
I have the Early Works box but haven't put it on in awhile. Maybe they're just not to your taste?
Amplified Crystal is a good one. About the Early Works box, I really enjoy the first and last disc. 2nd and 3rd are good as well, but not as distinct I suppose. As a guide from their early steps towards their trademark style I think it works great.
I picked up an affordable copy of Community Center Cyber Crash LP just a couple of hours ago at a record store here in Gothenburg. Haven't listened to it yet though. ANy opinions on that one? Comes rather cheap on discogs as well.
Test Tube Fantasy 7" from Ant-Zen.
Quote from: jadderly on March 02, 2015, 08:16:41 PM
I have the Early Works box but haven't put it on in awhile. Maybe they're just not to your taste?
In general I'm not a fan of live noise albums. They might work very well if you experience them live, but for home listening I find they're often not as exciting as a well-crafted studio album. No doubt this is due to the different possibilities when recording live vs. at home/studio. In addition, these are early recordings by C.C.C.C. and they might well have still been looking for their style, so to say. So while I'm not a fan of the
Early Works box, I'm quite sure I'd like at least some of their other stuff.
Thanks for the recommendations so far. I just checked them and everything else that's not a live recording on Discogs and there's nothing below roughly $25, with some being way more expensive. Oh well, what can you do.
Quote from: acsenger on March 03, 2015, 12:27:42 PM
Quote from: jadderly on March 02, 2015, 08:16:41 PM
I have the Early Works box but haven't put it on in awhile. Maybe they're just not to your taste?
In general I'm not a fan of live noise albums. They might work very well if you experience them live, but for home listening I find they're often not as exciting as a well-crafted studio album. No doubt this is due to the different possibilities when recording live vs. at home/studio. In addition, these are early recordings by C.C.C.C. and they might well have still been looking for their style, so to say. So while I'm not a fan of the Early Works box, I'm quite sure I'd like at least some of their other stuff.
Thanks for the recommendations so far. I just checked them and everything else that's not a live recording on Discogs and there's nothing below roughly $25, with some being way more expensive. Oh well, what can you do.
The "Early Works" box includes many live tracks which are better than studio works.
Quote from: tinnitustimulus on March 02, 2015, 10:44:13 PM
Test Tube Fantasy 7" from Ant-Zen.
this is my favorite! Harsh noise perfection!
Flash is my favourite, with Flash for Rotten Limit as what I consider CCCC's breath-taking harsh noise epic right in the vein of Modern, Romance, relentless Incapacitants releases, etcetera. Totally fucking amazing.
Otherwise I have Early Works (decent), split with Nocturnal Emissions (great too!) and Amplified Crystal (very nice). I've heard a couple others but can't recall anything specific. Flash is hardcore worth checking out though.
Quote from: THE RITA HN on March 02, 2015, 07:54:09 PM
LOVE & NOISE has always been a good go-to album.
a really epic roaring harsh noise landscape of sound with lots of fast climbing and falling.
Great recommendation, I had heard other material from C.C.C.C. and it hadn't been sticking with me...this release has left a great impression. Excited to continue digging into it.
been awhile since I pulled it out but Rocket Shrine was one of the albums that converted me to harsh noise
Am I the only one who love "Chaos Is The Cosmos"?
Quote from: P A N I C on March 03, 2015, 09:27:10 PM
Flash is my favourite, with Flash for Rotten Limit as what I consider CCCC's breath-taking harsh noise epic right in the vein of Modern, Romance, relentless Incapacitants releases, etcetera. Totally fucking amazing.
Totally fucking right. The be all and end all, and, if the liners are correct, the sole work of Mr Hasegawa? This would then have been CCCC just before it mutated into solo unit Astro, but what a way to go. Seldom has Astro approached such scorcheries- on album. (Actually, at a good number of live Astro performances, those presented by yours soddly and thus to feature principally only the harshest of practitioners, Hasegawa has significantly upped the harshitudes, perhaps to keep in line with the general atmosphere of the evento.) "Flash for Rotten Limit" was recorded in 1996, also incidently the year which saw the release of "PT Team, what's that?" from Incapacitants' New Movements In CMPD. Definitely a lot of shared air between the two tracks, at least to these decidedly scorched earholes.
The lengthy title track from Rocket Shrine is another fave. A true scorcher. This was released in 1997, but as the whole group is credited I would guess the recording pre-dates Flash.
Recently, I've decided that LSD is also to be counted among the better offerings, thanks in no small part to repeated name checking from Zeno Marx. I think what always put me off was that lazer-like analog synth wave in one of the two tracks. Never liked that kind of shit. Still the sheer aural density of the album cannot be denied.
One more I often name check: Gnosis. I don't see it mentioned much, I assume it has never been reissued? The title seems a bit tongue-in-cheek as the recording sounds like some kind of mystical drone gone psychedelic scorch. This kind of sound I like very much, and seems so obvious that I would guess numerous artists have made attempts in the vein. Would very much like to hear any suggestions. (The only one off the top of my head, aside from a few Yamaakago live sets which were to the best of my knowledge never translated into release, would be Aube – The Four Shrines, in which Nakajima mixes source material from Mikawa/Incaps, Gomi/PJerk, and Ohno/Solmania. More Aube than any of his mix subjects, obviously, but achieves the expected scorching densities quite nicely.)
Last but certainly not least, the track on the Howard 31 comp (Artware). A good eight minutes worth of LSD-level richness, so easily worth the price of admission (actually some pretty solid contributions from a good few contributors...)
To the person inquiring after Community Center Cyber Crash, the principle weakness is that it tends to come off more as kind of rough industrial collage, not so much the harsh psych-purity to be found on later recordings. The principle strength is that it tends to come off more as kind of rough industrial collage, not so much the harsh psych-purity to be found on later recordings.
Quote from: ImpulsyStetoskopu on March 03, 2015, 04:45:41 PM
The "Early Works" box includes many live tracks which are better than studio works.
Seconded.
I would say the first three tracks "Live @ Gospel 1-3" are some of their best material for sound and experimentation, before they have a formula for a sound.
Raw and visceral listening experience. Essential.
Just gave Reflexive Universe a listen and the hit was harder than it's been in the past. A live recording dated September 15, 1991 - which puts it in between CD 2 track 2 and CD 3 track 1 from the Early Works box. The two Early Works tracks feature the trio of Hasegawa-Hino-Kosakai, but Reflexive Universe is just the duo: Hasegawa / Synthesizer + Voice ; Hino / Electronics. The result is quite frankly some of the harshest scorcheries I've heard from CCCC. Very straight-ahead searing whitewash sunk to very shallow depths, highlighted by smooth and clear psyche-ambient sheen, with (a mercifully few) breaks for synth sputter. I suppose it was just that little bit too straight-ahead - or two dimensional - to earn my faith early on, but today it sounds just about right.
i give another nod to "test tube fantasy" being the best harsh noise 7" ever!
I'm sure many have noticed. Now it is good time to get into CCCC, as some of the best things have been re-issued. I'd hope availability would not be too short and temporary thing.
Was listening last night to the Rocket Shrine CD. I don't know why, but this CD had always been somehow "less interesting" than the ones on Endorphine Factory or LP's or tapes. Now, when returning years later, I stand corrected and especially the first track might be among the very best of C.C.C.C.!
I think my original attitude was related to the line-up. When associating CCCC with full band line-up and more kosmische sound, and this CD is mostly Hasegawa / Hino duo works and vastly more harsh... back in the 90's it felt like it would be more "normal noise" so to say. What's wrong with normal noise? Nothing of course, and album is at the same time harsh, but also "psychedelic". With handful of CCCC reissues, I guess this CD could deserve one!
rocket shrine and reflexive universe were always my favourites. i've just realised after reading over this thread that i never picked up flash. dunno why. i guess it was always easy to find so i put it to one side and forgot about it. better rectify that.
the new astro on chocolate monk is a ripper ... http://chocolatemonk.co.uk/available.html
i haven't really kept up with astro in the years since c.c.c.c. ... anyone have any particular recommendations? i remember liking the astromero cd sets but i haven't listened to them in a good few years now (and i've yet to hear any damion romero that hasn't bowled me over)
i wholeheartedly endorse this recent wave of c.c.c.c. reissues!
Urashima just put out this. I was unprepared for its greatness. I have the tape, I got the CD box.. so I was first wondering.. why I need the LP? May skip it. Not possible. Mainly due the B-side!
QuoteC.C.C.C. (Cosmic Coincidence Control Center) is a legendary Japanese noise music collective that was founded in Tokyo in 1989. The group originally had four members – Mayuko Hino, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Fumio Kosakai, and Ryuichi Nagakubo – who are known for their unique approach to noise music, and quickly gained a reputation for their intense and chaotic live performances. The group's sound is characterized by its use of high-volume, distorted noise, feedback, and electronics, as well as their incorporation of unconventional instruments and objects. Beyond their music, members of C.C.C.C. has also been involved in a variety of artistic endeavors, including film, performance and installation art.
C.C.C.C.'s Reflexive Universe cassette, released on the Japanese label Vanilla Records in 1991, is a must-have for fans of Japanese noise music. The cassette features one track intense and immersive noise, showcasing the group's unique approach to sound and experimentation. The album is a 23-minute epic that builds from a fast, almost hypersonic opening to a wall of noise that seems to encompass the entire universe. Recorded live at Maya in Kobe on September 15th, 1991 only with two members performing – Mayuko Hino at electronics and voice plus Hiroshi Hasegawa at synthesizer and electronics. The performance is a testament to the group's innovative and boundary-pushing approach to sound, and a reminder of the enduring power of noise music as an art form and Vanilla Records label has done an excellent job of capturing the raw and visceral sound of the group's live performance.
Reissue for the first time in vinyl in a limited edition of 199 copies with added an amazing live performance on other side, recorded one month before Reflexive Universe at Donzoko House in Kyoto with all four member. The vinyl is housed in a deluxe sleeve with a glossy finish using original pictures by Hidenobu Kaneda and an insert with a photo of the band performing live. Whether you're a longtime fan of C.C.C.C. or a newcomer to their unique brand of noise music, this vinyl reissue of Reflexive Universe is an essential addition to any record collection.
Not much info given about the show. I first suspected, could this be the gig Vanilla published as VHS. It was about month before. But no. Wrong city. When I put the needle on the track and holy shit, it took couple of seconds to realize this is the gig that COME AGAIN II CD has little snippet on it. First thinking.. can it be? It must be! And when first vocals appeared, I was 95% sure. When in the end you will hear the exact moment that was featured on Come Again II, it is pure bliss. One of the greatest CCCC moments. Despite bands strength is in long for tracks, that one couple minute fragment is perhaps the best moment of CCCC.
This makes me really want to ask - again - as I must have voiced it many times, how it is possible the curator of Come Again II (Teshima Michio of Vanilla) managed to select the absolute best moments of Japanese noise recordings of the time? Also would be good to know who really did the edits on that comp, since some of the artists are more than just selected cut from tape. More like audio collage made out of few fractions of tape. Well, that question has nothing to do with CCCC. Little detail is, that on Come Again II, 2 minute cut from this live (from the ending) is titled
Sweet Scanning. On LP, its titled
Reflexive Universe Additional. If I was to publish this, would have probably asked if Sweet Scanning should be the title. Who knows who made that up, could it be even Teshima who was sweetly scanning though best of Japanese noise and picked up the very best seconds into compilation.. ? haha..
I dont own the Come Again comp, and not sure i'd think the same even if i heard it. Not sure i'm as much of a minute man. No suprise MT has a good ear though.
But Reflexive Universe is pure gold.
And there's a big difference in sound between it and the quartet live recording released on the Vanilla VHS.
I never buy stuff i already have. But you almost have me sold cuz of b-side. My question is, is it similar to the VHS live show? If not what distinguish it?
I have the CCCC VHS, but so long since I seen it, that can't really compare it that much. I think difference is what differentiates CCCC releases in general. That era is free flowing performance of multiple members so difference is in sound quality, performance itself. Especially vocals on this LP is great, even if appear scarcely, mainly at the end of piece.
On LP, Reflexive Universe is vastly different from the B-side "Sweet Scanning" = Reflexive Universe additional. A-side is very high pitched synth oriented sound, while B-side has that, but also some screaming vocals, way more bassy kosmische swirls as well as bass-noise and odd broken "rhythm" parts here and there. More roomy sound on it. How was the VHS... got to ask someone who has watched it recently!
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on April 07, 2023, 09:00:04 AM
Urashima just put out this. I was unprepared for its greatness. I have the tape, I got the CD box.. so I was first wondering.. why I need the LP? May skip it. Not possible. Mainly due the B-side!
QuoteC.C.C.C. (Cosmic Coincidence Control Center) is a legendary Japanese noise music collective that was founded in Tokyo in 1989. The group originally had four members – Mayuko Hino, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Fumio Kosakai, and Ryuichi Nagakubo – who are known for their unique approach to noise music, and quickly gained a reputation for their intense and chaotic live performances. The group's sound is characterized by its use of high-volume, distorted noise, feedback, and electronics, as well as their incorporation of unconventional instruments and objects. Beyond their music, members of C.C.C.C. has also been involved in a variety of artistic endeavors, including film, performance and installation art.
C.C.C.C.'s Reflexive Universe cassette, released on the Japanese label Vanilla Records in 1991, is a must-have for fans of Japanese noise music. The cassette features one track intense and immersive noise, showcasing the group's unique approach to sound and experimentation. The album is a 23-minute epic that builds from a fast, almost hypersonic opening to a wall of noise that seems to encompass the entire universe. Recorded live at Maya in Kobe on September 15th, 1991 only with two members performing – Mayuko Hino at electronics and voice plus Hiroshi Hasegawa at synthesizer and electronics. The performance is a testament to the group's innovative and boundary-pushing approach to sound, and a reminder of the enduring power of noise music as an art form and Vanilla Records label has done an excellent job of capturing the raw and visceral sound of the group's live performance.
Reissue for the first time in vinyl in a limited edition of 199 copies with added an amazing live performance on other side, recorded one month before Reflexive Universe at Donzoko House in Kyoto with all four member. The vinyl is housed in a deluxe sleeve with a glossy finish using original pictures by Hidenobu Kaneda and an insert with a photo of the band performing live. Whether you're a longtime fan of C.C.C.C. or a newcomer to their unique brand of noise music, this vinyl reissue of Reflexive Universe is an essential addition to any record collection.
Not much info given about the show. I first suspected, could this be the gig Vanilla published as VHS. It was about month before. But no. Wrong city. When I put the needle on the track and holy shit, it took couple of seconds to realize this is the gig that COME AGAIN II CD has little snippet on it. First thinking.. can it be? It must be! And when first vocals appeared, I was 95% sure. When in the end you will hear the exact moment that was featured on Come Again II, it is pure bliss. One of the greatest CCCC moments. Despite bands strength is in long for tracks, that one couple minute fragment is perhaps the best moment of CCCC.
This makes me really want to ask - again - as I must have voiced it many times, how it is possible the curator of Come Again II (Teshima Michio of Vanilla) managed to select the absolute best moments of Japanese noise recordings of the time? Also would be good to know who really did the edits on that comp, since some of the artists are more than just selected cut from tape. More like audio collage made out of few fractions of tape. Well, that question has nothing to do with CCCC. Little detail is, that on Come Again II, 2 minute cut from this live (from the ending) is titled Sweet Scanning. On LP, its titled Reflexive Universe Additional. If I was to publish this, would have probably asked if Sweet Scanning should be the title. Who knows who made that up, could it be even Teshima who was sweetly scanning though best of Japanese noise and picked up the very best seconds into compilation.. ? haha..
Reflexive Universe was recorded 15/09/91. Early Works box set has Live At Donzoko House #1 which was recorded live at Donzoko House in Kyoto on August 11th, 1991. The city and venue both match and the date is also pretty much exactly one month before Reflexive Universe. I sold my copy of the Early Works box a long time ago and I do not have the new LP (I'm fine with the old tape) so I cannot check if it actually is the same live set or not.
Great catch! I had not looked into it that deep yet. Maybe due to my lack of interest and appreciation for a lot of this stuff.
Track lenght match as well. So most likely what's already on Early Works. Great ultimate con job by Urashima not mentioning this anywhere and not publishing recording date.
Freak Animal:
I know how the VHS makes me feel and what i think of it. But it was a couple of years since i watched it now. If i would to compare and publicly write about it from that perspective i'd like to re-watch it first. I might do that soon.
It's interesting. I think Fumio wrote in Early Works about the Maya Hotel show was before their name change to C.C.C.C.? That show being as duo. Or maybe my memory is off? Both this Donzoko show and VHS was recorded prior to Reflexive and as a quartet.
Maybe Fumio's memory is off? Or mine? But if i'm correct i always found it suprising that all these shows up untill Maya Hotel would be pre-C.C.C.C.? And they recorded their debut CD like one month after the Maya Hotel show.
Something seems off.
Noise Forest was also out the same month as Maya Hotel was recorded. Come Again (the original) was possibly out even prior to that.
Looked at it now and Early Works also has that duo show right before xmas in 1990 at Gospel. Maybe that was the one pre-C.C.C.C. and the one Fumio had mixed up?
I think Fumio also wrote that RU was out before Noise Forest? Which i think might be incorrect. Cuz RU being recorded Sep 15, and Noise Forest was released that month in 1991 i believe. There was also the big Noise Forest shows in Tokyo & Nagoya in september 1991.
Oh, yes! It is the same thing, but actually CD version has 2-3 mins extra. It ends little differently, that has been cut from the LP version. Having had this box since it came out (included one thing I sent label DAT tape.. ), but had no recollection it has THIS gig.
I recently just picked up a copy of C.C.C.C. / Jalopaz / Alchemist Of The 21st Century. I've never heard this CD before and I'm excited to check it out when it arrives! It's been one of those CDs on my list of things to check out for sometime now.
This CD is one of the more disappointing releases actually! It is so old, that one had to go into studio to make CD master. Just bring DAT tapes or other masters to compile CD master. First version was fucked, all Alchemy songs were distorted. Had to go back to studio and make it again. Listened master, found out that everything fine, but turns out that I foolishly didn't listen entire CCCC track (as it was perfect in first version), and about 5 mins is just fine, but then another channel goes mute. No idea how and why as it should have been same file studio had. CD got pressed, copies got sent out instantly to Japan and USA, and weeks later CCCC contacts that there is mistake on CD. Too late then, when most of the pressing was sent out and less than 1/3 remains... Before the email/internet era, it took so long time to settle something, that sending letter to overseas, communications with pressing plant and all that would have taken too long.
So years later, I sent the DAT to No Fun Productions who used CCCC part in the box set. It was a bit different era than the very early days, but at least finally heard how it is supposed to be!.
I would assume that due packaging and big edition, nobody is paying huge amounts of the release so stuff that is on it, may be still worth it.
Anyways, lessons learned and proof-checking masters have happened differently now.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on January 18, 2024, 08:59:05 AMThis CD is one of the more disappointing releases actually! It is so old, that one had to go into studio to make CD master. Just bring DAT tapes or other masters to compile CD master. First version was fucked, all Alchemy songs were distorted. Had to go back to studio and make it again. Listened master, found out that everything fine, but turns out that I foolishly didn't listen entire CCCC track (as it was perfect in first version), and about 5 mins is just fine, but then another channel goes mute. No idea how and why as it should have been same file studio had. CD got pressed, copies got sent out instantly to Japan and USA, and weeks later CCCC contacts that there is mistake on CD. Too late then, when most of the pressing was sent out and less than 1/3 remains... Before the email/internet era, it took so long time to settle something, that sending letter to overseas, communications with pressing plant and all that would have taken too long.
So years later, I sent the DAT to No Fun Productions who used CCCC part in the box set. It was a bit different era than the very early days, but at least finally heard how it is supposed to be!.
I would assume that due packaging and big edition, nobody is paying huge amounts of the release so stuff that is on it, may be still worth it.
Anyways, lessons learned and proof-checking masters have happened differently now.
That's an interesting back story on the split. I had no idea about any history of it. I did notice it was released around 1997 and like you say back then communication with overseas is pretty much snail mail pace only. I think everybody in the beginnings has a similar story in regards to something similar happening like that and if we didn't have such mistakes we'd never learn how to be precise enough the next time around. Ultimately a good lesson to learn in the grand scheme I think. I'm still excited to hear the release when it arrives though, which should be any day now.