Huh, I was recently talking with one noise veteran, about being surprised how little demand has appeared to be Hijokaidan / Airway split LP. Of course it's slightly more higher priced AND it may not be THE best of Hijokaidan by any means... But it is relatively small edition vinyl record with two legends and is not bad at all.
I guess it's combination of couple reasons. Why you would need to collect everything - especially if there might be better albums missing in your collection from this band. But also, how many actually do listen and do appreciate Hijokaidan these days? To me it looks as if they are slowly but steadily approaching the category of bands, which everybody "knows", but very few new people appear to get interested. Releases might have not been sold by any noise distributors for years. They rarely do releases on international noise labels. (7" on Xn, 10" on Fourth Dimension, re-issue on VOD)
But how shame is that? Just now I'm listening the DISC#6 of "THE NOISE" box set, and it is 1984 live recording, c. 40 minutes piece is mostly the sound that basically became their trademark. In middle of set, drum pattern enters and song transforms to kind of psychedelic/kraut'ish feel, with the noise on top of that. It's the good feel of old Hijokaidan, where their style had not completely taken form yet. The box is great example where things vary greatly, yet still capture the essence of group.
In theoretical level, it is "nothing". There is guitar, high pitched screams, random improv racket and everything covered with high pitched hiss of distortion and electronic noise. I hear many people say "this could be done by anyone", and as said - theoretically yes. But there isn't really anyone doing it.
Just as your random EMB group doesn't qualify as power electronics, the usual free improvisation group just doesn't qualify as Hijokaidan. Their style of making the noise, their choices of what type of sound quality to have on releases. The level of loudness and disturbance is often beyond the regular noise. Simply because the sounds they use, are associated with loud. When you hear sound of synth - it's not necessarily loud. It can be played loud, yet it's still can sound relatively same loud and quiet. Hijokaidan isn't all synthetic, but when you hear screaming, when you hear stuff being thrown around, when you hear drums being mercilessly hammered, when you hear guitar crackling under pressure of feedback and physical torment, you FEEL it IS loud, regardless do you listen it loud on stereos. This is among the best qualities of noise. Being loud, disturbing and energetic even with low volumes.
There are few albums that could be said the be with "strong production values". For example Last Recording Album was exceptionally strong and closely captured, yet painfully damaging recording! Majority of recordings are however quite lo-fi, most often broken & nasty rather than heavy and brutal. Appearing as intent to capture what BAND is doing, not focusing on specific instrument or person, who may get buried in mass of sound trying to enter to room recording.
Personal favorite still remain:
Windom CD
When the CD starts, it feels like world is being torn apart, yet it's energy is most of all positive. It lacks the corpses and cocks, substitutes it with pure undefined positive destruction.
HIJOKAIDAN is for me one of the best project ever. I have all regular discography (without the latest huge 30 cd box) and this is as wine, the older the better. For exemple, in contrary, once MASONNA was my favourite, but most of his records are boring for me now.
This is very true. I think many of the albums reveal their true character in time - with ability to actually compare and follow their history in general.
I recall when trying to play Masonna to potential customer, and decided to play Alchemy Records re-issue as I thought it is guaranteed masterpieces... and for my great disappointment, how weak it was compared to recollections! I have the originals, but not listened for decade(s), but I had nothing but positive memories. However, it appears time has not treated all Masonna so well. I did listen Noskl In Ana while ago, and though it still is charming release, but some others, especially later days... uuhh.. what a loss of character there has been.
Hijokaidan's approach is pretty much timeless. In a way, it is very very old school, but it doesn't sound dated.
I think sometimes the problem with the older noise groups can be that their large discographies can be daunting for first-timers. With the amount of new noise/pe being released daily it can be easy to forget or get distracted from the pioneers. The question for me is always where do I start? What's the best? Is there a "best" album? Eventually you have to take the dive if you want to know.
That being said I only have the Windom CD and Noise From Trading Cards CD (which I got last year at Sarvilevy). The tracks with drums I enjoy the most. Total chaos! Total insanity!
Quote from: ConcreteMascara on December 25, 2011, 09:34:14 PM
The question for me is always where do I start? What's the best? Is there a "best" album?
I could only say then - don't ask, don't look for that (the best), only listen what you may, what you will find and enjoy this music your own choice. This is the most powerful satisfaction in our life...
big fan of "romance" ramirez turned me on to that release and "windom"
Quote from: ImpulsyStetoskopu on December 25, 2011, 10:01:34 PM
Quote from: ConcreteMascara on December 25, 2011, 09:34:14 PM
The question for me is always where do I start? What's the best? Is there a "best" album?
I could only say then - don't ask, don't look for that (the best), only listen what you may, what you will find and enjoy this music your own choice. This is the most powerful satisfaction in our life...
Good advice.
I use to have 5 or 6 of the LPs & sold them all. I have never been able to get into what they do. Same with Incapacitants who I like a littl emore than HK but still never feel like listening to them. For HK, a couple of the live LPs are what I liked most; "In Paris No Harm"? Something like that. I remember one with a purple cover? I use to buy them from Public Bath who would send out these catalogs of records and manga books they brought back from Japan (had a few S.Mauro's I bought too). The Jojo+Sakevi record was interesting too but not really noise. I remember having "Windom" & it was booooring. I got that one + Incapac cd's from Charnel House Productions back then.
No Paris No Harm LP is partially re-issued as "Jojo & Junko" CD. That CD has stuff they did as duo.
I think good way to start with Hijokaidan is to first decided do you want SHEER NOISE or do you want chaotic improvisation noise? Something like Noise From Trading Cards, Romance, Windom, Ferocity of Practical Life 10", etc. everything covered with hiss of high pitch harshness. For example that 10" is utmost creation. It has full line-up with drums and all that, but the level of distortion on top of all is nearly deafening.
Then for example King Of Noise, Zouroku No Kibyou, Tapes... have more improvised group feel, although of course noise. They don't have as violent electronic feel to it.
Last Recording Album, is the latest studio album, and I consider it one of the best. Shorter tracks, where they give it a try to various combinations. It's not everybody at maximum all the time, but some tracks done with just selected elements. Very fierce sound, in some cases stripping down to raw and bare elements makes it even noisier than textures created by complexity of large band. That is also charm of Jojo's first solo album. It's just so utterly "useless" with nothing but single layer of bare guitar noise, lacking ALL the cool effects. Just guitar and some distortion creating anti-music.
I can easily understand that Hijokaidan could appear boring to many. For example often praised Romance CD. It's one track, 70+ minutes. From beginning to end, it is pretty much "the same". I would guess it has been most of all endurance tests than innovative album. But very good for what it is!
King Of Noise, Zouroku No Kibyou, Tapes
I think I had all of those; K.O.N. was good. Z.N.K. looks familiar, will have to take a look at cover art on discogs...
I think the only Jpnoise I have left is Zeni Geva/ANP LPs which I haven't played in yeeeeears. Those were obtained via Public Bath too.
I've come to feel Modern (1994) is a favorite. Ripping and screaming electronics. Overloaded tubes. Broken chord vocals. Metals destruction. Steady, even, quality flow of textures and harshness. Nothing contrived or out of place.
Windom is up there with it.
QuoteFerocity of Practical Life 10", etc. everything covered with hiss of high pitch harshness. For example that 10" is utmost creation. It has full line-up with drums and all that, but the level of distortion on top of all is nearly deafening.
'Modern' at extremely high volume is also great.
going through the THE NOISE box, which I keep rambling, is kind of eye opener. I was slightly skeptical how good 30XCD can be, but listening recent discs, it appears Jojo has very good ear in deciding how to do and what. Disc #7 is very different from #5 and 6. Which were also different from eachother. #7 is perhaps among the most violent sounding Hijokaidan! No drums, just extremely fierce high pitched feedback and feedback drenched noise dominating the whole disc. Being 5 tracks, where each takes slightly different approach, it doesn't become boring at all. It's possible this disc was done as duo? In those times when HK was just Jojo & Mikawa who was left in band? There are few moments with vocals, though. It will be another c. 7 discs before Kosakai join in the band...
Modern is harsh. It is also one disc, of 73 minutes. Band just wanted to do as long track on CD as they can. I think that's why Windom stands slightly better - since it offers more variation = 3 tracks.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on December 28, 2011, 09:20:22 AMIt's possible this disc was done as duo? In those times when HK was just Jojo & Mikawa who was left in band?
i think most (all?) of king of noise was done as a duo too? that would've been around the same time as disc 7 of the box set. i think jojo and mikawa were the only two principle members left in the band by around 1985 but junko was also involved sporadically from '82 or so onwards, before the line-up solidifed into the jojo, junko & mikawa trio.
the availability of the airway split has kinda baffled me too, i thought they'd be long gone by the end of the lafms weekend. also, the box set was going for some crazy low prices recently too. just checked and the last three copies jojo sold on ebay were for $20, $40 ... http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=kishidashin&ftab=AllFeedback
anyone know what's happening with alchemy these days? did they hook up with kubitsuri tapes or uplink or someone? what are the chances of feedback of nms, fabrication, quietus or no progress getting reissued? zilch? dunno why i never picked em up when i had the chance
Alchemy did announce that they quit. Jojo still sold plenty of stock in ebay etc. I don't think there would be interest to reprint stuff, when main reason for folding label was - I think, small to nonexistent sales?
Yeah, Hijokaidan was duo for many works, but majority of recordings has the vocals and many also guest drummers and the 90's onwards most often also Kosakai doing electronics.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on January 07, 2012, 10:49:29 AM
Alchemy did announce that they quit. Jojo still sold plenty of stock in ebay etc. I don't think there would be interest to reprint stuff, when main reason for folding label was - I think, small to nonexistent sales?
So, Japan, very big country with "industrial/noise past" has not any serious label with that music now. Very strange...
Lust Vessel goes on. Dogma Chase continues, I think. Xerxes has done something now and then. Monotype and Teito might probably do things still. Dotsmark too has done new things. Not to mention the older ones like PSF and Omega Point and others who are still around, although not really "industrial/noise".
But I think this is very easy example of fragility of "noise infrastructure". It is really based on handful of people, and most often nobody will fill the gap. When big/legendary label is gone, it's gone, and it might change the nature of "scene" in many ways.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on January 07, 2012, 03:09:27 PM
Lust Vessel goes on. Dogma Chase continues, I think. Xerxes has done something now and then. Monotype and Teito might probably do things still. Dotsmark too has done new things. Not to mention the older ones like PSF and Omega Point and others who are still around, although not really "industrial/noise".
Yes, there are some, but their status is simillar, or even less like IMPULSY STETOSKOPU in Europe :) DOGMA CHASE was hopeful, but from two years they didn't issue any item. MONOTYPE and TEITO very simillar. LUST VESSEL isn't regular and just started after few years. This is very strange because I sell the most my items just to Japan.
I've recently (and embarrassingly late) come to appreciate Hijokaidan when I bought Modern. I'd come to know them through ZnK and Tapes, and while I felt both were good noise records (with especially Tapes displaying some true greatness) it never seemed the type of sound I was looking for. So, bought Modern blind and was absolutely blown away. What a fantastic fucking record! Was reading up on the canon thread over at Troniks where Modern was listed and described as "where they started hitting their stride", with subsequent releases Romance and Windom as the middle and conclusion to an officious trilogy of brilliance that Modern kicked off. Needless to say, purchasing Romance and Windom is now the highest priority for me! I was wondering however if anyone could shed some light on originals vs reissues vs remasters (where applicable). For instance, I bought the Modern reissue from 1994 without really thinking there could be any difference there but later wondered if there is any. E.g. Romance seems to be available both in original edition (1990) and as remastered edition (2006). Can anyone tell me what the differences are, and which you consider the better option? Thanks a ton!
Went ahead and ordered the 2006 edition of Romance; not really sure if it matters, and if it does I'll eventually grab a 1990 disc, too.
/edit/
And just ordered Windom. Discogs lists only one edition - has this not been reissued/remastered/re-etc'd?
QuoteAnd just ordered Windom. Discogs lists only one edition - has this not been reissued/remastered/re-etc'd?
I'm pretty sure
Windom and
Noise From Trading Cards were only released once.
As to your other question asking about the differences between the original releases and the remastered ones, it seems no one those albums in both versions... if you do get any of them in both versions, let us know how they compare!
Windom, Romance, and, especially, Noise From Trading Cards, seriously pale in comparison to Modern. I can`t imagine a remaster making much difference in any respect, but I too would love to stand corrected.
Quote from: acsenger on June 12, 2012, 04:42:56 PM
I'm pretty sure Windom and Noise From Trading Cards were only released once.
Pretty sure the latter at least was rereleased on their MP3 Collection disk if that counts?
Quote from: Bloated Slutbag on June 12, 2012, 06:19:47 PM
Windom, Romance, and, especially, Noise From Trading Cards, seriously pale in comparison to Modern. I can`t imagine a remaster making much difference in any respect, but I too would love to stand corrected.
I don't have any different versions yet, so I can't say anything (yet) about any differences - though indeed I can't imagine they'll be grave. Romance I still have on order (something went wrong with the payment, so I should finally get it this week) so I haven't heard it yet; as for Windom and Modern though - as much as I dig Windom it has NOTHING on Modern. Windom is a great noise record. Modern is fucking perfect.
Received Romance, dig it (even if it has absolutely nothing on Modern either). I love the balls-out 1-hour+ assault of both discs compared to the the shorter cuts on Windom. Romance seems to take a while to really gain momentum but when it has done so (I really settled into it around the 30-minute mark) it's absolutely fantastic. Also received Polar Nights Live, and shorter cuts though it may contain I think it's brilliant, too (and decidedly better than Windom). I don't know, has Windom been too hyped for me? Can't live up to expectations? Don't get me wrong, it's a great harsh noise disc, but I can't see how it can compare to Modern first and foremost, and Romance and Polar Nights Live to a smaller degree (just for the record, I think Windom is vastly superior to most early 80s Hijokaidan material). Regardless, from a fairly superficial appreciation of Hijokaidan based on ZnK/Tapes I have come to fully, deeply, devotedly love this group, currently perhaps more so than any other HN-outfit. Anyone have any follow-up recommendations based on my current listening? Trading Cards, Last Recording Album? What other Hijokaidan would you say is truly essential (and worth shelling out for - these and a couple of other seem to go for $40-$50 minimum)?
"The Ferocity Of Practical Life" looks like yet another Live At Antiknock session - Kosakai on electronics and vocals, Akita on drums - but is much harsher and puritannical in its presentation. And fortunately, the drums are severely buried beneath all the comressed layers of feedback and screaming. The harsh levels achieve an approapriate peak, and do not simply rest on that wonderful summit but work their way through several deformations which serve to further accentuate the ample scorcheries. Essential.
"Sound Of Bay Area", from The Land of The Rising Sun compilation, is a five-minute dose of utmost brutality. Just the Jojo Junko Mikawa trio here, but absolutely at the top of their game. Very well recorded, capturing a more full-bodied Kaidan - to serve as a nice salvo to the almost monophonic Ferocity, above*. (Most of the rest of the comp is crap, the Aube is just Au.K., the Merz is crap, Agencement great but brief... but the Haino track is superb, an extended piece of agitated bowed squawk.)
*EDIT "the almost monophonic" production values do tend to heighten the harshitudes, so no complaints. Perhaps all true harsh noise should be remastered in mono...
Repost of a Hijo Soddymizing from the Reviews thread. Neither a search for "Hijokaidan" nor one for "Borbetomagus" returned this posting so I must be doing something wrong. To exacerbate things, general ignorance means I couldn't link directly to the post either. If someone could sort that this repost could be trimmed...
I've in any event taken the liberty of snipping off the retarded opening lines:
Borbetomagus & Hijokaidan Both Noises End Burning
Somehow, when the names Mikawa and Borbetomagus come together, I tend to think of Borbeto's seminal "Live In Tokyo". Least representative of the Borbeto back catalog, it is (or was) also the heaviest slab of auricular suffocation on offer under that conglomeration. Less harsh in terms of earhole scorchification per dB, and less of that patented piercing snuffsax-squeal, but so dense and multitextured in its slowly billowing elaborations.
Both Noises score their delights under the influence of similar perv-visions. Not overtly brutal by the enregalled standards enshrined in the respective Hijo-Borbeto canons, but almost gentle, pliable, yielding an inverted harsh curve that saturates via remarkably wide-ranging folds of blushing color, wet-lipped warmth, and slithering, spermatozoan, starspace. Individual elements crowd the periphery, leaving a giant gaping howl that just sucks the enraptured worshipper straight into the hole-liest of char-blackened gasp and shiver, bathing the proceedings with other-wordly, bung-tingling, saxdrone-slather. A dizzying, near phantasmagorical miasma of constantly evolving, errupting, fading, flowing; of deformation and deviation, of shade and shadow, of puke and splooge, skullfuck and sphinct-suct. Words beyond the aforementioned Hallowed Fornication scarcely seem to be worth the bother of writing let alone reading.
But if I had to break it down in terms for the layperv, I'd say that the overall sound palate is not unlike late eighties early nineties Hijokaidan live recordings at Antiknock, the continuous, severely pitched, shriek-screech backdrop enlivened by periodic flashes of brilliance wherein the already blistering intensity seems to shred itself a new one. I'd say the overall progression is not unlike live Incapacitants, burgeoning layers somehow finding ever more ferocious plateaus and finally brimming in the closing quarter with utterly jaw-dropping, show-stopping, shit-eat-grinning overmass of auricular overbilge. And I'd say the deft sense of wide-open space and bottomless texture giving birth to something palpable yet unworldly, all amid the cacaphonous shitstorm of the seasoned blowhard, well, that's pure Borbetomagus.
ANALysis:
Primal screechery diffuses across a broadened, mult-tiered, swathe, ceding Harshness to near ambiance, nicely separated, crystalline, textural elements pushing Rawness gradations down through smooth, grit-filtered flavorings that one mainly tastes in passing. Craftsmanship might be scored high on the basis of sustained interest, micromovements as readily entered as expunged, attempts to sanitize macrofornicated by the sheer beastly size of this mother. Savaged sensibilities then entertain a Spasticity most subtle: few surprises proper await, yes, yet yeti-like footsies stomp all over yer dong-pronged nethermosts, the insistent incoherencies anti-heretical as ill-articulated verbiage discharges diarhettic, starbursts flashing wet and wild through roasted channel pan. Sheer numbers - Mikawa Jojo Junko Shibata Sauter Dietrich Miller - would doubtless dictate the Densities desired, at least on paper, but mixmaster-san's zeal to represent each component particle serves mainly to confuse or displace rather than inundate. No complaints, just sayin'. But just try following bansheed Junko shriek through Jojo'd jet engine wheeze through Miller-tinged sputterfuzz sewage funnels through alternately droning and squawking drainland sax-or-not overtones, all seemingly under control of The Mikawa. Fuck it, I'm through with this shit. Anybody helps me now! Harmonicaness wins the day.
Quote from: P A N I C on June 17, 2012, 09:33:12 PM
Received Romance, dig it (even if it has absolutely nothing on Modern either). I love the balls-out 1-hour+ assault of both discs compared to the the shorter cuts on Windom. Romance seems to take a while to really gain momentum but when it has done so (I really settled into it around the 30-minute mark) it's absolutely fantastic. Also received Polar Nights Live, and shorter cuts though it may contain I think it's brilliant, too (and decidedly better than Windom). I don't know, has Windom been too hyped for me? Can't live up to expectations? Don't get me wrong, it's a great harsh noise disc, but I can't see how it can compare to Modern first and foremost, and Romance and Polar Nights Live to a smaller degree (just for the record, I think Windom is vastly superior to most early 80s Hijokaidan material). Regardless, from a fairly superficial appreciation of Hijokaidan based on ZnK/Tapes I have come to fully, deeply, devotedly love this group, currently perhaps more so than any other HN-outfit. Anyone have any follow-up recommendations based on my current listening? Trading Cards, Last Recording Album? What other Hijokaidan would you say is truly essential (and worth shelling out for - these and a couple of other seem to go for $40-$50 minimum)?
Based on current listening...? well it looks like you covered most of the "all out noise" era stuff there. You'll probably want to pick up "Shumatsu Shorijo" as it sounds closest to the later work like "...Trading Cards" but not as full-on. But I think every Hijokaidan release is essential [maybe except "The neverending story..." since those tracks were issued previously or afterwards..]
My personal favourite has to be "Viva Angel", yes apart from the opening track which seems to be kind of stupid [even by Hijokaidan's low standards..] then it goes through the relatively peaceful tracks [sounds like being in a cave somewhere] before the chaotic ~24 minute closer which tops everything else [in that way it sort of reminds me of "White Light/White Heat"..]
Thanks (any continued advice and recommendations still highly appreciated!)! Picked up Viva Angel, Tapes and Last Recording Album now and have Noise from Trading Cards coming in the mail. Shumatsu-Shorijo is going higher up the want list - hadn't really seen it discussed extensively anywhere yet so didn't know anything about it. From the looks of it I'll try and eventually get my grubby hands on everything - as much as the all out noise era seems to be my favourite I'm finding increasingly much to appreciate in 'other' works. Viva Angel is surprisingly awesome. From descriptions I'd read (Mikawa's own, mainly) I expected something way too silly but it decidedly isn't. The opening track is pretty stupid, but I like it nonetheless - the title track is probably what I like least on there. Still, great atmosphere, ace material I don't think I can describe more accurately than you just did. The B-side, with brilliant title and all, is absolutely fantastic and a pretty good precursor for Modern-Romance-(Windom). Evidently not as dense or harsh as any of those three, but certainly a good, extended chunk of noisiness. Love it!
Gave Last Recording Album only a single spin so far so it'll need many more for it to truly sink in, but a good disc overall with a drummer I thought fit the band much better than Akita did on Windom. Seems to be on the harsher end of the Hijokaidan catalogue though it's not as steady and relentless as material that (for now) I think is superior. If I were to impose any order of greatness on the Hijokaidan I have heard so far I'd probably do it like so: 1, Modern; 2, Polar Nights Live; 3, Romance; 4, Windom; 5, Viva Angel; 6, Last Recording Album; 7, Tapes. Mind that 'even' the lower listed of course shriek the living shit out of much else that isn't Hijokaidan, hah. The best band I couldn't have discovered later.
What, I guess, Hijokaidan has achieved more than any other band or artist out there is pushing ME to keep upping that volume. No other noise, or music, I have ever played at the volumes I play Hijokaidan. Nothing more blissful.
Quote
What, I guess, Hijokaidan has achieved more than any other band or artist out there is pushing ME to keep upping that volume. No other noise, or music, I have ever played at the volumes I play Hijokaidan. Nothing more blissful
blasting Hijokaidan at high volumes is one of the great pleasures of life
Quote from: P A N I C on July 12, 2012, 05:09:13 PMNoise from Trading Cards
This, by the way, is truly fucking excellent. Recently scored another (sealed!) copy for €12, I just couldn't NOT buy it.
Re: my earlier questions on the reissues, I recently also bought the 2006 reissue of Modern in addition to my 1994 reissue (still need to pick up the original); I've yet to compare them soundwise (if there are any differences - and if so I'll make sure to report on them), but the design is slightly different. The photo on the inside has the upper black edge cut off, and the typesetting on the spine, back and CD has changed. Otherwise it's pretty much identical.
Also, 2012 turned out to be a particularly good Hijokaidan year, what with the releases of Made in Japan and Made in Studio. Anyone else pick these babies up? I've seen surprisingly little mention of them online (or well, should I be surprised?) but they are absolutely amazing both. Made in Japan is a live registration recorded at Shinjuku Pit Inn featuring Akira Sakata and Sabu Toyozumi, and it's basically a 40-minute blast of shrieks, noise and frantic drums. Absolutely great. Made in Studio are studio sessions featuring almost the same players, though in differing line-ups - for instance, there's a recording of Akira Sakata and Junko shrieking at each other like crazy, their respective howls, sax and vox, mixing into a hellish, blissful chaos. And there's the highlight, Auto-Noda-Fe, the half-hour closing track which features everyone going at it full blast, reminiscent of the live recording but even fucking better. Both great discs, great looks too and extensive liner notes. Get them if you don't have them yet. The first 300 orders received a bonus disc with two more sessions; not sure if that is still happening (I seriously hope they moved 300 sets by now, but who knows...). Highly recommended at the least.
And this year, of course, we had Hatsune-kaidan, the odd combination of vocaloid Miku Hatsune (who I can appreciate, too; Yellow is fucking great, for instance) and Hijokaidan. It's a strange disc, very alienating, with a very cold and distant-sounding Miku singing over plain pop songs with some moments of noise cut in here and there, and then taking the back seat to fuller-sounding noise on the third and fourth tracks. Still, an odd thing and a mixed bag. An interesting experiment but not the best thing I've heard.
Finally, there's the current release Live at Akihabara Goodman, Tokyo, February 2nd, 2013, a digital release only (too bad, I don't like these things) which features a great set list, including some work from Made in Studio (I'm curious at how these are performed...) and Hatsune-Kaidan. Compelling, but again, a digital release... too bloody bad.
from playlist topic:
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on March 14, 2013, 07:48:35 AM
Jazz Hijokaidan "Made In Japan" CD
I don't know why this would be really called "jazz hijokaidan" as only real difference is the one sax player joining in c. 40 minutes of total live noise havoc. Non-stop total energy chaos with great sound. Very good!
Hijokaidan "made in studio" CD
In other hand, this is more of jazz hijokaidan! 4 tracks, and this follows idea of their previous studio albums. Even if 2 massive tracks include their trademark "everybody make as much noise as you can" approach, in middle, there are thrown two stripped down tracks involving only couple of the members. Clarinet sound is quite piercings as opposed to saxophone. It's surprisingly good choice!
I recall there has been couple other times these two mentioned in playlist? But quick search didn't give much results. I think being japanese label quite far from western "noise scene"... This is it. Very little comments anywhere.
That said, I was highly surprised to find out that for example never heard Masahiko Ohno (solmania) cdr releases on his own label. Japanese band, small label, not a current western "forum scene" band (haha!).. so information is minimal if not even nonexistent..
You're quite right! Still, you'd think big names like these would still find their way to broader non-Japanese audiences too. I guess I'm wrong.
Your post does seem to be the only one; at least, searching for Hijokaidan on the forums yields only that result. Elsewhere on the internet discussion has been limited too, though; I've tried to promote the albums a bit here and there and they have gotten good reactions, but still even some of the most obvious places make no mention of them at all. Such a pity.
Right now I'm revisiting The Last Recording Album, which I thought a bit tame upon the first few tries, but now, with a good set of headphones, it's really opening up. The clarity in recording is great; I love how you can discern so many different things in the mix. Great stuff.
Also this bizarre "collaboration" with computer-generated idol Hatsune Miku went a bit unnoticed:
http://www.timeout.jp/en/tokyo/event/7128/Hijokaidan
It doesn't seem too good, but it's worth a mention anyway just for Japanese bizarreness' sake.
Yes, I mentioned it above too:
Quote from: P A N I C on March 19, 2013, 04:08:35 PMAnd this year, of course, we had Hatsune-kaidan, the odd combination of vocaloid Miku Hatsune (who I can appreciate, too; Yellow is fucking great, for instance) and Hijokaidan. It's a strange disc, very alienating, with a very cold and distant-sounding Miku singing over plain pop songs with some moments of noise cut in here and there, and then taking the back seat to fuller-sounding noise on the third and fourth tracks. Still, an odd thing and a mixed bag. An interesting experiment but not the best thing I've heard.
It's not spectacular by any means.
Oh sorry, I didn't check the previous posts.
Yeah I imagined so, the samples on youtube sounded pretty dull.
Quote from: P A N I C on March 19, 2013, 04:08:35 PMThe first 300 orders received a bonus disc with two more sessions; not sure if that is still happening (I seriously hope they moved 300 sets by now, but who knows...). Highly recommended at the least.
ordered it a month or two ago and the bonus disc was still available as of then anyway..I doubt they have shifted that many sets to be honest, they'll probably still be there next year...
Just noticed a new boxset on the Alchemy Records website : http://www.kt.rim.or.jp/~jojo_h/ar/p_top/
Is it Hijokaidan related ? Can't find any information, but it's already available for sale on Amazon.co.jp, HMV japan, etc. Hope it'll be available in Europe.
And I'm looking for The Last Recording CD, I can't find it for less than 40 euros on Discogs. If anyone knows how to get it for a reasonable price...
The latest japanoise arrivals on FA were great, by the way. Is there more coming ?
Quote from: parapluie on April 29, 2013, 12:16:44 PM
The latest japanoise arrivals on FA were great, by the way. Is there more coming ?
Not that much. Most of that stuff is something what I have had in shelves of my record store SARVILEVYT (www.sarvilevyt.fi ) for many many years. If nobody wanted those Cd's in like 5 years of time, perhaps better to put the stuff online... There are still lots of vinyls and CD's what I don't have in mailorder catalogue. Including some sold out FA items etc..
Thanks for your answer. Hope I'll be able to visit the shop one day !
Got a mail from Alchemy, he didn't answer any of my questions but told me that the boxset is 200$ including postage and will be released on 19/06.
There's an expatriate living in Japan uploading Hijokaidan, Incapacitants, Grunt, and others live shows on the Dime a Dozen tracker. Their recordings are generally very good.
here's what they've shared in the last week:
Spring Love Treatment - [Vava Kitora, Guitar Execution by Guilty Connector und Tabata, Magikal Garden, K2, Gomikawa Fumio (Incapacitants + Painjerk)] Tokyo, Koenji, 20000V, April 13, 2003
Destruction Chaos Vol. 6 - Mothra, Gomidama, Jojo Hiroshige, Keiji Haino, Tokyo, Koenji, 20000V, June 20, 2003
Destruction Chaos Vol. 7 - Magmax, Mothra, Maggie Guiaaaa, Hikosoara, Incapacitants, Tokyo, Shinjuku DOM, November 30, 2003
Finland vs Japan - Montage, Aino, Incapacitants, Rulla, Grunt, Tokyo, Koenji, 20000V, April 10, 2005
Hijokaidan + Incapacitants, Tokyo, Akihabara, Club Goodman, March 22, 2006
The Incapacitants, Tokyo, Ikebukuro, Chop, April 22, 2006
MSBR, KK Null, Incapacitants, Anla Courtis, Tokyo, Koenji, 20000V, January 16, 2005
Hijokaidan's The Noise ザ・ノイズ - 30th Anniversary - 1979-2009 (30 CD Box-Set) is a must own for anyone who claims himself as a Japanoise fanatic.
The Noise is worth getting for track 1, disc 28 alone... T. Mikawa solo(?) track, "We Buy N?"
Pretty convincingly demonstrates that Hijokaidan is practically holding him back. Earlier in the thread, FreakAnimalFinland tells us disc 7 is the harshest piece of Hijo in the 30disc set.... track 5, the closing track on disc 7, sounds very consistent with early, primitive-sounding Incaps.
http://avex.jp/biskaidan/index.html
Another weird collaboration, haha!
I'm waiting for the latest 11CD boxset, Bimbo Tower in Paris will have a few copies.
(http://tower.jp/~/media/Images/Tol/pc/article/feature_item/J-Pop/2013/05/24/0701_01.jpg)
And still looking for The Noise boxset by the way, Amazon.co.jp won't let me order it since I'm ordering from France...
!!! that box set looks amazing! Hideshi Hino art work yey ^__^
I remember being traumatized in my youth by that 'Panorama of Hell' cover art in Forbidden Planet back in the day. :)
I finally listen Junko - Sleeping Beauty and I found it totally irritant and boring.
What you think about this album?
Quote from: Dr Alex on July 10, 2013, 01:27:52 AM
I finally listen Junko - Sleeping Beauty and I found it totally irritant and boring.
What you think about this album?
I would prescribe a second dose.
EDIT
totally irritant and boring and lovely and essential. Like the Hijo minus the Kaidan,
No safe and solid walls to cling to. No warm enveloping layers. Stripped down scantily clad skrieeyeek. A plunge worth taking. But iheartjunko so iambias.
Quote from: Dr Alex on July 10, 2013, 01:27:52 AM
I finally listen Junko - Sleeping Beauty and I found it totally irritant and boring.
What you think about this album?
It's genuinely difficult to listen to, which I wish more "noise" albums were. Great stuff.
totally irritant and amazing
I'm hoping for the day I can have some kind of passive aggressive music volume war with some neighbors just so I can conclusively win by putting on Sleeping Beauty at full volume :D
all frequencies travel thru the walls at my place :( ANYWAY i digress.
has this been posted yet?
video for upcoming release onsale 2013/8/7 (August 7th!) of BISKAIDAN - Hijokaidan & all girl J-Pop band BIS! check it out! great video! keep an eye out for Hanatarash's logo on the Marshalls along with Hijokaidan's.
i like that this collab will exist. maybe it'll top the Japanese charts?
click click :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjVT-jsiPnw
Quote from: blackoperations on July 28, 2013, 10:29:56 AM
has this been posted yet?
video for upcoming release onsale 2013/8/7 (August 7th!) of BISKAIDAN - Hijokaidan & all girl J-Pop band BIS! check it out! great video! keep an eye out for Hanatarash's logo on the Marshalls along with Hijokaidan's.
i like that this collab will exist. maybe it'll top the Japanese charts?
click click :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjVT-jsiPnw
Total crap/shit!! J pop is worst "music" on earth!!
Hijokaidan should make
JUST noise!!!!!!!!
No there's some pretty amazing music in J-pop sometimes. And the whole 'joke' here is that it's an unexpected/'bad' pairing of genres. Still, yeah hope they don't get toooo carried away with these sort of gimmicks and neglect the pure noise :)
In other Hijokaidan-related news, this potentially incredible London festival of Japanese noise/music next feb is raising funds at the moment, worth a look/support even if you can't go, there's exclusive recordings etc available to contributors:
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/noise-experimental-improvised-music-festival/x/58217
http://multipletap.com/
QuoteDoravideo
Hijokaidan
T.Mikawa(from Incapacitants)
JOJO Hiroshige
JUNKO
Hatsunekaidan
Makoto Kawabata(from Acid Mothers Temple)
Toshimaru Nakamura
Tetsuzi Akiyama
Atsuhiro Ito
Yumiko Tanaka
Miho Wakabayashi
Ko Ishikawa
Makoto Oshiro
PAINJERK
Takahiro Kawaguchi
Katsura Mouri
Katsuyoshi Kou
Got my boxset from Bimbo Tower :
(http://i.imgur.com/8FsiU8X.jpg)(http://i.imgur.com/J81QX8Q.jpg)
Expensive but looks really great ! Too bad all the texts are japanese only.
Also managed to grab The Noise on discogs for a great price last month, and spinning one random CD from this huge boxset is one of my greatest pleasure of this summer.
That box set looks awesome! Congrats on the score!!!!
Several new releases are just out, all of them seemingly continuing the trend of J-pop + noise that started with the original Hatsune Kaidan disc. Recently we had the BiSKaidan album, and these are new:
(http://i.imgur.com/hKPFvuv.jpg)
BiS＋BiS階段／Fly CD＋BiS階段 LIVE DVD（1CD＋1DVD）at 3570円
(http://i.imgur.com/yjAWpQt.jpg)
初音階段／からっぽの世界（CD）at 2500円
(http://i.imgur.com/rJy3A18.jpg)
初音階段／初音階段ライブ！（CD）at 2000円
I'm glad to see Hijokaidan has been so productive recently, though I wasn't a big fan of the first Hatsune Kaidan disc. I'll pick these up, but we'll have to wait and see if they're good. I hope we get more in the vein of the discs released on Doubtmusic. Jazz + Hijokaidan is a better combination, I think.
Currently listening to Hijokaidan (Windom) for the first time. This is fucking brilliant!
I understand, but Junko it's amazing singer - listen the collaboration with Michel henritzi (Dust Breeders) - it's just beautiful emotional - it's just perfect - the second tracks of Berlin No tsuki released on Tochnit Aleph is my favorite - but all collaboration between this two artist it's amazing
http://michelhenritzi1.bandcamp.com/album/fear-of-music (http://michelhenritzi1.bandcamp.com/album/fear-of-music)
Quote from: Dr Alex on July 10, 2013, 01:27:52 AM
I finally listen Junko - Sleeping Beauty and I found it totally irritant and boring.
What you think about this album?
Weirdly there's a band from Glasgow called Bis who got really big in Japan in the mid-90s. One of the members used to work in Missing Records and said that Japanese teenagers came all the way over to the UK and found out where he lived, they stayed at his mum's house for the night. I think he took them to a Celtic match or something. Wonder if they took the name from that.
Not heard any Hijokaidan that I didn't eventually really like. Think I've had the 30-CD boxset for three years now and I'm still not sure if I ever got all the way through it. Three discs in one day is as good as I've managed, which is pretty good going I reckon. They're the loudest band I've ever seen live, the force of the sound was actually a physically oppressive force, it felt like someone had their fingers in my ears and was trying to squeeze my brain in.
^Further to the above, now I remember the Glasgow Bis shared a 7" with MERZBOW in the mid-90s too!
"Sugar sugar candy pop, just don't let the music stop". Unfortunately I do remember the Scottish Bis, and I found their work more painful and offensive than any amount of PE and noise. Their horrible and foul music - pretentious in the real sense of the word, since pop music didn't come naturally to them and their image was very contrived - used to make me feel despair. Funny what gets under your skin.
Quote from: AWWFN on September 24, 2013, 12:33:01 AM
Weirdly there's a band from Glasgow called Bis who got really big in Japan in the mid-90s. One of the members used to work in Missing Records and said that Japanese teenagers came all the way over to the UK and found out where he lived, they stayed at his mum's house for the night. I think he took them to a Celtic match or something. Wonder if they took the name from that.
Interesting, not sure but I have a copy of this split 7" with the 90's Bis and Merzbow (!) so there's definitely been some historical noise/japan/pop crossover that could have some connection :)
Yeah they were completely shite. The singer actually sold her record collection into my shop a few months ago, surprisingly had quite a lot of decent bits and bobs in it!
If you're after a copy of the Merzbow 7" (it was a double now I remember with a couple more bands), they turn up in Glasgow's record shops all the time for bugger all, I'll keep an eye out.
Yeah, I recently got a copy from the bargain box of the label's stall at Independent Labels Market thing. :)
Hijokaidan VOD box, which is basically 250x membership edition = extended version of Zouroku No Kibyou. Just double LP with one extra LP with two live gigs. Anyways, since I got the original LP and CD, it has been in my shelves since 2006, unopened, unplayed. Today finally rotated all sides (not the live dvd, though..) and god damn! Zouroku No Kibyou is good as always. There is this king of noise element of course, but nearly kraut rock kind of feel on few occasions. But when turning to bonus LP, with two live gigs... Hellish storm hits in! It's just total utmost noise blast. Especially b-side with lots of feedback (well, as always) and screaming takes this far away from "free improv" side, into total harsh noise blast, what infact could even satisfy some fans of early days SJ due combination of loud feedback, vocals and noise. Excellent!
Quote from: AWWFN on September 24, 2013, 12:33:01 AM
Think I've had the 30-CD boxset for three years now and I'm still not sure if I ever got all the way through it. Three discs in one day is as good as I've managed, which is pretty good going I reckon.
Indeed. I've had that 30 CD box also shelved in my room for a couple of years and just last week I listened to last cd's. I am not sure I have stamina to listen that extra mp3 disc included for a while (12 albums worth of Hijokaidan). Even though I like the sheer energy and chaos they make, somehow it is quite hard to digest in bigger doses. Some of the stuff on that box set is simply brilliant but some is... well, not so enjoyable. Maybe it is the shrieking (or occasional lack of focus) that annoyes me. As far as I like the extreme manifestations of human voice, Junko's screaming just doesn't do it for me. Apart from that I was surprised how much I enjoyed Junko's "Sleeping beaty" in the disc 28!
Has anyone got Hijokaidan's The Original Album Remaster Edition 13CD Box Set?
Any personal reviews about Hijokaidan's Gokuaku No Kyoten (10MC / 11CD+DVD Reissue)?
Is it worth to have it?
THE NOISE 30xCD box finally listened through. Some discs more than once, but mostly once per disc. I can say that 2 last discs are clearly least good. Especially final disc seems like finally being moment when they ran out of good stuff to be on box. It's kind of lame that so amazing box ends into pretty useless nonsense. There was SOB-Kaidan stuff in #29, not sure what is this last? Kenbaku-Kaidan?? Some not-so-interesting collaboration nevertheless.
All in all, box is most definitely worth to get. It's nearly all gold.
I thought I should now start to go through Merzbox that's been sitting in shelves since... 2005.. with merely 3 discs listened from it, but now I feel like some shorter stuff between these, hah...
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on November 11, 2014, 03:16:11 PM
I thought I should now start to go through Merzbox
I was just thinking of giving it a second round.
Junko is playing today in Belgium at the Harbinger sound clash - for those who should be in the neighbourhood
http://dekreun.be/live/event/harbinger_soundclash_vol_2/
does anyone know if there's a connection between jazz/improv guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi aka 'Jojo' and Jojo Hiroshige of Hijokaidan? He plays a nasty electric guitar, and bears a passing resemblance to the younger Jojo. Or is it just coincidence?
Listened to the King of Noise CD today, and maybe because I was tired (music has a slightly different impact on me when I'm sleep-deprived), I found it nearly unlistenably harsh! Especially track 4 (charmingly titled Self-Mutilation) was torturous: painful high-pitched feedback along with guitar noise and occasional yapping vocals (which I could do without) for 10+ minutes. Even Snuff is not as painful, I think... Track 1 has some random drums and the other tracks are just guitar and electronics.There's not much in the way of composition throughout the album, just maximum noise damage. It's one hell of a listen for sure.
and LOUD too
Heads up. Shared on the Dime-a-Dozen tracker today: HIJOKAIDAN featuring ATSUHIRO ITO - 2015-03-21 - LEVERKUSEN, KaW - Multiple Tap/Japanese Art Festival
Quote from: Otomo_Hava on July 05, 2014, 02:54:51 PM
Has anyone got Hijokaidan's The Original Album Remaster Edition 13CD Box Set?
Any personal reviews about Hijokaidan's Gokuaku No Kyoten (10MC / 11CD+DVD Reissue)?
Is it worth to have it?
I would also like to know if anyone else has these 2 sets, is the sound on the remaster edition good compared to the older versions? What is the packaging like? Is the Gokuaku no Kyoten set worth getting? They appear to be limited numbered editions, so how many copies of each were made?
Quote from: slayerhatesusall on May 29, 2015, 02:02:16 PM
I would also like to know if anyone else has these 2 sets, is the sound on the remaster edition good compared to the older versions? What is the packaging like? Is the Gokuaku no Kyoten set worth getting? They appear to be limited numbered editions, so how many copies of each were made?
I ordered these sets and they came today. The packaging on the Gokaku no Kyoten set is a very nice and large glossy box, the cds come in slim cases and a booklet in japanese and postcards. The Original album remastered edition box comes in a thick glossy box that houses the individual remastered cds which are in jewel cases w/ obi strips and sealed individually. My Gokuaku no Kyoten set is numbered 494 and the album box is number 228. Haven't listened to them yet so I can't tell how good the sound is compared to the older releases (I don't have the older releases so can't compare the sound anyway. 2 of them didn't exist on cd before also)
Digging out this old thread, I have been working through the numerous collaborations Hijokaidan have embarked on. what was at first interesting - Jazz Hijokiadan - is becoming diluted, especially by the collabs with girl groups that offer little beyond novelty value (and i say that as a fan of AKB48 and noise). The Togawa Kaidan studio/live collabs are better. For noise sake the collabs with Nihilist Spasm band and Nasca Car are a lot better and I've yet to listen to the one with Yoshihide Otomo but ultimately are any of them essential? Do any stand up to their main discography?
What do others think?
Reviving this thread because I've been listening to The Noise, taking notes in order to write a review about it. Personal project, because I didn't see anyone doing some more in depth analysis about it, it's always "omg 30 cds?! the guts! so extreme! it must be 10/10", which is a shame since it's extremely varied. For example, CD4 is pretty much free jazz, has some feedback and synth wooshs, but nothing you would really classify as noise, rather a very noisy free improv, much like Masayuki Takayanagi. Has steady rhythms, even acoustic piano. Also features a more tame version of a track that apperars on Zoroku no Kibyo (it's a Faust cover, no less). It's pretty great. I really liked CD3 too, a live performance during the "Original Hijokaidan" era. Very primitive, but that's what I like about it.
And there are so many more good stuff to cite, but I'm still to finish it all. But there is this specific performance that intrigues me alot: CD23, track 1 is live at Connecticut, USA, November, 2000. Interesting performance. A woman introduces the band, sings acapella, and then they proceed to play some j-pop/enka/whatever, clean guitars and all. It's not Junko, because later, when the piece turns to noise, there are two women screaming, and you can tell Junko apart. I'm guessing it's Miki Sawaguchi, because around the same time she collaborated with Jojo and company elsewhere. It's also notable because it goes to show that Hijokaidan collaborations with Miku and j-pop groups has some form of precedent. Anyway, the rest of the line-up seems to feature a second guitarrist and a drummer whose name I couldn't really make out during the introduction. The boxset insert has no specific info about this era, by the way, just "did not have many live shows in 2000".
Does anyone got any info on this show? Couldn't find anything, other than a photo, which seems to feature this presumed line-up, but no credits, no date, no info. I remeber Noisextra episode with GX, where there are some talks about early Japanoise shows in the US, but I can't recall if they talk about this show in particular, gotta relisten.
But again, anyone know anything about this show?
Two days ago I was reading so many praising texts about this maintream success gaining Lorna Shore, taking a listen and thinking what a god damn rackets people listening these days! Then pouring myself whiskey and starting to listen Hijokaidan. More precisely SPECULUM KAIDANCD , that is 1992 Jojo, Junko and Romero. Nice half an hour noise blast and screams.
Next day started with watching CCCC + Hijokaidan live at Italian TV 1997 couple of times. It is so insane, one would hope this would really be popular for real. I wouldn't mind this type of thing becoming viral in tiktok instead saviors of metal music..
https://youtu.be/bs3GcoZ-ecs
Continueing with Hijokaidan The Lord of the Noise" CD+DVD
great stuff. Compilation of various things.
Then "The Neverending Story of King Of Noise" 4xCD box set.
Curious thing is that Lord of the noise and Neverending... starts with same track. And that despite being Hijokaidan, in couple of seconds I'd recognize its the same "song", and just confirmed from covers I ain't mistaken. Their earliest recordings, and already distinctive style.
I got the copy #51 of this edition of 500, that came out in 1992. Got it later on, as it was long sold out when I had money to buy this kind of things. I guess about 10 years later. Two first disc of box are kind of best of old stuff and 3rd & 4th latest stuff (back then). 3rd disc is phenomenal and 4th cd playing now... excellent. Liner notes are also curious, as at this moment Kosakai is credited as guest member from CCCC / Incapacitants.
It is excellent noise all the way, but also such a reminder how this, and Merzbow Metalvelodrome 4xCD where like HUGE almost unbelievable anomalies in harsh noise. 1992 - box set consisting 4 CD's! It feels little funny now, when CD box set is nothing unusual. Back then, I almost could not believe there was "noise CD", but also that multiple disc boxes! I wonder what was the first 4xCD (or bigger) noise box?