Everybody knows the big & the famous. There was always nice tapes from lots of artists who have remained in shadow of the rest or almost forgotten. I think I may have written about some of bands I may want to write again, but lets start with:
NECROMANTICK-PHENOMENA "6725 Schnittwunde" tape
ZSF produkt / Omnipresent records
Don't know if project prefers to be called with full name, or perhaps better known as just "NP". I have had stuff like NP-Thirdorgan splits for long time, and this guy did collaboration with Gerogerigegege, tape on ZSF as "GERO-P". This C-20 comes from 1985 and I had luck finding it from Japanese noise store for pretty nice price. Cover with fetuses strangulated in their naval cords (or whatever it's called). Music has plenty of variation. One can just imagine how the original 1985 ferric tape sound THIS good on tape deck. It's harsh, it's fierce. It starts with noise which sounds like Masonna meets free-form punk drumming. Throaty screaming, fast blasting beats below the harshness. Soon transforms into more industrial noise with rhythm, side ending into harsh noise. Somehow you get idea when thinking of GRIM meets MASONNA perhaps? 3 tracks in total. B-side continues with sharper noise. Almost Incapacitants like high pitched feedback torture with busy harsh distortion, combined with slow bounding metal junk and strange yelling noises. Vocals sounds almost like baby crying and some sort of ritualistic humming on back. It's really noisy and sharp. Just amazing noise orgy for whole 10 minutes.
I don't see this even mentioned in discogs. And not much of his label either. Hows the other stuff he may or may not have done in the 80's. I think the late 90's 3 collaborations with Thirdorgan are good, one of the tapes in very nice special package too. But since those I already have, I wonder what else exists and is this guy still around?
His other project is listed: Mackerel Can Molding Company. And it is credit to be part of Merzbow veneorology, as guy who recorded the live song of the cd. He also mixed one of Gerogerigegege 7"s. If you come across the tape, buy it without hesitation!
Not really obscure but you never ever see it mentioned is the LP collab of JOJO & SAKEVI. I forget the title & it's not really noise. Seems like there was more atmosphere to it. I'd like to hear it again. Might be a nice reiss. if one could obtain the rights...
All the acts on Lust Vessel seem to be obscure. Does anyone know anything about the personal involved? I wouldn't be surprised if they're all by the same handful of people.
I met the guy behind at least some of Lust Vessel projects. He kept saying "don't tell anyone, secret!!". I'm pretty sure he could be behind all, perhaps not all alone. But as far as I know, he has no other noise projects, so it's not like side projects of some known bands.
Jojo / Sakevi, has more droning guitar of nearly dark ambient nature. I know friend had it, sold it, and regretted later. I saw copy in Japan. When I took it to desk of shop, seller asked "where did you find this? Not for sale!". Didn't get it... Pricetag was like 3500Jpy. Would pay that any moment.
Through the archive sales of Self Abuse Records I came across Rptort Shoot (might also be related to Retort Shoot but never heard compilation that featured). Main reason for picking up was label release of Kinky Musik Institute but in any case glad I did as material is a gem in the Mid-90's Japanese tape culture.
Kill The Hypnotic Bastards [Kinky Musik Institute]
High energy spastic performances similar to Masonna that move in similar fashion from track to track yet with focus on shifts and not on actual physical cuts. Basically 5 variations of "Kill The Highway Star" as well as 2 additional add ons to make full duration of tape. All 5 variations of "Kill The Highway Star" are in standard format of spoken title introduction followed by intense blasts of ever changing noise and dominant vocal. Entire mix is quite saturated but always modulated feedback, junk metal, tape loop manipulation, etc in best tastes. Following 2 tracks are slightly different direction where mix sometimes settle into dull feedback and delay of source but works well for what it is. "Heel Hold Killer" is mentioned to have edit from label itself but judging on stagnantion of track it is for the best and in excerpt form provides solid end to tape. Of course 2 following tracks can't meet obsessive nature of "Kill The Highway Star" variations but showcased project is beyond basic concept.
77 Clock Blasted / Limited Cuts [Self Released]
Perfect single styled format for noise material of this style. Simple well put together noise in similar fashion as last 2 tracks of tape mentioned above. Pace is overall much slower but still moves along at somewhat steady pace. Manipulation works are still top notch and focus is more on the overall noise than vocals. Packaging is handmade collage from artist with title tracks written directly on jcard. Patrick/Self Abuse mentioned tape may not be official work but more of promo.
Shoot MF [Self Released]
Another release which was mentioned as maybe not official but release offers as much variety as first tape mentioned. Main difference between this and release on KMI is focus of material. "Shoot MF" seems to dwell more in the basic simple noise than the constant layering of the previous tapes. Sound comes across more typical to live pe styled performance where vocals twist with actual noise itself and not so much of noise being drowned out when vocals kick in. Still plenty of ungrounded wire/speaker hum on majority of tracks which really builds body to the mix itself. Only disappointing aspect would be "Wavelinear" track of badly filtered synth melody. A small mistep in the otherwise fantastic discography.
There is probably a lot of noise in Japan which didn't make it to very known. Probably similar to promo tapes Self Abuse may have received, I have several unreleased (as far as I know) or advance recordings sent to me in 90's. Projects like Taichi, what for example discogs only mentions in one compilation. Building of Gel and its side projects, which I think MDM was it? two guys of Building of Gel doing nice electronic noise.
Lots of other obscurities like Hentaitenno, Mad Recital, Atrocity Master, Sinner's Crime, Peeping Tom, Mamarracho, Aki-Mekura, Riku (sister of Diesel Guitar, great!!), Colloid, Comfort,........ pff. I guess should re-visit and comment some of them. Not all were something one should even remember, but some others most definitely would be worth of doing even "from shadows of japanese noise ug" historical observation comp, hah..
And to ad, few times when visiting Modern Music shop in Tokyo, there are piles of strange tapes. All japanese text. And when you ask owner, he'll read the description in style of "homemade japanese noise. Limited to 10." and then you see couple of that same tape in shelve. And probably been there 15 years? No idea who or what they would be. One would need someone to write names/titles in normal alphabets.
Comments on some of those projects would be great for better and worse regarding material (even if some of the names I already know/own material). I am sure that in every scene there are projects that remain unknown to majority due to one reason or another (limitation, poor distribution, promo w/o finalized product, etc). This is why you can see people digging through the garbage in hopes of finding that hidden gem.
I know there is a compilation being based on Japanese "Underdogs" of Scene from the 90's between Finnish and US labels but artist list is still being finalized and nowhere complete due to issue of lost contacts. Been in the works for sometime now and information will be posted when 1st set is ready. I do know MDM (yes B.O.G. Side Project) was on the list but current contact has yet to be found. RoboChanMan was another hopeful but will see what the future holds...
Back on track...two more reviews of related projects to RoboChanMan on his own New Machine label. Unfortunately majority of releases are quite limited with little to no information available. Would love to read about some of Yasushi's other projects like Grand Cross Orchestra, Moletown Crew, Corrupted World Civilization.
Collision With Cronos - Annihilation Factor [New Machine 1994]
Pre-RoboChanMan project with incredible amount of detail. Shouldn't expect full force noise as later recordings were but more of industrial with extremely crude organic touch. Sound on first both parts of "Annihilation Factor" constructed of tape manipulation as main focus with buried layers of dialog, dragging of objects on concrete/gravel floor, etc. "The Schizophrenic Person" works in the same manner but more aggressive end result due to bass guitar, shortwave radio and overall louder source manipulated. Same goes for "Disaster Area" which is so simple of buzzing electronics, motor source, etc. Side A ends with "Water Lily" pieced together of various loops of dead air recordings, motors, broken electronics all deconstructed in a lovely manner. Side B "Rubycon [Theme Of Retort City]" pretty much plays back as soundtrack to pinky violence film except in more experimental mind frame. Edition of 15 copies.
Hyper Doll - Hyper Doll [New Machine 1996]
Roughly 45 minutes of strange noise. Sound composition collages all over the map here arranged in a very sloppy, careless manner. Sometimes 1 second of useless noise, other times acoustic recording of what seems to be tapping on metal junk, pops, vinyl turntable abuse, sing-a-longs to various japanese punk rock. Everything pretty much covered here and end result is so unique in sometimes downright horrible manner that I can't even begin to put judgment on release itself as it clearly requires different mindset. Packaged in spray painted plastic bag with plastic bands melted around the release itself. Edition of 30 but unsure if all were ever finished? Can only really recommend this to listeners with the most open of minds.
wasn't this planned CD box still (I guess still in hus hus -situation?) with kind of "artists known by people into noise"? I mean, we could of course list bands like Crack Fierce, AMB, Crack Fierce, Robochanman, Magmax, etc. which remain far below the well known names, but some still have vinyl/cd on pretty established labels. I think something like Colloid, which included one member of Outermost in early stages before he left the band, I think it was kind of separated from "scene", since didn't exist in any of the big cities or their surroundings, but... was it Sapporo? Very north of Japan far away of anything. Comp tracks on Vanilla, some own tape(s). Outermost was nice at the time, but never very heavy. Perhaps to be compared to cheaper version of Thirdorgan and Monde bruits. Kind of mid-range fast electronic noises. Not very bassy/heavy, not very painfull high/crispy. Earliest stuff mainly with drum machine bursts. Not "beats", no "rhythm". Just method of creating noises. Grunt did split tape in.. 94 on his label Cat Move. I was heavily surprised that C-20 tape had actually offset printed cover instead of some xerox. I owe this guy a lot for introducing me shitloads of Japanese noise via tape trading. Kept sending him dubs of finnish hc-punk, and he returned with jap noise I couldn't afford.
Obscure is a term I reserve for relatively unknown or unusual units with a fairly defined position or aesthetic. Most of the projects we've seen named, or alluded to, would be better served with the prefix "side". That is to say, few if any would represent a principle occupation, in any duration, for the parties responsible.
A case in point would be Takel-Kizimecca, by far my favorite contributor to '91 "Noise and Junk Omnibus" on RRRecords (against strong showings from Incaps, Gero, VOG, Agencement). The sound of his four-minute "Ecology", fairly developed within its narrow confines, encapsulates perfectly a certain mood/atmosphere/aesthetic that I absolutely love. Raw, gritty, ground-in, crumbling, near-droning buzz, and gristle, understated, gutteral, sublime. To my knowledge, Kizimecca's only other extant recording appears on the RRRecords comp "Testamemt II", and quite a disappointment, comparatively speaking, it is. That's all he wrote.
But Kizimecca is hardly a noise perveyor, and would probably be surprised if any were to accuse him of giving a rat'r ass. Prior to the RRRecords brevities abovementioned, an art book entitled "6 Apologies Of Onanism" was released in '88, distributed by V2. (Kiimecca is also credited with the photography gracing Dissecting Table releases on V2.) After that, it's all mainly paintings. Check out his Bottomless Stratum for Mental Oscillation to appreciate a "fascination with abomination":
www.kizimecca.org/
The following interview excerpt explains nothing, but everything:
"Q What else are you interested in besides visual arts?
A Insect watching and sightseeing to modern ruins."
All to say that the refreshingly bullshit-lite view of noise as something that you simply "do" - rather than as some artistic vocation or calling or major preoccupation or whathaveyou - is as alive and well in Japan as ever. (QED Every other day it seems I stumble across unkown noise-type events populated by unknown noise-type acts far excized from the circle of local noise I'm familiar with - eg Pain Jerk, Incapacitants, Government Alpha, Astro, etc.)
Critics often argue that such attitude effectively devalues the product - and they're right! The tougher sell is that this attitude also erodes the power of the product: to impact, to affect, to move, re- Kizimecca et al. For me, the least affectative may prove the most effective.
Building of Gel is a name that seems to have disappeared into the "where are they now file" , I have 2 tapes of theirs, "Red" on Jason Hodges (Suppression) CNP label, and "Cube" on Self Abuse (although could be the other way round, don `t really fancy shifting through the tape collection to check).
Really enjoyed these tapes. Lots of harsh, yet warm analog sounds. Really good live act too, Not sure what happened to them.
Then there was Taichi, have a couple of self released tapes by this guy. Very dynamic, high/mid frequency harsh noise, Pain Jerk might be a good comparison......but live, very similar to Masonna, so much so that when Maso caught this Taichi live, he accused him of completely ripping him off and told him to "get his own act". Which, apparently, resulted in the ever-so fragile Taichi disappearing from Noise altogether and undergoing months of therapy.
does Gasolineman count as obscure?? If I have one noise wish, it is to resurrect this guy.......one of my favourite noise acts ever, his B-Boy Sherman abusing live antics were a joy to behold.
Still waiting for the return of the Sewage and Peeping Tom brothers too
Quote from: trashritual on January 27, 2010, 12:16:20 AM
Would love to read about some of Yasushi's other projects like Grand Cross Orchestra, Moletown Crew, Corrupted World Civilization.
Grand Cross Orchestra is pretty great, really lives up to the name. I actually just came across their "Tokyo Disaster" this morning digging through crates for the Yellow Cab GROSS tape with the intention of writing informed rebuttal to Senior AnimalFinland's somewhat dismissive review. Slapped on the TD for some relatively quiet digging-for-Yellow-Cab music and after a few(?) minutes realized I'd been sitting there in dazed stupor as the intense junk spewage savaged forth. A lot of great ideas packed into this one, plenty of detail, chunky trash-compactor textures, radically orchestrated shift in movement, the momentum not letting up for a moment. At least for the ten minutes I'd allocated. Gonna be rockin out to GCO tonight, give this monster the full and proper listen it deserves.
Yeah, I'd forgotten. Some of Tahara's work is really listenable. Memory recollects most fondly the stellar remix that constitutes B-side from MSBR's "Final Harsh Work #1".
I think NE compilation from Banned production is a good example for Japanese Obscurities, like
RyujiRyuji, Bloody Cum, Jinmin Jeans and others. Of course you cannot forget Sexorama series from
ZSF.
NP is a guitarist for Zatopek Succer (now defunct). ZS is on Deadtech Sampler 2 along with Gerogeri and
others. And I think he played some more Gerogeri cds.
For Obscurities.....Toukaseibunshi ( aka Haiginsha or Hironari Iwata ) is easy to get as his former tapes
are re-issued from PSF records.
And I wonder if someone hear about Criminal Pary. He released one split tape with Grim, MB, etc.
Considering release no on his tapes, I guess he has released a lot of tapes from his Lunatic Propaganda.
CP is almost one man project of Elle. He is first vocalist of Zeni Geva and former vocalist for Japanese
hardcore band LSD. The gerogerigegege played LSD cover of Deadtech 2.....
Cunt Decide - "579116952348"
Label: Criminal Law Tapes, Catalog#: 001
Format: Cassette, Single Sided
Country: Japan
Released: 1992
Style: Noisecore
A classic noisecore recording with Senseless Apocalypse members, maybe Pre-S.A.?
Not very angry powered but nice in my opinion.
(Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/Cunt-Decide-579116952348/release/759720 (http://www.discogs.com/Cunt-Decide-579116952348/release/759720))
Cannibalistic Dissection - "222 Songs Demo '93-'94"
self released
Format: Cassette, Single Sided
Country: Japan
Released: 1994
Style: Noisecore
Maybe very in the style of early Gore Beyond Necropsy stuff, gory Noisecore with drum machine and some grind touch
(Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/Cannibalistic-Dissection-222-Songs-Demo-93-94/release/761404 (http://www.discogs.com/Cannibalistic-Dissection-222-Songs-Demo-93-94/release/761404))
Kawakami of the Japanese d-beat band Disclose released a couple albums as Goatworshipper/Blackgoat right before he died (Overdose on sleeping pils I think). When I was in Japan my friend gave me a copy of the Goatworshipper s/t CD. It's kind of monotonous "black noise". Not a lot of bass or really highpitched feed back, each song just sort of melts into the other. The vocals are all pitch shifted and can get a little tiresome at times. The album is best taken in small doses I think unless you're really in the mood for it. When I was in Japan I was able to find some info on Kawakami and the project but now I can't seem to find the sites.
Quote from: ConcreteMascara on February 24, 2010, 07:32:16 PM
Kawakami of the Japanese d-beat band Disclose released a couple albums as Goatworshipper/Blackgoat right before he died (Overdose on sleeping pils I think). When I was in Japan my friend gave me a copy of the Goatworshipper s/t CD. It's kind of monotonous "black noise". Not a lot of bass or really highpitched feed back, each song just sort of melts into the other. The vocals are all pitch shifted and can get a little tiresome at times. The album is best taken in small doses I think unless you're really in the mood for it. When I was in Japan I was able to find some info on Kawakami and the project but now I can't seem to find the sites.
I'm one of the biggest Disclose fans you'll ever know, but his noise wasn't [yet] anything special. Who knows? Perhaps with time, he would've developed a craft. He was good at everything else he did.
http://distortminds.blogspot.com/2007/08/blackgoat-goatworshipper.html
M.D.M. - Underdone (Self Abuse Records)
Really heavy driving mass of harsh noise. At a time of feverishly buying DBL, Macro, Taint, etc. I remember being so blown away by this project and being so excited to hear more, but unfortunately this was it. I wouldn't have even grabbed the release if it was not for being on SAR. One of the most unrelenting and thick harsh noise releases from the rarer side of Japanese HN circles that include names such as Crack Steel, Crack Fierce, and Mo*Te.
I wonder how "obscure" we can rate Crack Fierce? It seemed that many people talked about it, but I was just one day looking discogs and noticed that debute tape was limited to.. 30? So obviously not so many should have heard them? My copy comes in heavy duty woodblocks & screws + band name & tape name burned in wood. Haven't listened it for years. I mean literally probably 10+ years. Yesterday I almost uncrewed it to give it a chance..
Got 7 tapes of 80's project called GIANT PANDA. Oh yes, the name is pretty bad, these are all Zing! Went The Records releases, all following kind of uniform lay-out. His influences were said to be Broken Flag label, MB and.. NWW? Well, releases have plenty of variation. Yet to listen more than 3 first ones. "Chauve Max", "Death punk" and "Loxos". Death Punk is pretty much rubbish. a-side is nothing but hardcore fast paced techno. One nice piece of noise and rest strange clumsy collages or playing vinyl on b-side. Debute tape is very simple, very crude noise. 3rd tape shows improvement, but still remains live-on-tape deck thin and simple harshness. Broken electronics very disjointed feeling. Perhaps the referred influences will be more visible on later tapes, but this is like american tapes type of broken noise aiming for thirdorgan. There is no release or recording dates mentioned. One can find absolutely nothing about it online. It seems weird that such amount of very well made tapes have disappeared in void of noise history. All tapes have very well made professional covers (considering the time). If looking for heavy and hard "well done" jap noise, not your thing. For fierce broken irritation, oh yes. Delivers the goods.
I got a few "mystery tapes" in Tokyo , some are good - maybe i could post scans in the remote case anybody knows ?
I remember one was by wife of an Incapacitants guy , with cute manga octopuses carved in alluminium paper .
Other couple good names i don't see mentioned much : Mothra , Cry Havoc , Seed Mouth
and yes , the little Gasolineman i heard is great !
Yama-Akago is the kosakai's wife project. Have some old tapes. Recent live show was very good!
Some tapes like Cry Havoc, d/l, Maru-X, R.D.P.,.. from 90's. Should play to report..
And more recent ones of new breed of japan: The Cracked Mirror, Jah Excretion, Kazuma Kubota,... have just heard recommendations but material itself is in pile of new arrivals to be listened.
ah yes , Yama-Akago !
the tape i have is heavy on psychedelic noise and vocals manipulation , quite nice . i should listen to that again .
I have The Cracked Mirror tape on Phage Tapes and it's really good monolithic harsh noise . The days of Kazuma Kubota / Bloody Letter were also good .
Jah Excretion "Legalise It, Seriously" CDR
New jap noise. Most of all its harsh. Nearly wall-of-noise sometimes, but perhaps too much of dynamics. 1st track and last track share many similar characteristics. It's full force harsh noise blast. Sounds digitally compressed and distorted. sharp, crispy, but also little flat. Yet doesn't sound totally computer generated, but perhaps some pedals, feedback and junk somewhere there? 3rd track has rhythm and sound of vehicles passing by, and 2nd track is the weakest with very obvious digital effect/software type of sound. His noise is very much riding with one idea. When track starts, that's about the sound he'll offer. There is movement only within restricted parameters. I can see that with just little touch of creativity and perhaps some more dirt to sound, he'll improve greatly.
KAZUMA KUBOTA "a sense of loss" 3"CDR
fuck!!!!!!!!!! With 3"CDR handed to you at stairway of venue while you walk out, you never expect this! BRILLIANT release put out by american Pitchphase. Most often probably known for pure harsh noise releases, but this, this is something else. 3 tracks, 4:38, 6:51 and 8:26 are their length. First half minute is slightly so-and-so. You wonder if it tries to be glitch noise or drone or electro-acoustic, but suddenly the drive and composition just captures your senses. You could put this artists next to anyone. Any big names of Metamkine 3" series or whatever. It blends together harsh noise, glitch, electro-acoustic, acoustic drones, perfect skills of dramatic compostion and building tracks that actually go somewhere. Only fault of this release is that it's CDR. Instant multiple plays are possible due short playtime. And I can't be sure is it's negative or positive, since while I'd like to hear more, every time I push play, the structure of songs is being absorded into brain little bit better.
The Cracked Mirror "damage" tape
phage tapes
Nice looking tape with nice hand made b/w collage arts. Sounds like? Well, wall of noise. This is about as typical as it can be. There are couple moments when restless layer of hammering rumbles starts to fall apart into slightly more loose and random harsh noise, but as soon as possible, it returns back to HNW. It sounds ok. But in line of countless of perhaps 99% same sounding releases, it's hard to get too excited about it. Listening this is satisfying, but no need to listen it again. And even in first place it could have been almost anyone else in the genre. Anonymous monumental sonic fuzz.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on May 10, 2010, 08:59:45 PM
KAZUMA KUBOTA "a sense of loss" 3"CDR
fuck!!!!!!!!!!
Pretty much summarizing my thoughts as well (and I got it the same way...). Really excellent work, it is rare to make all these different aspects blend so seamlessly and maintaining the fury in it. I heard some earlier CDR, it is along the same lines but wasn't nearly as accomplished work. Very much looking forward to his future werks.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on May 10, 2010, 08:12:35 PM
Jah Excretion "Legalise It, Seriously" ...Yet doesn't sound totally computer generated, but perhaps some pedals, feedback and junk somewhere there?
Live performances at least have been analog affairs. Small mic'd metal cage the principle source - and a good metaphor for the tightly restricted sound palate on offer. No bullshit no holds barred fare of which I am the consummate sucker. Absolutely no complaints, though I can see where the shit may not necessarily translate on disc, or where the need for digital crutches might be felt. Still, one of the good guys.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on May 10, 2010, 08:59:45 PM
KAZUMA KUBOTA "a sense of loss" 3"CDR
BRILLIANT release...
What I like best about Mr Kubota is that he publically refers to Endo as "my master!" While a number of noise perv-eyors have expressed sentiments of comparably worshipful calibre, none have made it quite so personal. (And I'd argue that no one has had the balls to even try their hand at the Endo-ness. If technically proficient noise had its day, it was because few could stand the humiliation of being so emphatically killed.) Idolization does have its virtues, when harnessed right.
Quote from: THE RITA HN on March 02, 2010, 12:20:00 PM
M.D.M. - Underdone (Self Abuse Records)I remember being so blown away by this project and being so excited to hear more, but unfortunately this was it.
The SAR Building Of Gel tape contains a track entitled "MDM", which serves as an interesting contrast to Mr Shii's short-lived solo project. If memory serves, a bit more fleshed out and psychedelic than the Underdone tape, possibly owing to contributions from other BOG members.
Kazuma Kubota = The Cracked Mirror
seems like both are being discussed and im not sure if people are aware that they are the same person.
Maybe Kubota-san should refer to Endo's Alphaland* for inspiration of the raw kind. These HNWs are clearly not working for him...
* comp-stealing contribution to seminal United Syndicate -ilation New Catastrophic Forces
What about Reiko A's solo recordings?
Quote from: bogskaggmannen on May 17, 2010, 11:29:06 PM
What about Reiko A's solo recordings?
The only one I have is the 1995
Coruscanto tape. While the a-side's collaboration tracks with merzbow and Achim Wollscheid make for some good psychedelic noise, the b-side is defnitely my favourite. It's a more sparse piece with one hypnotic and menacing four second loop that carries the piece all the way through as the main ingredient. Being a well conceived loop, it really works all the way. Great tape -- not much more to add.
Perhaps not real obscurity, since it's collaboration between the "superstars" of Japanese noise, Masami Akita (Merzbow) and Maso Yamazaki (Masonna) with Zev Asher (Roughage).. and that it was 1000 copies CD on american label, but FLYING TESTICLE! I remember when I got the tape copy of this, and it was one of the influences in the very earliest Grunt CD "Perfect World" which luckily tends to be forgotten... You can perhaps sense partly same atmosphere of mixing noise, goofy random sounds, stupid vocals but also occasional industrial-noise elements.
Flying Testicle is far from the harsh noise works of their solos. This plays with progressive rock tape loops, death metal riff cut-ups, retarded Masonna vocals howls. Tapes and toys of Roughage. Vintage casio tones of Masonna. Wild noise bursts of Merzbow. There are some moments when you think these guys should be able to do better. But then suddenly it becomes the experimental über noise, which is not only great, but most of all unlike anyone else. Collaboration project what simply makes sense. Not being just layering Masonna over Merzbow type of deal, but really delivering unique work. I waited about 15-17 years to get this. And it is exactly as I remembered. Used to listen it so many times back then.
yeah, that flying testicle album is great. must listen to that again soon.
mr. Seed Mouth died couple days ago. I saw his last live set and man was already withered by disease. Unfortunately show had technical troubles and very short. Band was very different from most of later days Japanese noise bands. Creating stuff since 70's, under Seed Mouth name since 1981, his works probably have too much influences of german electronics, ambient etc to qualify noise, but also have noisier works. Only CD came back in 1996. Rest is tape/cdr.
He was also Zyklon B Zombies member (release on Vanilla and Seedmouth label)
Went through two Deisel Guitars tapes today. Still today fucking brilliant stuff. Materialism Rock = gold. Atom tape, their 2nd tape and 1st release of Good Microphone Records, I wonder is my copy fucked up, or should it be this dysfunctional sounding? Like utmost rough tape manipulation, making it sound as if in dubbing every rotation nearly jams... B-side is the solo stuff, which already reminds of what this transformed into, when it became solo and changed name to Diesel Guitar.
But that project did pretty well established releases, Vanilla, GROSS, etc.. but what the hell is this:
666th Impact -tape
It has a lot of text in japanese, manga images in xerox, and some cards included related to anime series... hmm. Very much pop culture themed, but the C-30 tape is filled with decent noise, but just for side A. Typicality of Japanese noise of the time (I can only assume this dates to mid 90's?? No recollection who and when it was given - but long ago!). The crispy pedal distortion is on the top, but plenty of racket goes underneath. One can't fully decide if this chaos has anything to do with industrial collisions or merely pachinko & anime bombardment.
While noticing alarming amount of double copies of some noise tapes, japnoise and even MSNP items, was thinking should I go through everything and organize it better. Found things like Miura Tadayuki "guilted" tape. All I know this person did CDr for Xerxes at some point and in 90's submitted tracks to Crack Fierce's labels (united syndicate) New Catastrophic Forces tape set.... uuh! It seems like there is need to dig up some of these japanese noise obscurities. Who knows what pearls are hidden...
Shoni-Byoto from Osaka? Besides appearances on Sexorama and some other compilations, Discogs lists three tapes in total and nothing else.
http://www.discogs.com/artist/555618-Shoni-Byoto (http://www.discogs.com/artist/555618-Shoni-Byoto)
Any further info..?
Tonight was a Deadly Verity night over here.
Nice to see gasolineman brought up, all I've heard has the split with Prurient. I'd really like to hear the split with Facialmess. he also did "vs" with Robochanman. Would he be considered obscure? he did some stuff with MSBR and "Strugglediver was part of the Ground Fault series its sad he hasn't had any bigger releases. I think Strugglediver is some classic style japanoise and I'd really love to hear what else he could do.
On another note, kengo Iuchi, although is classified as "Noise-folk" is as obscure as it gets. He did a collaboration album with MSBR, but not too much information is known.
http://www.discogs.com/artist/441444-Kengo-Iuchi
His cassettes usually go for $100+ on discogs, but you could find some rips online. Really dark stuff imo
Seems to be a few examples on YouTube. I suppose the most obvious comparison would be Jandek.
I don't hear much about this guy anymore, but I still really enjoy the work of Mono, the "computer noise" guy with the numbered releases (T-09, T-10, T-11, etc.). Two discs came out on Tochnit Aleph, one on Solipsism. Probably some self-released earlier works. Maybe not the harshest sound in the world, but really great, visceral sound for computer processing, strange sense of architecture and balance that keeps me on my toes. Kind of reminds of me the digital equivalent of something like tac, where a simple or single sound is punched and crinkled and worked and reworked until it's been wrung out of all possibilities.
Hard to define what obscure means in a genre as willfully obscure as Jap noise... Though I've tremendous respect for the TABATA - Children Of Woods 7"
http://www.discogs.com/Tabata-Children-Of-Woods/release/739546
Always considered Fourth Dimension a most stringent label.
Incredibly - one can alien to this on soundcloud:
https://m.soundcloud.com/tabata-mitsuru/children-of-woods
Sure, you can alien to this; listening is also possible.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on May 08, 2010, 10:30:42 PM
Some tapes like Cry Havoc, d/l, Maru-X, R.D.P.,.. from 90's. Should play to report..
Cry Havoc "Live #1" tapeNitella Kraft
Very little information of this. I must have gotten tape 15 years ago, so despite I have vague recollection of being in touch with Nitella Kraft label, there is almost nothing I remember now. This tape is two live recordings. One from 2000 and other from 1996. Recording from 2000 sounds almost like many live recordings do these days. Slightly flat, little bit too hard to high frequencies, yet clear. Harsh noise what moves in constant stream, yet fails to really make much impact. 1996 recording has much more depth and "warmness" to it. Also soundwise very different. Occasionally its almost like distorted keyboard tones rather than storm of harsh noise. Occasionally makes me think of some 90's Sshe Retina Stimulants stuff, just simpler and more leaning towards noise.
V/A "TINCTURE OF JAPANOISE" CDprofessionally pressed 2014 compilation I haven't heard mentioned pretty much anywhere? Cover artwork my Government Alpha, but pretty much everything else is quite new/odd/unknown.
But perhaps also for reason. This compilation is dominated by bands from pretty much exact opposite of my liking. One description is thrown here that bands freshly celebrate the bliss of noise rather than belong to old school of noise pessimism. Well. Add glitch, computer edits, funny samples,.. well... Absolutely best track here is by EMEME, who manages to sound quite close like modern version of FLYING TESTICLE. JAH EXCRETION comes as second, with decent noise piece. Otherwise, it is quite task for me to go though this fresh noise digitalia.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on March 22, 2011, 06:04:02 PM
Went through two Deisel Guitars tapes today. Still today fucking brilliant stuff. Materialism Rock = gold. Atom tape, their 2nd tape and 1st release of Good Microphone Records, I wonder is my copy fucked up, or should it be this dysfunctional sounding? Like utmost rough tape manipulation, making it sound as if in dubbing every rotation nearly jams... B-side is the solo stuff, which already reminds of what this transformed into, when it became solo and changed name to Diesel Guitar.
Fuck, I'm glad I didn't miss new
DIESEL GUITAR tape! "Inspect Our Savings" C-20 on quite small profile (?) label VLZ Produkt. Happened to see this on well curated distro of Tordon Ljud. One could say this actually goes much closer to what guitar noise duo used to be. First side hardly ever goes to drone mode, being rather fierce and active guitar noise. On b-side it still rips and shreds, yet some tones of classic Diesel Guitar eerie reverb drenched tones start to emerge. Label has not yet sold out 77 copies edition (at least according to their site). Discogs doesn't even have this listed, so I advice to check TJ distrolist or label before it disappears. Recording dates back to 2012 and I recall seeing it would be at this moment last DG recording that exists...? Too bad. Very few do guitar noise so suitable to my tastes as this project!
https://soundcloud.com/vlz-produkt/diesel-guitar-you-excerpt-from
The Diesel Guitar tape is indeed very good. Speaking of VLZ Produkt, and obscure Japanese noise in general, I am surprised that VLZ Produkt and especially its sub-label HISSterik Tapes has gone unnoticed for so long among fans of harsh noise. Although, almost non-existent advertising/distribution in Europe/North America probably has a lot to do with that. Collectible and generally high quality noise and a good introduction to many newer projects (C-10s all the way though).
Discogs lists four titles:
1. N/Daz - Meta Battle Resort
2. Jah Excretion - Trance Harsh Trip Feedbackers
3. Toshiji Mikawa - Physical
4. Artbreakhotel - Tut/Nix
Then we have:
5. Murai Keitetsu - Scratch/Crumple (which I suppose is the only release in this series which isn't really noisy)
6. Naoe Miki - Frequency 8
Subsequent tape titles seem to have been released under the main label VLZ Produkt's name, most of which aren't really noisy (with the obvious exception of Diesel Guitar) however. As the post above says, the label still seem to have copies in stock of the DG tape, surprisingly enough.
On a side note (and I could very well be wrong): I believe another rather new and obscure Japanese project that goes by the name of Scum is featured on one of these tapes (I forgot which one). I suppose Scum's first "mainstream" release ought to be the split CD with Facialmess released late last year on a Japanese label. I have yet to listen to it though...
On another side note: one project I don't think has been mentioned here is Yus. Gritty industrial/post-mortem from (I assume) the late 80's/early 90's. I have three tapes, which I recall all being very good, lying somewhere in my vicinity.
I rarely hear Keiji Haino mentioned. Though he covered a wide range of styles throughout his career, his work in the early 70's certainly veered into pure harsh noise. He is perhaps the earliest example of harsh noise, east or west, that I can think of. He predates Merzbow, NON, Metal Machine Music - all of it. (Ok, not Luigi Russolo, but he was more conceptual than outright harsh).
I wouldn't by any meaning say Keiji Haino would be "obscure" in same sense as meant in this topic. As guy who is living legend, published probably hundred albums, toured worldwide, played as festival headliners and enjoys cult following, he is indeed rather cult artist than "obscure" one.
But this is true, that I don't know if there is even topic of Keiji Haino in Special Interests? His audience appears to be elsewhere than among the harsh noise & power electronics fans.
I don't think I wrote in playlist about "Quasispecies Four" LP, but could mention it here. Also, this is hardly anything that "obscure". LP is jam session of 4 Japanese artists: Toshiji Mikawa, Hideaki Shimada, Nobuo Yamada, Katsuyoshi Kou. Mikawa is of course household-name of any noise fan. Hideaki Shimada is (or was?) known as great experimental project AGENCEMENT. Nobyo Yamada is known of his multiple collaborations with TNB, but also as Artbreakhotel project. Katsuyoshi Kou I don't remember at all. Together they put together quite refreshing jam. The category what I don't always appreciate much. Instead of delivering "jazzy", it's more just free noise. But noise as harsh noise. There is some Mikawas electronics assaults there, but by volume and intensity, it doesn't dominate. Actually perhaps even lay low, somewhere under violin and guitar sounds. Lots of air in the sound. It certainly has much more leaning towards Agencement-esque atmosphere than Incapacitants! Unlike a lot of jams, it isn't "goofy" in my years. Maybe lack of free drumming removes it from jazzy realms. It has some difficult and challenging moments, but nothing for those who would seek for non-stop punishment of distortion layers. Listened this few times and it has become best "jam" I have heard for long time, hah.. Packaging is very nice too.
Short couple minute clip here:
https://soundcloud.com/a_i_l/quasispecies-four-oshiji-mikawa-hideaki-shimada-nobuo-yamada-katsuyoshi-kou-q120428q1
Keijo Haino does (rightfully!) take up a good share of the "PSF records suggestions and talk" thread:
http://www.special-interests.net/forum/index.php?topic=2336.msg18615#msg18615
I would say that Haino's audience is way deep into noise & power electronics fans, but that he is so well covered in other circles that the harsh noise & power electronics fans may not necessarily feel the need to prop up an artist that already gets shitloads of props from all kinds of other fans. So perhaps to say that the audience is here, but it is also elsewhere- which is more than can be said for, say, Yellow Cab.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on February 27, 2016, 08:48:09 AMI don't think I wrote in playlist about "Quasispecies Four" LP,
But I did:
http://www.special-interests.net/forum/index.php?topic=52.msg48121#msg48121
And I agree completely with all sentiments expressed by FreakAnimalFinland, particularly
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on February 27, 2016, 08:48:09 AMListened this few times and it has become best "jam" I have heard for long time
I have the Shoot Master / 道産子アナル (in English Do Thank Anal) 7", which on one side has a hardcore band and on the other side a noise band, Do Thank Anal. Crazy stuff and they end their side of the 7" with a hard rock song.
https://www.discogs.com/artist/464236-Do-Thank-Anal
On Discogs it says they also have tracks on compilations, but I haven't heard any of them.
The Do Thank Anal track on the New Catastrophic Forces comp is pretty straight ahead noise from what I recall. Midrange distorted analog overdrive, maybe. Also caught them once at a mainly punk gig in Tokyo. Seemed to be an unusually large number of people on stage, though this impression may have been exaggerated somewhat by the confluence of bodies in motion, both on and off stage (I think I showed up in a tie and workshirt, one sleeve of which got ripped off... guess I should be glad I didn't get choked to death). One particularly pint-sized dude was going absolutely apeshit- in contrast to the rest of the crew who were simply going run-of-the-mill apeshit. Skinny red-faced shirtless kid seemingly out of control literally bouncing off the walls... and the ceiling! doing his impersonation of human super ball, screaming incomprehensible shit... possibly, "somebody help me! (thud)" Certainly the most athletic performance I've ever encountered.
Jun'ichi Shuo – Sutra Of The Described World cdGood shit in the "exploit the natural ambient resonances of metal" vein. At pains to find info on this guy, seems obscure even by Japanese standards. About the only (Japanese) commentary to be found online is from the person who released it, but here are a few words in English from the Omega Point distro:
QuoteJun'ichi Shuo is an outsider musician lives in Hanamaki, Iwate pref.. He has made much study works (maybe averyday! He is Art Brut itself). Although they were very cheap noise and junk cut-up, a producer and improviser ONNYK (lives in Morioka neighbour Hanamaki) found some nice recordings in them. "Sutra..." is one of them and best peice. The sound is like Harry Bertoia's sound sculpture. It is natural that ONNYK remarked the metalic sound, because he wrote a liner note of Harry Bertoia CD released PSF Records 20 years ago.
Got Bertoia on the brain recently, and yes, there are affinities. Mr Shuo, however, is a fair degree more aggressive in his exploitation of ambient metal resonance. The first track is almost of the ear-piercing persuasion, resonance revealed as feedback plain and simple, though things later settle into some bass-heavy heaving, dense clusters building into icy-smooth walls. Always at the periphery very subtle acoustics flit, clink, tinkle. Third track is like primitive answer to Soliloquy for Lilith part IV, the fourth tempting indulgences in severely pitched whitewash. Close out with more factory-esque atmospheres, junked scraps, smooth sustained squeal.
Shuo Jun'ichi – Variation V
2009 continuation of where the 2008 "Sutra..." (above commented) left off. A lot more narrow in its variations, and in its stereophonic scope- more pure really- serving sleek and slender strings of shimmering, glimmering sonority. This time around, the acoustic sources are almost constantly clanking and scraping in the background, way in the background, revealed in one their more scant moments as some sort of stringed instrument and in another as long metal sheets. Very hard to be sure, but on one track a very brief bout of straight-ahead pedal distortion gives way to what appears to be guitar before drone proper starts to smoothen out proceedings. These imprecise details are what I most appreciate, forcing focus into depths otherwise obscured. Depths, or at least a hint of depths, but no hint of warmth. Severe, almost astringent tones spiral up through to bitter, icy, peaks, Variation III particularly concentrated in its feedback-washed sheen. At times I am reminded of some of the Keiji Haino's ritual-flavored instrumental offerings, though engaging a rather more clinical palate. High praise in my book.
On topic of Obscure Japanese noise stuff. When I listened this CD couple years ago, thought it was quite crap. Eventually, started to appreciate it much more. 2014, a lot of Japanese artists I had no clue that they existed.
http://special-interests.net/main/2017/03/08/164/
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on December 22, 2015, 03:05:39 PM
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on May 08, 2010, 10:30:42 PM
Some tapes like Cry Havoc, d/l, Maru-X, R.D.P.,.. from 90's. Should play to report..
Cry Havoc "Live #1" tape
Jason Campbell / Cry Havoc – Split tapeHermetic Museum Recordings
One of more rare tapes from Cry Havoc, being released on western label. Perhaps the only one? Canadian Hermetic Museum did bunch of other rather obscure tapes in short amount of time. Seems like labels main thing was to put out C-60 split tapes of the boss of label (Jason Campbell) and bunch of more or less known artists (haters, odal, prurient,..). And seems like this one didn't circulate much. Discogs lists one owner for tape.
Cry Havoc here offer solid half an hour dosage of straight forward japanoise. Not total free form shredding like Incapacitants, but neither precise cut-up like Endo. Just plain old standard harsh noise. What makes this, and also Jason Campbell side really tasty, is the blown up and crunchy sound which is not so typical for Japanese high fidelity pedal artsist. It's something more in lines of things on MSNP tradition. Or especially in Jasons side, it brings me fresh memories of Emil Beaulieau "Memories" CD (pre-minutoli material). Often simple tracks, but really different sounding material than basically anyone does these day.
Even if Cry Havoc seems to be one of those bands who fall into gap of already losing interest in Japanese harsh noise, fact that he came like 5 years too late to make big international impact, but too late to be well documented online, makes it quite interesting artists. While it may not have place among the very best of classic japanese noise, it definitely has good place in "obscure japanese noise".
Never had to possibility to own the original, but was very much pleased to find youtube upload of:
戯れ -Come Again- Various Noise Artist Compilation (1991) 3x7" lathe.
Come Again 2 has been one of my absolute favorite noise comps for so long, that it was great to finally hear this, even if song order is totally wrong and it's merely streamed from youtube...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lETuASYd5hk
Anyone with ears can recognize who is who in this comp, and notice track listing is inaccurate. Some artists are Japanese obscurities I have no idea who they are, but one can't mistake when hearing Aube, Masonna, Jojo, Incapacitants, Agencement, and so on... It would be so good to have Come Again 1+2 reissued on one CD.
HENTAITENNO "The private compiled 1987-1993" tape
Kubitsuri tape
I remember when I got this in mid 90's. Back then, was not very impressed. Thinking all the instant hits of Japanese noise of the time, Hentaitenno is gutter noise, muddy sleazy rumblings, odd distorted bedroom noise-punk tracks, all thrown into strange, fairly lo-fi mix. Closes comparison could be to THE GEROGERIGEGEGE. In same way it can be almost anything. Sound is very saturated and juicy. I'm glad that I picked up this today from shelves, since now this sounds vastly better than almost 25 years ago! Appears to be pretty damn rare tape too. Probably have to make another Special Intererest podcast about japanoise rarities...
KUSOMISO "??" tape
Kubitsuri tape 008
Don't know what is the title and can't find this at discogs. Kusomiso did a lot of stuff for SMMania label. Noise, junk, racket... This particular tape, not very good. Just free form rocking tracks.
KUSOMISO / DOKUCHINKO "shitmiso II" tape
Kubitsuri tape 007
Says february 1994. Kusomiso on this on is vastly better. There is jazz sampled on the back, mixed with piercing feedback, delay speed manipulation, echo, harsh bursts. It is vastly more electronic. Abstract, but also a lot of parts of playing slightly blown out suffocated jazz recordings. It gets very noisy at the times, when saturated sound collage includes frantic percussion, movie samples and funky music bits. Other times it is odd, like the 50's sci-fi effects combied with raw manual hand crafted noises. Whatever project does, it is quite far from what many associalte as "japanese noise".
Dokuchinko goes into muddy harsh noise realm. Simple, heavy crunch of mid frequencies. Not much ripping high frequencies nor deeped bass. It is rotten and raw. In some ways I think of Thirdorgan, even if tech and composition is totally different. Soon it goes to length japanese spoken word piece and progresses into delay treated feedback noise, like the 80's UK power electronics. Tape hiss and humming as addition. More spoken word and marching music, until quickly bursts into crackling harsh noise with some delay pedal tricks.
I love that Kusomiso/Dokuchinko split tape. Total weirdness.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on April 12, 2019, 03:26:44 PM
Probably have to make another Special Intererest podcast about japanoise rarities...
Do this please.
Past few months I've been diving deeper into the Violent Onsen Geisha discography and absolutely love everything I've gotten my hands on. Favorites being "Shocks! Shocks! Shocks!" (the remix cd) and "Que Sera, Sera (Things Go From Bad To Worse)", particularly the latter. Absolutely love his juxtaposition of pop music, turntablism, obscure garage and blues rock, and then totally insane screamed vocals with wild noise. Recently been listening to the Otis cd and while I enjoy it it's not my favorite I've heard so far. "The Midnight Gambler" is a really fun one and the 7" "Balloon Collector In The Wilderness (Who Is Totally Naked) / Real Wild Thing" is great too (and I absolutely can't help but love the title of the A side). For me, this is what I've been needing from noise lately, it feels totally outsider but my understanding is that he grew up educated in music or something along those lines?
One of the more recent and obscure acts from Japan I can think of is Celluloid Murder. They did 2 separate tapes on Fusty Cunt and New Forces - "Dig Up" (released on Fusty) is longform harsh noise with a psychedelic and "autistic" bent to it. "Celluloid Murder's Magnificent Garden" (released on New Forces) is more close to avant-garde rock and sound collage, similar to Violent Onsen Geisha. Both are pretty good, but I never saw them being mentioned anywhere. Maybe because the humorous aspect of it turned a lot of people off considering the output of Fusty and New Forces? Hopefully someone releases another tape of them in the future!
K2 recent reissues are highlighting some good old material in the catalog.
Urashima, Narcolepsia and now me, haha. And I heard some friends are also re-issuing other material.
Also bandcamp here: https://k2music3.bandcamp.com/
Quote from: Duncan on April 13, 2019, 01:24:18 AM
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on April 12, 2019, 03:26:44 PM
Probably have to make another Special Intererest podcast about japanoise rarities...
Do this please.
I'm sure everyone on this board would love to have this happen...!
Is Nobuo Yamada actually Richard Rupenus? The couple of things I've heard are good...really good, but the level of homage is weird, like cult worship. And I have a difficult time taking Artbreakhotel seriously. There's just something about that name that triggers me even more than all the stupid noisecore that doesn't faze me. This is a great listen:
https://lfrecords.bandcamp.com/album/14-coarse-grained-lf066
Quote from: Zeno Marx on July 06, 2020, 08:41:20 PM
Is Nobuo Yamada actually Richard Rupenus? The couple of things I've heard are good...really good, but the level of homage is weird, like cult worship. And I have a difficult time taking Artbreakhotel seriously. There's just something about that name that triggers me even more than all the stupid noisecore that doesn't faze me. This is a great listen:
https://lfrecords.bandcamp.com/album/14-coarse-grained-lf066
the vitrine tape ABH Dragged and the one on Regional Bears are both excellent as well
Artbreakhotel/Yamada is great (and he's not Rupenus, I'm afraid). The CD on Tordon Ljud is excellent, as is the mentioned tape on Vitrine. Also, the Quasispecies Four LP is an overlooked gem, I think (Yamada, Mikawa, Shimada and Kou). The name Artbreakhotel is awful though, I agree.
Just listened to the Love and Sincerity (?) track from SI podcast. Great! But I couldn't really understand the end of introduction, because the sound was already starting. So, where's this track from? (As far as I understood, not from Come again comp.)
Is there anything else they released? Not much information available from discogs.
Thanks!
https://www.discogs.com/愛と誠-2911991-Live-In-Woody/release/1463874
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on January 26, 2010, 11:10:56 PM
There is probably a lot of noise in Japan which didn't make it to very known. Probably similar to promo tapes Self Abuse may have received, I have several unreleased (as far as I know) or advance recordings sent to me in 90's. Projects like Taichi, what for example discogs only mentions in one compilation. Building of Gel and its side projects, which I think MDM was it? two guys of Building of Gel doing nice electronic noise.
Lots of other obscurities like Hentaitenno, Mad Recital, Atrocity Master, Sinner's Crime, Peeping Tom, Mamarracho, Aki-Mekura, Riku (sister of Diesel Guitar, great!!), Colloid, Comfort,........ pff. I guess should re-visit and comment some of them. Not all were something one should even remember, but some others most definitely would be worth of doing even "from shadows of japanese noise ug" historical observation comp, hah..
you have unreleased MDM/Building of Gel????
What happened to Lust Vessel? Closed for good now?
cement woman is so great name. Some stuff pulled out of old tape is used on DEDICATION 2 compilation. Really unique. This project is something that has been talked with friends for decades. It took until discogs was active to really discover who was behind the mysterious project.
Anyone know anything about project called NIVI IRO ?
Not even sure if this release is really Japanese and called that. All hints towards it. From 90's most likely. Sony C-10 tape that were barely available anywhere else but Japan. Typewriter text on labels say NIVI IRO I and NIVI IRO RO. Packaged in paper envelope consisting some Japanese writing and in postcard size kind of photo-paper package. Holes burned into it. Pretty good field recordings/industrial noise waste sounds, short burst of more harsh stuff, but mostly just eerie and obscure sound.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on February 18, 2021, 02:54:49 PM
Anyone know anything about project called NIVI IRO ?
Not even sure if this release is really Japanese and called that. All hints towards it. From 90's most likely. Sony C-10 tape that were barely available anywhere else but Japan. Typewriter text on labels say NIVI IRO I and NIVI IRO RO. Packaged in paper envelope consisting some Japanese writing and in postcard size kind of photo-paper package. Holes burned into it. Pretty good field recordings/industrial noise waste sounds, short burst of more harsh stuff, but mostly just eerie and obscure sound.
Sounds like something that was made for me. Not a huge fan of C-10 but anyway I would love to hear it.
While it might be argued that something released in the classic Good Alchemy series of Alchemy Records shouldn't be labelled obscure, I'd still say that the term suits the sole, self-titled solo release by a project called Jurajium. I recently picked up this CD, recorded and released in 1997, and it's fantastic. His only other release, from 1980, is a split LP with Hijokaidan and NG. On the CD Jurajium Hatta plays synths, keyboards, tapes and electronics, and Jojo Hiroshige plays electric guitar. He plays his usual guitar noise, of which I'm not a fan normally, but here it gels wonderfully with Hatta's synths and electronics. The music, while noise, is not too harsh, and there is always something interesting going on, including elements that are unusual in noise (such as the synth melody in the first track, or the manipulated drum machine sounds in the other two tracks). Jojo's guitar shredding is embedded in electronics in varied and exciting ways. I love the opening of the album too, which sounds like some kind of machine gone haywire. The artwork/design is of the usual high quality one expects from Alchemy's releases, courtesy of designer Masahiko Ohno. All in all, a great (but short: only 35 minutes long), varied and unusual noise album. It's a shame Hatta apparently never did anything else afterwards.
Quote from: acsenger on February 28, 2021, 05:29:04 PM
While it might be argued that something released in the classic Good Alchemy series of Alchemy Records shouldn't be labelled obscure
Was this part of the series? Havent heard the cd, but i have the old lp on Unbalance.
Quote from: accidental on March 03, 2021, 03:09:55 PM
Was this part of the series? Havent heard the cd, but i have the old lp on Unbalance.
Yes, the obi shows it was part of it.
I picked up those Seed Mouth reissues from later last year (Voice of Phlegm, Titantic, the "early works" and bonus CD-R). Wonderful stuff, very enigmatic. Maybe calls up some early Grim materal, but entirely it's own dense, strange, sometimes rhythmic industrial ambience. any idea what synth he was using on VOP?
There's a bunch of Seed Mouth here.
https://archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22SEED+MOUTH%22
SuKoRa "Saturday-night dance date" tape
Self Abuse rec.
Mid 90's Japanese sound artists, kind of noise, but think noise in ways like Skin Crime hum & contact mic crackles are. Minimal, not loud, but no way "ambient", not field recordings, no synths, just odd handmade non-music crackle and hum. For me personally, the Donna Klemm / Artware Audio hand written price tag in Deutch Marks is such a treat. One of those reminders of how noise network worked back in the day! I don't know how many SuKoRa "fans" are out there. That's one of the names you surely don't see mentioned often!
V/A "Jirai Wo Fundara Sayounara" (Step On A Mine And It's Goodbye) tape
Vanilla rec
Reissue of Blue-ist 1993 was done by Vanilla rec in 1995.
Diving deep into Japanese obscurities is one favorite thing. Connecting dots from one to another even more so. Can't explain how satisfying it is to look at this tape cover, and see liner notes crediting it to Riku. She has one tape on Good Microphone -label, Diesel Guitar guy. Sometimes memory confuses it with Monellaphone -label who did Gerogerigegege 7"... but also put out Diesel Guitar stuff and bunch of pretty much impossible to get tapes. Besides Riku, she was also singer in Love & Sincerity, who has great track on Come Again II, and this compilation. And Come Again II track actually samples parts of this song, which is also published on L&S full own tape. Some of most intense female screaming over strange improvised noise-music. On top of all that, she was sister of mr. Diesel Guitar. Regardless is part of this tape is odd experimental fun, weirdo indie, porgressive rock freak outs and so on, you still got all these little nuggets of noizu info, and Colloid, Yellow Cab, Diesel Guitar, and so on.... Absolute great tape from times when noise co-existed with other weird genres in a bit different way than now.
And further comment, the mystery of Yellow Cab. It seems Michio Teshima's project each track/session was named by number+ date of recording. This comp having 6-101093. So, discogs knows 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 but where are 1, 4,5? Night Science comp track maybe 10. (Teshima of course owner of Vanilla rec, plus mastermind in The Sadist which included Yamazaki on vocals before Masonna.)
I have feeling I have something else by BLUE-ist label, but can't remember what it could be.
While browsing tape shelves and having so many tapes from Japanese noise artists with no idea who, what, why .. was thinking that someone who knows, would have good opportunity to do book of Japanese noise. David Hopkins had expressed his interest to do new book, that would continue from moment where his Hijokaidan book ended. My assumption, he would focus on late 80's, early 90's, the sort of "classic Japanese noise era". He mentioned book would be hard to do without Merzbow, and Merzbow being difficult to get into book like this.
Now, unfortunately too late after getting latest news. RIP David Hopkins!