Ø - Tulkinta -cd. 1992 Mika Vainio early electronics recordings. I read from art magazine review of his ongoing exhibition at Helsinki modern art museum that his sounds would be "mostly based on natural sounds and field recordings".. hmm.. Well, there is a bit of that too, but when I think of Vainios works, I think of pure electronic minimalism! Early works are at the best of that. Ultra minimal, delicate, often various tempos shifting in track. Almost like different length loops always being in rhythm of their own, but different to other rhythms in song.
I have not been keen to purchase most of The Gerogerigege new releases. Not the tapes, cdr's and stuff like that. It seems gamble whether you will get what you paid for. This = Tokyo Anal Dynamite Singles CD, was too good to pass, so discogs order from Japanese dealer. Senzuri champion "remake" and this one, plus one exclusive cdr was included... Really really good reissue of many old Gero 7"s plut additional unreleased noise, little edits and added sounds beween 7" sessions. All 7" covers revised into comical drawings in style like front cover.
Illusion of Safety / Life Garden / Voice of Eye - The Nature of Sand CD, plain amazing Illusion of Safety & co. Recording. If someone would describe there are bongo drums, experimental soundscapes, a lot of dynamics and tension... I could say well... hmm.. perhaps not interested. However, it is utterly difficult to articulate what the CD actually is, and even more how good it is. Proper speakers, set volume on level that feels good for first 5 mins or so, and album will occasionally grow very intense, calm down, always on the move, shiting from thing to another. Two c. Half on hour tracks were one can't really predict what will come next, yet compositionally they are solid. Not fragmented collages etc. Seems like sound compositions, yet early 90's indicates there may not be much use of computers, so the flow has very organic feel to it.
Mason Jones "international Incidents" live CD of mid 90's Japanese gigs. Mason Jones of Charnel House may not ring bell to newbies, but his role in introduction of Japanese noise to west should not be underestimated. His magazine, compilation series etc. Good variety of not only sheer noise, but also odd music of the time. Also this CD, it has same feel. I like the tracks with KK Null, Jojo Hiroshige and Aube... but Omoide Hatoba guys jamming with Mason... hmm.. Perhaps not something one would need to be listening decades after gig took place! Haha.
If discussion emerges, I may split to different topic, but:
This is something I am very curious of. There are handful of tour reports or interviews covering western noise artists playing in Japan ... but how it is nowadays? Of course not meaning right now, but before virus. How is the gig culture? How is the underground culture? Been in Japan few times, from 2005 onwards, but last visit was almost 10 years ago. You could gradually see that less specialist UG shops, venues. Less unusual stuff in record stores, book shops etc. Every time visiting, formerly existing things closing down meanwhile... Still there is something in Japan that makes me want to travel (to even play). Most western countries barely have the lure, when its just the same as going to Helsinki or something, hah...
Have not read any reports of how it is like to play there now? Anyone played there in recent years? Now got to listen CCCC live recordings and Mason Jones in Japan and have perhaps unrealistic visions of how it must have been pre-internet vivid physical underground... I hope some podcast would cover mr. Jones adventures in same enthusiasm as he did on his own magazine. Recap the seemingly good times!
