Oyaji no kaminari

L'Expérience Japonaise

2009-03-31T22:14:00.006+02:00

Back from L'Expérience Japonaise second festival, five days of enlightened events and friendly encounters setup by the sonore team with the Theater of Nîmes.

As you'll notice, the festival positively gets rid of any gender definition, curating together artists you could suppose to live on opposite sides.
However, the general care for communication around artists was so good that line-ups never happened chaotic at any time.
It was clear from the beginning that every artist proposal was evolving on a personnal realm, sometimes building bridges with the other ones, sometimes built in opposition.

Check the sonore website for detailed infos and pictures.

Chimidoro

Akane Hosaka

Yudaya Jazz

Maruosa

Doddodo

Tokyo Panorama Mambo Boys

Candie Hank / Ben Butler & Mousepad live

2009-03-23T13:53:00.002+01:00

Patric Catani whole production since more than 15 years is the most recommandable musical library in itself, wether he brilliantly deals with circus slaughter, tracker rockish tunes, perrey-styled smashed melodies, or this kind of exotico-surf riddim bongo blend.

Back from tour with Max Tundra, whith whomhe seems to be sharing a specific taste for squeezed vintage harmonies across common influencies, Ben Butler and Mousepad dispensed brilliant composition work with catchy energy and sound. And a great Moustache.

Aventure Club Party @ Cafe Pompier report

2009-03-10T22:23:00.003+01:00

Aventure club:
Dj Arc de Triomphe (Cartilage rds)
Dj Couleurs
Dj Banane 270
Gangpol & Mit live

Moishe Moishe Moishele live @ Gogodada #1 - Paris

2009-03-08T14:13:00.004+01:00

This live is an instant advocacy for worldwide peace. These guys are simply gonna save the world with a bunch of tb 303 bubbles and sh 101 pitchbended leads.
Exactly what you need to keep the faith, with a perfect balance of humour and seriousness.

Costes live @ Café Pompier 04/03/09

2009-03-08T13:57:00.005+01:00

Last appearance of Jean-Louis Costes in Bordeaux probably happened to be one of the greatest and the most interesting.
I personnaly used to think the theatric side of his work used to hide under a veil of hysterical attitude his heartbreaking songwriting (wether for love songs or hate songs). It was a time when words used to stay hidden under a wall of distorsion. Despite the efficience, I used to enjoy in these past shows when the music happened to stop, and he started improvising hilarious and raw minutes of acapella stand-up bonus.
I have no idea if he got fed up to be the "carrott in the ass" guy people go to see on a drunk friday evening, but this new show - no nudity, no theatric - brings attention back on the obvious fact that he's simply the best living french singer.

Characters "R" Us

2009-01-17T18:24:00.015+01:00

Some pictures of the great exhibition Characters "R" Us curated by Pictoplasma for Les Grandes Traversées at CAPC museum of Bordeaux.
An impressive amount of drawings by various compulsive artists such as Yu Matsuoka, Stéphane Prigent (Kerozen), Dennis Typhus, Shoboshobo, & many many more, giving a fair and pleasantly united overview of different nowadays drawing practices.

Unfortunately, only 5 days of opening for an event easily deserving 2 full months...
A strangely frustrating decision from this now back-to-sleep museum.

Interlude

2009-01-12T23:54:00.001+01:00

Rototom party #5

2008-12-11T23:21:00.000+01:00

Friends With You

2008-11-21T13:30:00.005+01:00

The good thing with Friends With You appearance at the Pictoplasma NYC event was to discover a show with meanings bringing their work further than an impressing kawaï good-looking shape work.
Here you will see the most entertainable catchy parts, but other parts included messages dedicated to the promotion of true love between people, mexican-like esoteric figures, and even from time to time a healthy sexually explicit reminder.
We want to make hundreds of babies with you.

Hawnay troof live

2008-11-21T11:35:00.003+01:00

A true stage masta is the kind of guy who can enter any pitifully crowded small-town venue to instantly stick anyone's mind at the first second of the first track as if he was playing in front of a 10000 people stadium.

Jon the Dog live at Enban

2008-08-07T17:37:00.012+02:00

It was a pleasure to see Jon the Dog playing at Enban, as if it was a second home.
I remember first article regarding her hometape recordings in French magazine Jade 12 years ago (1996) introducing her as ""The Queen of lo-fi in Japan" (dixit Dogbowl)" under this picture:

Meanwhile, Jon recorded many various albums for Oz-disc, Enban/Horen or Tzadik, digging her personnal universe made of pump organ compositions, and the bizarre way children invent and whisper melodies for themselves when playing in a lonely room.
A tribute album was also released including songs covered by Harpy, Chiku (Tama), Kuricorder quartet, Watts Tower,...
Last but not least, sometimes running a bar at the pleasant Golden Gai area in Tokyo, she also sounds brilliant as a famous and mysterious Tarot reader...

Another great 2008 video outdoor with children headbanging:

Nylon 100% 30th Birthday - Tokyo

2008-08-02T16:13:00.035+02:00

Without a big surprise, Youtube quickly removed the Jun Togawa live video because someone complained about copyright violation... Sorry it is now missing here.

Fuck low battery, fuck cheap camera, I was anyway missing the pinnacle: Jun Togawa's high lands of sweetness and screams on the two-sided Mushi no onna mind-blowing live version: almighty queen raising the live from the fragile first track attempts to the fury tears and shocking lashes of the last one. Not even music anymore: life is on stage, borderline, bright and pure, both weak and strong, and sincere as so few can be: almighty queen.

Nylon 100%'s was a legendary early-eighties club when it was headquarter of a whole side of japanese creative scene and it seems these two nights raised many questions about the meaning of such a celebration, for audience as for contributors themselves.
Indeed, everybody seemed to wonder how it could be possible to keep on and give a proper live testimony considering how these guys used to be so glamourous, fresh, innovative and creative 30 years from now ?
As much replies as musicians, courses and histories, of course some of them better than others.
As years go by, it seems that many of the attitude and visual relevance was lost in way, to focus more on the musical content itself, with both positive and negative consequencies.

Hikashu probably gave one of the best astonishing set, full of humour, ideas, nonsense, from experimental sides to legendary hits. For someone who heard Makigami Koichi radical yet cartoonesques acapella solo recordings, I have to say live appearance reveal their whole meaning and power.

A pleasure also to hear the fancy-full parade of Space Ponch friends again live after their french tour two years ago (you can check detailed article just below).

Saeki Kenzo & Boogie the mach motor's:

Plastics-ex:

Kera (Nagomu label founder):

Ghetto Tiers Monde - Tropika Matta

2008-06-15T17:57:00.012+02:00

Run by dj Alfred Hitchcock Magazine (Chocomix) and dj Arc de Triomphe (Cartilage Rds) , Ghetto Tiers Monde is a monthly event project dedicated to emergent new ethno-ghetto music.

As Baile Funk or Kuduro tidal waves hit local scenes, opening favela's door to massive booty-shaking, and pride of its local scene, last years saw awesome increasing or deepo changes in music production in Africa, South America or Balkans.
GTM purpose seem to highlight hidden artists who stay confidential outside of their countries or communities, but MOREOVER to offer a massive dancefloor shameless and meaningfull sweaty socca tornadoe.

Tropika Matta World Première Live 100% perfectly challenged the update of Philippe Lavil at the age of freaky coupé décalé mixed with ravaging booty-bass lines.
Across overall humour touch, awesome was the efficience and seriousness involved all along the 45 minutes set, original lyrics creating a new yet unknown music gender, kind of mad "ragga-dada" yelled and by the mysterious Captain Matta, supported by his legendary shadow producer.

Kania Tieffer

2008-06-06T15:54:00.006+02:00

What a long way she did since previous appearances, probably made of road experience allowing a great self-assertio.
Still we enjoy personality, homemade sick noisy beats along up-and-down vocal lines, and the good balance between background tracks and live singing, guitar or keyboards.
But the miss improved overall live rythm and transitions so much that strength arise the best way it could.

Save your soul, read the Magezette.

Justice Yeldham

2008-06-06T15:40:00.005+02:00

Justice Yeldham, 04/06/08, Bordeaux, la Centrale

Being witness of such an involvment, purity and radicalism, free of any pose, fake or tricks is a thrill I wish I could feel more often.

Tanoshii Ongaku - Panorama Camera

2008-06-04T18:28:00.010+02:00

It seems that few copies of this 80's recording were pressed, and no reissue is planned, so I guess nobody will blame me for uploading 2 mp3s of this obscure yet fantastic project.

Quite hard to find infos on it, so let's fix on a credit line-up:
Kato Ryosuke: composition
Totoko Kakizawa
Nishihata Yuki & Katakuriko: vocals
Yamaguchi Morimitsu & Kato Ryosuke: lyrics

Homemade orchestrations involving toys, keyboards, recorders, drum machines, and unusual recording attempts, not so far from Picky Picnic worldwire beloved tapes.

boomp3.com

boomp3.com

La Veuve Moustachue report

2008-05-25T19:07:00.011+02:00

A few pictures taken from La Veuve Moustachue live events in Rotterdam (Worm) and Brussel (Nova cinema)
With a special magical feeling I had in watching this concert into a real Cinema venue, among such a nice and enthusiastic audience.

Kikifruit / Kumisolo @ Regala

2008-05-21T10:35:00.013+02:00

Following publication of silkscreened book La Secte du Triangle at Bongoût Editions and L'Ile at Kaugummi Editions, yesterday was Kikifruit opening for exhibition at Regala Gallery.

Great selection of original artworks on the walls, for a good overview of his obsessive eroticogeometric universe.
Narrative and fantasy sides, girlish shaping, softcore erotic or unexpectable attention to some technological details provide this strong work some specific powerfull and humoristic amateur raw aspect.

Fresh and pleasant live by Kumisolo was a good opportunity to hear many tracks of the coming album planned in september, handfulll of delicate techno-pop anthems.

Last but not least, we had the surprise to discover Jessie Evans playing two bars away from the gallery, glamourous classy concert blending deep tropical drums, jazzy vocals, sax and haunted dance with booty shaking drummachines.
With water and sweat.

Kishino Yuichi - La Veuve Moustachue

2008-05-04T19:34:00.044+02:00

! La Veuve Moustachue back to Europe !

boomp3.com
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15/05 - WORM - ROTTERDAM (20h30 - 6 euros) - www.wormweb.nl

LA VEUVE MOUSTACHUE (jp)
PLAONG DJ (aka Gangpol, fr) - selected japanese records
+ SELECTED SHORT MOVIES & ANIMATIONS PROGRAM
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16/05 - NOVA CINEMA - BRUSSEL (22h - 7,5 / 6 euros) - www.nova-cinema.org

LA VEUVE MOUSTACHUE (jp)
DJ DEREK SEIN
PLAONG DJ (aka Gangpol, fr) - selected japanese records
BLIND BEAST (Moju) - Movie by Yasuzo Masumura, Japan, 1969, 35mm, vo st ang / ov eng ond, 86'
+ Gangpol & Mit new short movies
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21/05 - INFAMOUS & CARTILAGE - POINT EPHEMERE - PARIS (20.30 - 10 euros) - www.infamouslabels.com/ - www.myspace.com/cartilagerecords

DICK EL DEMASIADO (Argentina) - experimental cumbia
LA VEUVE MOUSTACHUE (jp)
36 15 GILOU v.s. DJ ALFRED HITCHCOCK MAGAZINE (chocomix)
+ GIRAGIRAKNIGHTS projections (jp)
+ LUDOVIC BOULARD LEFUR (Fr)

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Strong and unique character, highly involved in the japanese music scene since years, Kishino Yuichi is back with La Veuve Moustachue project, unique ultra easy pop karaoke show, merging cabaret chanson, easy-retro orchestrations and dada attitude in a sweet and humoristic gender-confusion.

Featuring Miura Yoko as piano player, the live also develops a very particular relationship between songs and video screening. Deeply related to japanese lyrics of the songs, the video space turns into a theatric background, where the use every effect becomes obvious, funny and meaningfull, where sampling of some Japanese movies never was done in such a proper, respectfull and emotive way.

And beware, above the overall light humour and live energy, you could be surprised to discover some hidden feelings: light-years away of any trendy clichés, unique universe for unique experience.

Born in 1963, Kishino Yuichi happened to work with many other head characters of the Tokyo independant scene.

Among countless Kishino-san activities, we notice an appearance on K-Hin Bros Hare Hare night compilation (1989) under the name "Constance Towers", K-Hin bros being described as "a music study group, which president is Yuichi Kishino", and Constance Towers involving people like keyboardist Mint-Lee and Kimitaka Matsumae. This track already stucks with his chansonesque reappropriation songwriting, very specific voice and overall fresh and out of time spirit.

With Kimitaka Matsumae, and also Yamaguchi Suguru (composer, Expo band member), Hibiki Tokiwa (photograph, designer), holy collectors of mondo vinyl records, they play under Space Ponch, who happened to realease spicy tiki-moog record on Jim o' Rourke label Moikai.boomp3.com
Mint-Lee (previously member of Constance Tower) is now member of Watts tower (keyboard), among other Itoken (drums, also member of Harpy and d.v.d.), Jon the dog (dance) and many more...

It is said Kishino-san got involved in Nagomu records activities, though I need more details regarding it. He's now running his own label Out One Disc who happened to release a wide diversity of artists, including Yoshihide Otomo, Oorutaichi's astonishing LP, a Sparks guide book - officialising a kind of creative international moustache connexion - and of course Les Vacances de La Veuve Moustachue cd.

Another beloved activity of Kishino-san consists in collecting 7inches among the hardcore collectors of Gira Gira Knights, very special unit involving Nagata Kazunao (Transonic), Himitsu Hakase among other members, all Focused on sweaty shiny Enka and early Kayo (here, an overview of the wonderfull giragira suit used during 2007 french tour)
boomp3.com

Amazingly multi-task, he had an important production as a critic, with various articles and reviews regarding japanese subculture and artists.
He's also film actor (happened to work with Kiyoshi KUROSAWA, Akihito Shiota, Isshin Inudou...) and professor at the Faculty of Music and Plastic Arts at the University of Tokyo.

www.myspace.com/gamakazz
Kishino website

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(Portrait by Guillaumit, photos thanks to Sandra V. & Jean Picon, b&w pic from Yuriika magazine issue august 05)

Jack the Rapper - Harry Merry - Grabba Grabba Tape

2008-05-04T18:39:00.012+02:00

Yesterday was preciously unforgettable with appearance of both Jack the Rapper and Harry Merry live at Cafe Pompier (thanks to Gilou
)

Out of limit heartbreaking and humourfull shows, with a destabilised but enthusiastic audience, experiencing the true noble wish of these heroes to follow nothing but their own rules.

Great ambiance, by the way... Including naked people, and pleasant talk with these legends.

With appearance of Grabba grabba tape on the previous day (thanks to Khima France), let's say it was such a healthy overpowerfull weekend it's now difficult to find the energy to write more.

So before leaving, let's all sing together:

Shoboshobo onsen bustour

2008-04-17T11:23:00.006+02:00

Sorry no post since a long time as hell... This blog should rebirth along coming weeks with decent updates.
Just a small post meanwhile to forward info regarding Shoboshobo Onsen Bustour.

Following the first 2005 unique Shobo Bustour experience this new edition offers another unique opportunity to share the Lucky Dragons holy mesmerized act, Vastieu Ramen visual and sonic raw craziness, Minifer aka Shobo himself and Lozi.
A mouthfull schedule of exhibitions concerts and onsen ni tsukaru I'm jealous not to be here to enjoy, you lucky audience.

April 18 : Tokyo - exibition + Shop @ Ok Fred Gerilla Store (from 18h) 4-33-9 Kamimeguro Meguro Tokyo 153-0051 Japan
April 19 : Tokyo - concert + exibition @ Shiroto no Ran - 12 gouten 2F, Fudeno Bldg, 3-1-17 Koenji-Kita Suginami-ku
April 20 : Tokyo - exibition @ NAGI cafe
April 21 : Tokyo - exibition @ IVY shop
April 22 : Sakurajima - onsen
April 23 : Beppu - concert @ TBC
April 24 : Beppu - onsen
April 25 : Osaka - concert @Tennen Geijyutsu Kenkyujyo
April 26 : Osaka - Onsen
April 27 : Awaji - concert @ Cafe Nafsha
April 28 : Kyoto - concert @ Japonica music store http://www.japonica-music.com/ charge: 1000yen+1drink order
April 29 : Kyoto - onsen (Kibune ?)
April 30 : Ogaki - lecture & concert @ IAMAS
May 1st : Nagoya - workshop & concert @ Aichi Children’s Center
May 2 : Tokyo - concert @ Flaneur in Gaienmae
May 3 : Tokyo - concert @ Highti
May 4 : Kaerimasu !

Kayo egotrip

2008-01-30T09:48:00.000+01:00

Some people say there was a life before Youtube but I don't remember very well...
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Apogee & Perigee used to be a side-project involving Togawa Jun (thanks to Mayutan for highlighting it among the whole Togawa discography) with an almost impossible to find record now.

So if you have somt troubles to sleep, you can spend hours following the links or just typing the amazing P-Vine techno kayo best database, and get stuck with Hosono again and again (featuring Koshi Miharu).

Oh god and how comes that Sakaitsukasa Yuuko did this one LIVE:

Addicts visiting this blog through Kayo searches probably know Hosono's and Sakamoto's involvement in 80s production, and noticed they always had an interesting specific involvement in both the most avant-garde projects (supporting them through Yen label) and the most mainstream hits, commercial works, futuristic minna no uta, or comical appearances on tv-shows.

This is how every attempt to sleep got spoiled by dozens of more and more shameless mainstream idol mermaids.

Kenji Endo

2008-01-23T10:14:00.000+01:00

Great. After some posts on european material, I can now focus on some views on japanese music without look like a pathetic nerdy compulsive sucker.

So here starts a bunch of short posts regarding several items or people, already planned in different areas or styles.

Kenji Endo is probably less known than Mikami Kan or Tomokawa Kazuki outside of Japan.
However, he also appears as a striking character for Hideo Ikeezumi (P.S.F. label founder). Ikeezumi seems to often talk about his true love and strong interest for popular singers, and that's great and usefull because he's carrying the light for foreigners fans of his label in their attempts to enter the realms of acid-folk or enka.

These two opposite videos probably show the two sides of the character in a good way, who happened to both attend haunted raw folk areas and kayo sunsets.

With beautifully strange lyrics about wife cooking curry rice.
If some of you have more infos, they are welcome...

Les enfants terribles

2008-01-23T09:31:00.000+01:00

The great thing with 70s left-wing french smoker hippies freaky material is that almost no one really cares about it anymore except your father, and the friend who gave you the link.

Even moldy chanson lovers do not dare to quote such records into their glossaries, and we are gratefull, so we can forget them and focus on the pure strangeness of these excentric ultra-pathos vocal harmonies and maboule arrangements (among folk guitars, various exploded strings, flutes, light ethnic drums = the whole classic set in this area).

Les enfants terribles is a family (Alain Feral with wife, brothers and sisters), and as usual, early recordings (66-69 EPs and first album C'est la vie) are the best. Despite great artwork, second LP On l'appelle Madame was disappointing, regarding how difficult it was to find (more poetry for less madness).

Again, any frenchy will probably fly away from this marshmallow, but offer this record to any stranger, focusing on music, he'll probably fall in love with it. I always considered it as a good sign.

David Fenech - Ergo Phizmiz

2007-12-19T13:18:00.000+01:00

No news since a long time, that's a pure shame and we're gonna try to fix it, no kidding.

First please note everything about the ongoing tour of these two gentelemen ?

Since many years now David Fenech is driving his sound in the most out-of-time way.
While many toy-music records fail to elevate themselves above their material, the real succes of his Polochon Battle is to immediatly create a mysterious meaningfull atmosphere, and not to get stuck on this intimacy of most bedroom recordings.
This orchestra of sanzas, whistles and hummings, woody percussions, various strings and melodica with some light electronics, never happen to fail into clichés or easy-to-make, but seem to rely on its various influences in a very fresh way to reach the highest levels.
The loop aspect in some compositions never smell like an easy trick, the out of tune sides never spoil, and children voices sound obvious. Deep and humble musical attitude for the best results, a record full of life and filled with all-stars tournament featurings (Kubin, Tokumaru, Klimperei...)

Absolutely no idea of how it may work live, but how not to be curious about it ?
Ergo Phizmiz deserves another full-size post in itself, Oh God, asap...

Norman Bambi - West of Space Adventures

2007-12-03T13:13:00.000+01:00

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Don't think a single minute I'll feel ashamed to talk about it because this guy happens to be also a friend.

Who is honestly today able to solo compose, produce, mix, master, and release, such an awesome bright creature ? A true lonsesome cowboy.

Forget everything you knew about this nightmare called "data-pop": forget all the 27th years old white hetero nerdy citizens making music in their tiny flats, with guinea pig vocals, and absolute lack of any glam.

Here comes something from the true wild countryside, where fantasy escapes from the farm, where humour merges with lyricism, where compositions and computer share the same purpose, where delighting sounddesign never disturbs the songwriting.

With such a baseline, there is not a single track you'll find old-fashioned two months later, thanks to an awesome sense of composition, strongly inspired by 40 years of the best backyard pop items, from Milton Delugg to early electronics, from the best of japanese pop (with a tribute to Chiku from Tama) to Morricone landscapes, from country-smurf to cosmo-surf.

Although the trailer gives a good overview, listen to the full "psychotic interstellar catastroph" or "further west of space" will introduce you the unique way this guy can drive an instrumental upside down all along 6 astonishing minutes.
The raw vocals from the early Juicy Panic album have turned to nowadays beautiful smooth voice , with a true universe developped along classy lyrics.

Rarely the digital playground has been used in such a deeply fresh way. Norman Bambi is playing every tools with both the most obvious and sophisticated musical attitude, driving a whole fake orchestra, carefully tuning his synths, mashing with various folk guitars and acoustic drums, switching sound effects in the best justified childish way.

Order your copy directly from the producer. Make my day.
Made in Normandie, and definitely nowhere else.
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Kokusyoku sumire

2007-11-27T11:08:00.000+01:00

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Kokusyoku sumire live / Bordeaux / L'Inca
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(with all my deep apologies for such bad quality videos)
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I have to say I first heard about Kokusyoku Sumire just a few days ago, thanks to Maruta's invitation to go to their show.
As Maruta is member of Phnonpenh MODEL, and also organised Juicy Panic tour in Japan, I was very curious about this event.

A quick look on youtube and website highlighted their belonging to a japansese gothic-lolitas scene, but it also appeared to be really much stranger and stronger than most of the current production in this area.

And their live act really proved they go far beyond any visual aspect, developping a unique chansonesque and neo-opérette instrumental universe with only violin, vocal, accordion and some piano parts, driving a whole set without any drums, from children song to polka, from showa military sides to Nina Hagenesques lyricism or even a kind of Rondo Venezziano humour (with wonderfull musical earrings).

Delighting and precious is the way they can play virtuoso in the freshest and simpliest way, their interpretation sometimes reaching such striking and powerfull peaks that you'll forget everything and be ready to follow them anywhere.

Another review and interesting interview (in french) from their live in Aix is avalaible here.

Pan Kleks w Kosmosie

2007-11-23T13:36:00.000+01:00

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Pan Kleks w Kosmosie soundtrack

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This one surfaced while cratedigging second-hand shops in Poland last year.

Despite the precious help of our friends, as we often missed infos and were unable to listen in the small shops around train stations, we mainly had to trust our 7th sense, cover artworks, and few credit infos appearing.

DJ Gilou found this one among the stack, and I can hardly tell how gratefull I am.

A true unbearable experience layering the dumbest vocals on DX patterns & Yamaha drumbox.
Great italo-synth compositions, out of tune aerobic children attempts.

And of course, of course, after some quick browsing, THE MOVIE in itself.

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Avalaibility: probably famous and easy in Poland. Probably nerdy and hopeless anywhere else.
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WW019 / De!Nial

2007-11-14T13:03:00.000+01:00

I didn't catch my copy yet, but Kania Tieffer new cd is freshly released on wwilko.

Those who happened to enjoy all over Europa her DIY disco-noise girl-power live events know what the deal is about.

Among thousands of myspace daily morning spams and emo-ragga requests bullshits, it was a delightment to find them.

And not meaningless that they share the same post between Belgium and Koenji, as it seem they have some things in common beyond detuned synth, proto-punk distorded drums, or devo influences.

Shoboshobo / Life is life / Decapitron

2007-11-13T14:24:00.000+01:00

New bunch of webzines by Shoboshobo published by himself and Opuntia books
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Life is Life, by Mehdi Hercberg, 76 pages under silkscreen cover, minimal evidence and powerfull regressive lines against wild hairy textures, printed on various colour papers.

Also new Decapitrons volumes bring a new dimension to the whole project, involving Hendrik Hegray, Kentaro Minoura and Matt Lock under the principle of alcohol printing.
With each new issue, it definitely gains more strength, highlighting the specificity of this cheap forgotten printing technic really far beyond the simple joke.

Raw #1

2007-11-13T14:08:00.000+01:00

Most painfull songs of the year.

First, probably This One.

Although link of this french strong raw genius was already a little bit spread on the internet, there is always a new song you'll be happy to hear.

Neither a fake nor a joke, the striking and shocking musical acts of Stephane resist any mockery and even survive the unfortunately bad frenchy humoristic graphic design of the "official" page kindly run by a friend as support.
From the first original tapes released years ago to the web, this outsider from Angers (France), well-known in his city for singing in the streets with tape recorder, keeps its straight line whatever happens,lying his choking angel voice on the crème de la crème of instrumentals.

And before leaving, please consider this one.
Used to pimp profile on myownspace, comes from the hottest junk found at second-hand market this year. Unforgettable hardcore trauma 7inch:
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Bright Young Museum Workers vol.1

2007-11-04T01:39:00.001+01:00

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Bright Young Museum Workers vol.1 - Tokuma Japan - LP - 1984
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Despite it is exactly the kind of artwork you would never notice among hundreds of records, this strange compilation, highlited thourgh P-Vine techno-kayo reissue's work, deserves sharp attention.

No time to loose: the main thing is it contains the song Kaeru by mysterious band Children

, definite childish poppy hit with marimbas, leads and a cheap drumbox low disco beat that would bring tears and happiness in the same time and whip ass of the thoughest speedcore-addict.

But also unique french-japanese duet "Paris

" digs a giant hole in the best non-sense and "who dares ?" applied to music: this means accordion cliché layered with dumbest tribal dumdisco bongo beat, discussion in both french and japanese between lover and girl, and saxophone behaving as an elephant.

You'll still find the time for new wave addons, mellotron flute jingle, and strawberry fields accordion cover among many other things.

Avalaibility: Promo LP copies may appear through Eil.com
Full size CD reissue (Tokuma Japan label) released in 2005 and still avalaible

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Ohta Keiichi no Jingadaimakyo - Yen Records - 1983

2007-11-03T20:05:00.000+01:00

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Ohta Keiichi no Jingadaimakyo - Yen Records - LP - 1983
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"If you take the long view of any art movement, it looks like a bunch of worms wriggling in one's place. No one's trying to break through; non one's aware of other places, of other planes of existence. And it all follows a circular path."
Keiichi Ohta, in Bananafish #14

It can be blessed, at first sight, as a para-Guernica record, and as the Ginwaha utau 7", this kind of aside piece revealing the whole project.
And although Guernica in itself constitues a major precious jewel, already blessed 10000 times, maybe this one already warms you up with a deeper, sharper, and stranger feeling.

This is one more step in the story of a geniuses association: Ueno composing, Ohta writing, Hosono producing, and several guests as Makigami Koichi or Sato Ikuko among others performing vocals, all out of fashion and out of time, from the first notes to last details of graphic design, stuck by the kind of VIEW you'll never find in the neighborhood of amnesiac times.

Everything is already here, believe it, in 1983: Ueno's unique composition style in the strictest way, retro-synth orcherstrations, haunted piano grounds, demented children's choir and vocals, taking care never to fall into easy harmonies. It's no place for Guernica's charged orchestrations nor fast tempo, here we follow bright lines, Showa obsession staying in the borders, as tempo keeps a strange slow mystery.
With less military and more poetry, and while Togawa's chilling whispers, set aside for a while, will hurt us with extatic pleasure until the end of times, here another erotisicm of lost past times is allowed to emerge along these madly warm opiates songs.

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Avalaibility:
Awesome original vinyl sometimes appear on Yahoo auctions among various Ohta's related items.
Probably easier now to catch the Yen Box vol.1, and anyway to take part of the full story:

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Why

2007-11-02T23:58:00.000+01:00

This place is intended to highlight artists who may deserve yout attention by blogging records and live reviews.

It focuses on japanese independand music (strong and unexpectable characters, hidden jewels, smoky enka obscure oiroque, deviant mainstream, and crossovers) but also worldwide indies and rare oldies..

However, purpose is to provide detailed infos in english about each of strong unique artistic project, and not to mess up everything under a fake "oddball" cliché. It tries to contribute fighting against tired clichés. Also sometimes try to build a good overview of japanese independent music history, of its different movements, filiations or oppositions, to better understand every personnal involvement of the musicians.

It follows and support of the activists aready involved in Jp/Eu relationships .

I only do it because I'm fed up with general market rules, distribution and information lacks about these artists, and french press laziness.

For strictly same reasons, I sometimes happen to play records.