etnobofin » japan

Boredoms – Super Roots 10

Richard — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:02:37 +0000

Boredoms – Ant 10 (DJ Lindstrøm Remix)
From Super Roots 10 : Thrill Jockey 221 [Buy]

Super Roots 10 is the new EP from Japanese rock-noise-art band Boredoms. It’s finally released this month outside Japan, after months of speculation. It’s a freaking cool record, but I’m stumped if I know exactly why.

The music here tracks a noise-ambient-minimalism path chasing some kind of obsessive internal logic requiring overblown guitars, analogue synths, ostinato figures and platoons of manic percussion. The overall effect is like listening to 15,000 WalkMans plugged into a nuclear powerstation. For 40 minutes.

Any band that’s been around for more than 20 years (Boredoms was founded in Osaka 1986 by Yamantaka Eye) has very little left to prove. Boredoms are all about their stage performances, and it really is their extensive use of live percussion that sets them apart from any other band on the planet.

In many ways the 3 remixes and the original track here are extensions of each other: four movements in a greater work that just happen break easily over the two sides of a 12 inch dance single.

And this is definitely dance music, especially designed for dancing while throwing oneself joyfully against brick walls and leaping off bungalow roofs into thornbushes. Super Roots 10 should sound like shit, and yet somehow, it makes complete sense. One of the best releases I’ve heard all year.

No Commentary Necessary…

Richard — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:03:52 +0000

…just a perfect YouTube moment (hat tip to Benjaminbrum)

Hung Up in Tokyo…again

Richard — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 22:27:00 +0000

Among Herbie Hancock’s Japan-only releases from the 1970s, Directstep seems to be the hardest to get your hands on, even in Japan. I can’t find it for sale online at all (Amazon says it’s “currently unavailable”). I stumbled on my CD copy in Fnac Mulhouse (France) about four years ago, which proves that you never know where rarities will turn up.

Directstep was recorded in October 1978 at CBS/Sony Studios in Tokyo. Personnel are Herbie Hancock (keyboards), Webster Lewis (organ), Alphonse Mouzon (dr), Paul Jackson (b), Ray Obiedo (gt), Bennie Maupin (ts), Bill Summers (perc). And despite the fact it was 1978, the album is surprisingly listenable…

Herbie Hancock – Shiftless Shuffle
From Directstep: Sony Records SCRCS 9503 [OOP]

Alphonse Mouzon

Hung Up in Tokyo

Richard — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 05:49:00 +0000

In June 1975, Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters travelled to Japan. Their concerts at Shibuya Konkaido and Nakano Sun Plaza were recorded by Columbia Japan, and subsequently released as the twin-vinyl Japan-only live LP Flood:Live in Japan.

Just one track today, because it’s nearly 20 minutes long, and comes with a 100% “This Will Funk Your World” Guarantee. Herbie Hancock (keyboards), Bennie Maupin (soprano sax), Blackbyrd McKnight (gt), Paul Jackson (b), Mike Clark (d), Bill Summers (perc).

Herbie Hancock – Hang Up Your Hang Ups (Live) – 19’54
From 洪水 Live In Japan: Columbia SCRS 9341 [Buy]

SHOUT-OUTS TO FRIENDS WORLDWIDE
Merci à Dom chez PODvains pour son review de mon blog, meme si ma contribution au blogosphere n’est que modeste et flambante anglosaxonne – ” le néo-zélandais de la bande qui cause français” Haha, c’est trop gentil..

And hello to Siggidóri at Skonrokk, who linked to etnobofin in Icelandic, and describes the contents as “Óhætt að mæla með þeirri eðal músík”. Skonrokk on ice is well worth a visit for some surprising music from Iceland – Reyjavik is very definitely in the house!

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

Richard — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 08:10:00 +0000

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra – Moments in Heaven
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra – 花ふぶき～愛だろ、愛っ。～

From Best (1989-1997): Epic Records ESCL 2333 [Buy]

Another discovery from my trip to Japan last year. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. The name says it all really. They play everything from ska “standards” like Caravan through to funk with Bernard Purdie and the Sesame Street theme. They’ve been doing it since 1985, perform all around the world, have their own Wikipedia entry and sound like they’re still having the time of their lives.

TSPO, or Skapara, or 東京スカパラダイスオーケストラ