My Podcast: The Holmes Archive of Electronic Music
My blog for the Bob Moog Foundation.
Here we are with the third part of my series on Psychedelic Japan. In this episode, we will trace some of the more recent work of artists experimenting in this realm of electronic music since about the year 1998. We will listen to several tracks by the Boredoms and how their sound evolved from their earlier cassette releases played in Part 2 to the wonderfully rambling kinds of jams for which they are currently known. Lots of electronics, lots of drums. We’ll hear four Boredoms tracks. Keeping with the chronological order presentation, sandwiched between the Boredoms tracks will be two tracks by OOIOO, a female-led offshoot of the Boredoms begun as a lark that has turned into its own self-sustaining operation. They were founded and led by Yoshimi P-We (also known as Yoshimio).
We will hear an unofficial release from experimenter Adachi Tomomi. He plays improvised music with voice, computer, and self-made instruments.
In the last part of this series, we featured some earlier tracks from Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O, a collective of musicians working in the electronic psychedelic idiom. We will hear two more recent examples from them.
We began this series with some cassette work by Merzbow, the moniker for experimental sound artist Masami Akita. It seems fitting that we include a more recent CD by him here. This is “Argus” from Karasu: 13 Japanese Birds Pt. 4, a limited edition of 1,000 copies. recorded and mixed in Tokyo in 2009.
Episode 84
Psychedelic Japan, Part 3
Playlist
1. Boredoms, “Super Going” from Super æ (1998 Birdman). Boredoms (ボアダムス), alternatively known as V∞redoms, is a Japanese experimental/noise/space rock/tribal drumming band from Osaka, founded in 1986 by Yamatsuka Eye. Known for their extended jams and heavy drumming, it is remarkable that they had some mainstream success in the 1990s. Bass, Hira; Drums, EDA; Drums, Vocals, Yoshimi P-We; Guitar, Yamamotor; Music by, Boredoms; Words By, Vocals, Tibetan Bell, Effects (EQ-phasing), Electronics, Eye. 12:26.
2. Boredoms, “7-(Ewe Remix)” from Super Roots 7 (1998 WEA). Bass, Effects, Hilah; Drums, Percussion (Electronic), E~Da; Drums, Sampler (Samples), Percussion, ATR; Drums, Vocals, Tape (Bird Flying Sound), Keyboards (Casiotone), Yoshimi P-We; Guitar (Guitars), Yamamotor; Sampler, Synth, Kiyoshi Izumi; Vocals, Synth, Tape (Open Reel), Electronics (Vacuum Cleaner), Bell, Effects, Sounds, Electronics, Tape (Insects, Bird), Eye. 4:05
3. OOIOO, “Oizumio” from Feather Float (1999 Polystar). Pronounced OH-EE-OH, Band formed by trumpeter and drummer for the Boredoms on a whim as the result of a photo shoot she once did. Bass, Handclaps, Maki; Drums, Handclaps, Yoshiko; Guitar, Vocals, Djembe, Bongos, Roland Juno and Casiotone synthesizers; Piano, Jew's Harp, Talking Drum, Scratches, Noises (Birds), Yoshimi; Guitar, Vocals, Handclaps, Kyoko; Producer, Yoshimi. 3:39
4. OOIOO, “1000 Frogs And 3 Sun In A House” from Feather Float (1999 Polystar). Bass, Handclaps, Maki; Drums, Handclaps, Yoshiko; Guitar, Vocals, Djembe, Bongos, Roland Juno and Casiotone synthesizers; Piano, Jew's Harp, Talking Drum, Scratches, Noises (Birds), Yoshimi; Guitar, Vocals, Handclaps, Kyoko; Producer, Yoshimi. 10:28
5. Boredoms, “"Ҩ" (Spiral)” from Vision Creation Newsun (2001 Birdman). There have been some live performances of this music from Vision Creation Newsun where Eye has recruited as many as twenty drummers to join the fray, all positioned in a circle with Eye conducting from the middle. And it’s said that this is not one of his most extreme performance setups. Bass, Effects, Vocals, Hilah; Drums, Percussion, Electronic Drums (Electric Pad), Vocals, ATR, E-Da; Drums, Percussion, Keyboards (Casiotone), Vocals, Yoshimi; Guitar, Vocals, Yamamotor; Vocals, Synth, Sampler (Samples), Turntables, Tape (Open Reel), Vocoder, Computer, Electronics, Edited, mixed by, Eye. 6:33
6. Boredoms, “"↑" (Arrow Up)” from Vision Creation Newsun (2001 Birdman). Bass, Effects, Vocals (Vox), Hilah; Drums, Percussion, Electronic Drums (Electric Pad), Vocals, ATR, E-Da; Drums, Percussion, Keyboards (Casiotone), Vocals, Yoshimi; Guitar, Vocals, Yamamotor; Vocals, Synth, Sampler (Samples), Turntables, Tape (Open Reel), Vocoder, Computer, Electronics, Edited, mixed by, Eye. 6:26
7. Adachi Tomomi, “Gamp” (2001 unofficial release). Adachi Tomomi is a performer/composer from Tokyo, Japan. He plays improvised music with voice, computer, and self-made instruments. 2:35
8. Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O., “The Creation Of The Human Race” from 41st Century Splendid Man (2002 tUMULt). Bass synthesizer, bass harmonica, Tsuyama Atsushi; Drums, Yoshida Tatsuya; Electric Guitar, Synthesizer, Other Dancin' King, Hiroshi Higashi; Electric Guitar, Effects RDS 900, Synthesizer, Kawabata Makoto; Cosmic Companion, Ayano; Space Phone girl, Yoko; Synthesizer, Higashi Hiroshi; Vocals, Cotton Casino. From a picture disc version of this recording. 9:12
9. Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O., “Dalai Gama” from 41st Century Splendid Man (2002 tUMULt). Bass synthesizer, bass harmonica, Tsuyama Atsushi; Drums, Yoshida Tatsuya; Electric Guitar, Synthesizer, Other Dancin' King, Hiroshi Higashi; Electric Guitar, Effects RDS 900, Synthesizer, Kawabata Makoto; Cosmic Companion, Ayano; Space Phone girl, Yoko; Synthesizer, Higashi Hiroshi; Vocals, Cotton Casino. From a picture disc version of this recording. 4:32
10.Merzbow, “Argus” from Karasu: 13 Japanese Birds Pt. 4 (2009 Important Records). Music by Masami Akita. We included a cassette release from Akita in part 2 of this series. That was from early days for Merzbow, 1984. It seems fitting that we include a more recent CD by him here. Limited edition of 1,000 copies. Recorded and mixed in Tokyo, Feb 2009. 19:40
Opening background music: Far East Family Band, “Parallel World” from Parallel World (1976 MU Land). Music by, arranged by, Far East Family Band. Produced, recorded, computer mix by, Klaus Schulze. Recorded November 15th to December 5th 1976 at the Manor Studio, UK.
Opening and closing sequences voiced by Anne Benkovitz.
Additional opening, closing, and other incidental music by Thom Holmes.
