Spring 2009 Underground Japan CD

 

Track 1: Sky, horse and death: Concrete Music - Toru Takemitsu

 

 

 

Page at World Visionaries

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Track 2: Red Doll - Speed, Glue, and Shinki

 

 

 

Info page @ Japrocksampler

 

Another song on Youtube

 

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Track 3: Hidariashi no Otoko - Yuya Ichida and the Flowers

 

 

FTB in their heyday

 

FTB reunites!

 

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Track 4: Night of the Assassins - Les Rallizes Denudes

 

 

Page at Gnosis

 

Youtube Video

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Track 5: Yes I Do - The Go-Devils

 

 

The Go-Devils are still going strong, playing the same material and I kind of can’t believe they aren’t one of the most popular bands on the planet.  Here’s their homepage:

 

Homepage

 

 

Video

 

 

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Track 6: Ari-Bri - The Bakans

 

Ari-Bri is a girl group in the same vein as the Raincoats – off-key and basically strange pop music.

 

Lyrics:

 

I want to go on a vacation

In a scarlet swimsuit

Taking a nap in the shade

Whoo-hoo

 

I want to go on a vacation

Going for a drive in a convertible

Macadamia Nuts

Whoo-hoo

 

I want to go on a vacation

 

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Track 7: Machine 3 - Boredoms

 

 

Eye Interview

 

Better Eye Interview 

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Track 8: Seena Riingo - Ultrafuckers

 

 

 

This was the first band I saw live in Japan at Bears in Osaka (a small club run by seiichi Yamamoto of the Boredoms).  It was “Scum Night” and I was forever changed (I think). 

 

HomePage: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=20283561

 

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsBG0Yl_AUM

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Track 9: 5 by Merzbow

 

 

 

Merzbow is called “The King of Noise.” Here’s a very interesting interview with him:

 

http://www.furious.com/perfect/merzbow.html

 

Video in Korea and Kobe

 

 

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Track 10: Jet Generation - Guitar Wolf

                 

 

 

Homepage

 

Video on Youtube

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Track 11: Warp, Back, Spin - Melt-Banana

 

 

Melt Banana Website

 

Interview

 

 

 

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Track 12: Honey and Snorkle by Indian no Echo Sine Bine No

 

 

Indian No Echo… started in 1999 and is a three (sometimes four) piece band with drums, violin, and bass.  They’ve only released their demo (which this track is from) and one live album.

 

Homepage (Japanese Only)

 

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Track 13: Secrets - Nagisa Ni Te

 

 

 

“Secrets”

 

Like a secret, the song just is

Dreams' dark corners, burning red dawn

So it must surely seem

Because of the devices of the night

 

Like a woman, the song just is

Sweetly damp, a tender place

A night like this, just once more

Let me stay, softly

 

Now we must leave

Trusting in that star

 

Like a wild beast, the just is

An earthen den marked by wild roses

Waiting

To be uncovered by a dwarf

 

Come let us go

Trusting in that star

 

Liek a memory, the song just is

A phantom form, once glimpsed at sea

Floating closer, can't you hear?

Our secrets

 

 

Nagisa Ni Te means “On the Beach” in Japanese, and probably comes from the Neil Young album title.  Their sound is described as psychedelic folk – most of their songs are quite a bit longer than this one.  Anywho, here is their press page from their label.

 

http://www.jagjaguwar.com/press/nagisanite/nagisanitepress.php

 

And a video

 

And another...

 

And their cool friend Maher Shalal Hash Baz

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Track 14: Shin Sekai (featuring Rino) - DJ Krush

                 

 

 

A remix from the pioneer of hip-hop and turntablism in Japan.

 

Home Page: http://www.mmjp.or.jp/sus/djkrE1.htm

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVjgRlto8PI

A Fairly Comprehensive Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DJ_Krush

Interview

 

 

 

 

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Track 15: Be Sure To Loop by OOIOO

 

 

OOIOO is the solo band of Yoshimi, the drummer from the Boredoms.  Here is a short interview with her about both bands.

 

http://www.indexmagazine.com/interviews/yoshimi.shtml

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Track 16: 2nd Big Bang!!! - YDestroyde

 

 

 

 

Video on Youtube

 

Myspace Page 

 

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Track 17: Jaiduioqofjomb - Haino Keiji and Tatsuya Yoshida

 

 

Youtube video with Makoto Kawabata of Acid Mothers Temple

 

Magaibutsu - Ruins label

 

Interview with Keiji Haino 

 

umm...

 

yeah...

 

ok...

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Track 18: Pink Lady Lemonade Coda - Acid Mothers Temple

 

 

Acid Mothers Temple is a great psychedelic band from Nara.  The early days of the band had them living together in a commune and releasing tons of CD’s under many different monikers, but they are all led by Makoto Kawabata and his electric guitar.

 

Here are some informational links:

 

Interview

 

An Interview with Makoto Kawabata in Pitchfork:

 

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_Mothers_Temple

 

Home Page: http://www.acidmothers.com/

 

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/acidmotherstemple