Hey freeloaders, we're going to try a different spin on this month's BOHA MP3 selection, spreading them out throughout the month to let you savor the gobstoppin' flavor. As always, we encourage anyone to touch base if you have some goods to contribute. In the meantime though, we are unearthing three oddities for the Japanophilic music lovers, you know who you are out there, they're here too. Check out these sweet live sessions at FMU from various visitors from the Far East over the years, inclduing Miminokoto, Acid Mother Temple, LSD March, Jutok Kaneko and Koji Shimuira, Ghost, Afrirampo, Mandog, The 5678's, Yura Yura Teikoku, You Ishihara, Sigh, Peelander-Z (all Real Audio) and more. Stay tuned.
Matsuo Ono and Takeisha Kosugi "Suite #2 from Roots of Electronic Sound" (MP3)
A nice marker of the progress of Japan's electronic music scene, available via Mimoroglu's online mail-order. Originally issued in 1975, these sounds were utlilized as incidental music for Atom aka Astro Boy cartoons, though the vibe is more InaGRM studios than Hanna Barbera. Fans of Japanese psych/experimental sounds might recognize Kosugi from his Fluxus days as well as participation in the great Taj Mahal Travellers as electric violinist; here the playful yet dark computer sounds add perfect accompaniment to the postwar Japanese TV vibe that often manifested the spectre of atomic energy into positive, powerful figures of societal worship that exhibited cuteness with somewhat ominous overtones as well. Aside from all that, this is again a very cool and elusive document of the progression of experimental music in Japan.
Yoshino Daisuck and Prostitute "Yami No Naka No Doppen Kenken" (MP3)
There's some variants in the spelling of this artist (I've seen Daisuke, Daisaku), but there's no denying that this is pure downtown NYC 81 madness adapted via Tokyo 81. It's amazing how bands like Love Live Life Plus One and Les Rallizes Denudes were bowling some of the same balls that Western counterparts like the VU and Stooges were dealing at exactly the same time to no acclaim whatsoever even after the spotlight had been shown on the American bands as being key influences on everything. So it's no surprise that something like this was happening right around the same time as DNA, Mars, and Teenage Jesus. I totally dig the cement-mixer guitars and frantic sax amidst upside down dance rhythms, I know nothing else really about them besides the fact some claim they moved in a Lounge Lizardsy direction later on. I dig this a lot and would love to hear more of the No Wave offerings the Land of the Rising Sun had to offer; the uber-pricy Friction reissues were somewhat disappointing, anyone out there have a line on any stuff from bands like Gunjogacrayon, 3/3, S-Ken and Lizard? There's a rotisserie chicken in it for you.
Super Milk "Sayounara" (MP3)
Dunno much aside from this being on a great compilation called Impossibles! out on the Japanese Tokuma label, showcasing some great 80's punk and new wave bands like the Rabbits (not to be confused with Takeshi Teruachi's Bunnys), Aunt Sally, Suki Suki Switch, Saboten, and more. This cut reminds me of Germany's Abwarts without a doubt.
Below is a recap of all MP3-related posts on Beware of the Blog from the past month (salted and limed by Liz Berg):
- Snag a ton of great Chinese MP3s from artists like Grace Chang, PK14, and Leslie Cheung on this post by William Berger.
- Wanna hear what Johnny Rotten has to say about British fashion? Me neither, but here you go anyway.
- Station Manager Ken hooks you up with a bazillion different versions of Hairway to Steven.
- Lukas presents MP3s captured from a Czech bootleg of Iron Maiden.
- Learn how Chiquita bananas can solve world hunger, snag an educational jingle on this post from Ken.
- Led Zeppelin was indeed satanic. Just listen to the research these guys have done and you'll be convinced. Mike sure is.
- Estelle, Linda Laurie, and PSAs by the Shangri-Las, all presented by Station Manager Ken.
- Song-over-song montages from Brian Joseph Davis, posted here by Ken, because Whitney on Whitney was just meant to be.
- Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah MP3, in honor of that racist Stephin Merritt.
- Read up on sexy 70's Grecian Eurovision star Vicky Leandros on this post by Scott.
- Dr. Bruce Theissen responds to Neil Young's "Let's Impeach the President", and another ke-razy Brian Joseph Davis layered tune (this one's a bunch of people singing "Yesterday"), all right here courtesy of Ken.
- Brian Joseph Davis, M.A. Numminen, and Kenny G all singing philosophy. Thanks Kenny G!
- Grab some great shortwave radio MP3s from this series of posts from the Professor.
- Heelarious punker comedy from Mr. John Dowie, posted by Ken.
- Tan Sleeve sings about the day Condi will carry us forward, from Station Manager Ken.
- Ken presents annoying polka from Loituma.
- Horrifically awesome glossy Eurovision MP3s from the 70's, thanks Lukas!
- Glow in the dark with this one.
- Grab an aircheck of talk radio legend Bob Lassiter's last show, brought to you by the Professor.
- MP3s from fake straight edge punk rock band Jud Jud... they did headline for Minor Threat, didn't they, Ken?
- Here Ken posts an ode to the Enron verdict; tons of guilt-ridden tunes.
- Audible evidence that Nico ripped her vocal stylings from Nazi film star cum Russian spy Zarah Leander, mounds of tunes posted by Ken.
- Irwin presents creepy-quirky Pump Organ MP3s, from an old rare LP he found lying beneath his extensive collection of Black Sabbath records.
- WFMU programming mashup: Kenzo presents the uncanny common ground shared between Bryce and Irene.
hi, the Yoshino Daisuck and Prostitute link doesn't work :-(
Posted by: martinf | June 02, 2006 at 04:53 AM
I have a couple of Gunjogacrayon tracks on a Pass Records compilation... Is that enough to win me a chicken?
--j
Posted by: Jason Elbogen | June 02, 2006 at 05:31 AM
Sorry about the broken link, it will be fixed later on today.
Posted by: Mike Lupica | June 02, 2006 at 09:21 AM
RE: Japanese experimental/electronic no-wave: Vanity Records http://park10.wakwak.com/~techno/vanity.html released many fine recordings ca. early 80s. My favorite is the band "Back Ground Music" and their album "BGM" (apparently high school students) - all Vanity products had incredible album cover art - die-cut sleeves and booklets, etc. I think Vanity also put out a least one cassette compilation.
Posted by: antbee | June 02, 2006 at 12:27 PM
I know the Tolerance LP on Vanity is reissued, and is great.
Posted by: Brian Turner | June 03, 2006 at 12:38 AM
Given your reference to disappointing Friction reissues (been there) and FMU's colossal resources, I assume you already have the WAX "Tokyo Rockers" and "Tokyo New Wave 79" reissues and don't need my crappy cassette dubs audacitized into mp3s. Lizard got a lot worse as they went on so aim early if at all. If you have the energy to wade through the Japanese and DRM situation at pc.music.jp you can find some tracks by Gunjogacrayon to audition and buy/download.
BTW, the Tokyo Rockers scene is well documented in Gin Satoh's super cool GIG photo book.
Posted by: Robert | June 03, 2006 at 09:34 PM
Still no fix on first link?
Posted by: js | June 10, 2006 at 08:27 PM
hi, i still can't listen to Yoshino Daisuck and Prostitute :-(
Posted by: martinf | June 14, 2006 at 04:27 AM
Still no link available to the second track, I'm afraid. Any chance of fixing that? thx
Posted by: Jaak | June 22, 2006 at 03:50 AM
Really sorry about that second link everybody, the one for the Yoshino Daisuck and Prostitute track - it's finally fixed.
-ken
Posted by: Station Manager Ken | June 22, 2006 at 10:25 AM