Obscurities of Japanese noise

[TordonLjud]

The Diesel Guitar tape is indeed very good. Speaking of VLZ Produkt, and obscure Japanese noise in general, I am surprised that VLZ Produkt and especially its sub-label HISSterik Tapes has gone unnoticed for so long among fans of harsh noise. Although, almost non-existent advertising/distribution in Europe/North America probably has a lot to do with that. Collectible and generally high quality noise and a good introduction to many newer projects (C-10s all the way though).

Discogs lists four titles:

1. N/Daz - Meta Battle Resort
2. Jah Excretion - Trance Harsh Trip Feedbackers
3. Toshiji Mikawa - Physical
4. Artbreakhotel - Tut/Nix

Then we have:

5. Murai Keitetsu - Scratch/Crumple (which I suppose is the only release in this series which isn't really noisy)
6. Naoe Miki - Frequency 8

Subsequent tape titles seem to have been released under the main label VLZ Produkt's name, most of which aren't really noisy (with the obvious exception of Diesel Guitar) however. As the post above says, the label still seem to have copies in stock of the DG tape, surprisingly enough.

On a side note (and I could very well be wrong): I believe another rather new and obscure Japanese project that goes by the name of Scum is featured on one of these tapes (I forgot which one). I suppose Scum's first "mainstream" release ought to be the split CD with Facialmess released late last year on a Japanese label. I have yet to listen to it though...

On another side note: one project I don't think has been mentioned here is Yus. Gritty industrial/post-mortem from (I assume) the late 80's/early 90's. I have three tapes, which I recall all being very good, lying somewhere in my vicinity.

[SinkSlopProcessing]

I rarely hear Keiji Haino mentioned. Though he covered a wide range of styles throughout his career, his work in the early 70's certainly veered into pure harsh noise. He is perhaps the earliest example of harsh noise, east or west, that I can think of. He predates Merzbow, NON, Metal Machine Music - all of it. (Ok, not Luigi Russolo, but he was more conceptual than outright harsh).

[FreakAnimalFinland]

I wouldn't by any meaning say Keiji Haino would be "obscure" in same sense as meant in this topic. As guy who is living legend, published probably hundred albums, toured worldwide, played as festival headliners and enjoys cult following, he is indeed rather cult artist than "obscure" one.

But this is true, that I don't know if there is even topic of Keiji Haino in Special Interests? His audience appears to be elsewhere than among the harsh noise & power electronics fans.

I don't think I wrote in playlist about "Quasispecies Four" LP, but could mention it here. Also, this is hardly anything that "obscure". LP is jam session of 4 Japanese artists: Toshiji Mikawa, Hideaki Shimada, Nobuo Yamada, Katsuyoshi Kou.  Mikawa is of course household-name of any noise fan. Hideaki Shimada is (or was?) known as great experimental project AGENCEMENT. Nobyo Yamada is known of his multiple collaborations with TNB, but also as Artbreakhotel project. Katsuyoshi Kou I don't remember at all. Together they put together quite refreshing jam. The category what I don't always appreciate much. Instead of delivering "jazzy", it's more just free noise. But noise as harsh noise. There is some Mikawas electronics assaults there, but by volume and intensity, it doesn't dominate. Actually perhaps even lay low, somewhere under violin and guitar sounds. Lots of air in the sound. It certainly has much more leaning towards Agencement-esque atmosphere than Incapacitants! Unlike a lot of jams, it isn't "goofy" in my years. Maybe lack of free drumming removes it from jazzy realms. It has some difficult and challenging moments, but nothing for those who would seek for non-stop punishment of distortion layers. Listened this few times and it has become best "jam" I have heard for long time, hah.. Packaging is very nice too.

Short couple minute clip here:
https://soundcloud.com/a_i_l/quasispecies-four-oshiji-mikawa-hideaki-shimada-nobuo-yamada-katsuyoshi-kou-q120428q1

[Bloated Slutbag]

Keijo Haino does (rightfully!) take up a good share of the "PSF records suggestions and talk" thread:

http://www.special-interests.net/forum/index.php?topic=2336.msg18615#msg18615

I would say that Haino's audience is way deep into noise & power electronics fans, but that he is so well covered in other circles that the harsh noise & power electronics fans may not necessarily feel the need to prop up an artist that already gets shitloads of props from all kinds of other fans. So perhaps to say that the audience is here, but it is also elsewhere- which is more than can be said for, say, Yellow Cab.

I don't think I wrote in playlist about "Quasispecies Four" LP,

But I did:

http://www.special-interests.net/forum/index.php?topic=52.msg48121#msg48121

And I agree completely with all sentiments expressed by FreakAnimalFinland, particularly

Listened this few times and it has become best "jam" I have heard for long time

[breidahl]

I have the Shoot Master / 道産子アナル (in English Do Thank Anal) 7", which on one side has a hardcore band and on the other side a noise band, Do Thank Anal. Crazy stuff and they end their side of the 7" with a hard rock song.

https://www.discogs.com/artist/464236-Do-Thank-Anal

On Discogs it says they also have tracks on compilations, but I haven't heard any of them.

[Bloated Slutbag]

The Do Thank Anal track on the New Catastrophic Forces comp is pretty straight ahead noise from what I recall. Midrange distorted analog overdrive, maybe. Also caught them once at a mainly punk gig in Tokyo. Seemed to be an unusually large number of people on stage, though this impression may have been exaggerated somewhat by the confluence of bodies in motion, both on and off stage (I think I showed up in a tie and workshirt, one sleeve of which got ripped off... guess I should be glad I didn't get choked to death). One particularly pint-sized dude was going absolutely apeshit- in contrast to the rest of the crew who were simply going run-of-the-mill apeshit. Skinny red-faced shirtless kid seemingly out of control literally bouncing off the walls... and the ceiling! doing his impersonation of human super ball, screaming incomprehensible shit... possibly, "somebody help me! (thud)" Certainly the most athletic performance I've ever encountered.

[Bloated Slutbag]

Jun'ichi Shuo – Sutra Of The Described World cd
Good shit in the "exploit the natural ambient resonances of metal" vein. At pains to find info on this guy, seems obscure even by Japanese standards. About the only (Japanese) commentary to be found online is from the person who released it, but here are a few words in English from the Omega Point distro:

Jun'ichi Shuo is an outsider musician lives in Hanamaki, Iwate pref.. He has made much study works (maybe averyday! He is Art Brut itself). Although they were very cheap noise and junk cut-up, a producer and improviser ONNYK (lives in Morioka neighbour Hanamaki) found some nice recordings in them. "Sutra..." is one of them and best peice. The sound is like Harry Bertoia's sound sculpture. It is natural that ONNYK remarked the metalic sound, because he wrote a liner note of Harry Bertoia CD released PSF Records 20 years ago.

Got Bertoia on the brain recently, and yes, there are affinities. Mr Shuo, however, is a fair degree more aggressive in his exploitation of ambient metal resonance. The first track is almost of the ear-piercing persuasion, resonance revealed as feedback plain and simple, though things later settle into some bass-heavy heaving, dense clusters building into icy-smooth walls. Always at the periphery very subtle acoustics flit, clink, tinkle. Third track is like primitive answer to Soliloquy for Lilith part IV, the fourth tempting indulgences in severely pitched whitewash. Close out with more factory-esque atmospheres, junked scraps, smooth sustained squeal.

[Bloated Slutbag]

Shuo Jun'ichi – Variation V
2009 continuation of where the 2008 "Sutra..." (above commented) left off. A lot more narrow in its variations, and in its stereophonic scope- more pure really- serving sleek and slender strings of shimmering, glimmering sonority. This time around, the acoustic sources are almost constantly clanking and scraping in the background, way in the background, revealed in one their more scant moments as some sort of stringed instrument and in another as long metal sheets. Very hard to be sure, but on one track a very brief bout of straight-ahead pedal distortion gives way to what appears to be guitar before drone proper starts to smoothen out proceedings. These imprecise details are what I most appreciate, forcing focus into depths otherwise obscured. Depths, or at least a hint of depths, but no hint of warmth. Severe, almost astringent tones spiral up through to bitter, icy, peaks, Variation III particularly concentrated in its feedback-washed sheen. At times I am reminded of some of the Keiji Haino's ritual-flavored instrumental offerings, though engaging a rather more clinical palate. High praise in my book.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

On topic of Obscure Japanese noise stuff. When I listened this CD couple years ago, thought it was quite crap. Eventually, started to appreciate it much more. 2014, a lot of Japanese artists I had no clue that they existed.

http://special-interests.net/main/2017/03/08/164/

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Some tapes like Cry Havoc, d/l, Maru-X, R.D.P.,.. from 90's. Should play to report..

Cry Havoc "Live #1" tape

Jason Campbell /  Cry Havoc  ‎– Split tape
Hermetic Museum Recordings
One of more rare tapes from Cry Havoc, being released on western label. Perhaps the only one? Canadian Hermetic Museum did bunch of other rather obscure tapes in short amount of time. Seems like labels main thing was to put out C-60 split tapes of the boss of label (Jason Campbell) and bunch of more or less known artists (haters, odal, prurient,..). And seems like this one didn't circulate much. Discogs lists one owner for tape.

Cry Havoc here offer solid half an hour dosage of straight forward japanoise. Not total free form shredding like Incapacitants, but neither precise cut-up like Endo. Just plain old standard harsh noise. What makes this, and also Jason Campbell side really tasty, is the blown up and crunchy sound which is not so typical for Japanese high fidelity pedal artsist. It's something more in lines of things on MSNP tradition. Or especially in Jasons side, it brings me fresh memories of Emil Beaulieau "Memories" CD (pre-minutoli material). Often simple tracks, but really different sounding material than basically anyone does these day.

Even if Cry Havoc seems to be one of those bands who fall into gap of already losing interest in Japanese harsh noise, fact that he came like 5 years too late to make big international impact, but too late to be well documented online, makes it quite interesting artists. While it may not have place among the very best of classic japanese noise, it definitely has good place in "obscure japanese noise".

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Never had to possibility to own the original, but was very much pleased to find youtube upload of:
戯れ -Come Again- Various Noise Artist Compilation (1991) 3x7" lathe.

Come Again 2 has been one of my absolute favorite noise comps for so long, that it was great to finally hear this, even if song order is totally wrong and it's merely streamed from youtube...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lETuASYd5hk

Anyone with ears can recognize who is who in this comp, and notice track listing is inaccurate. Some artists are Japanese obscurities I have no idea who they are, but one can't mistake when hearing Aube, Masonna, Jojo, Incapacitants,  Agencement, and so on... It would be so good to have Come Again 1+2 reissued on one CD.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

HENTAITENNO "The private compiled 1987-1993" tape
Kubitsuri tape
I remember when I got this in mid 90's. Back then, was not very impressed. Thinking all the instant hits of Japanese noise of the time, Hentaitenno is gutter noise, muddy sleazy rumblings, odd distorted bedroom noise-punk tracks, all thrown into strange, fairly lo-fi mix. Closes comparison could be to THE GEROGERIGEGEGE. In same way it can be almost anything. Sound is very saturated and juicy. I'm glad that I picked up this today from shelves, since now this sounds vastly better than almost 25 years ago! Appears to be pretty damn rare tape too. Probably have to make another Special Intererest podcast about japanoise rarities...

KUSOMISO "??" tape
Kubitsuri tape 008
Don't know what is the title and can't find this at discogs. Kusomiso did a lot of stuff for SMMania label. Noise, junk, racket...  This particular tape, not very good. Just free form rocking tracks.

KUSOMISO / DOKUCHINKO "shitmiso II" tape
Kubitsuri tape  007
Says february 1994. Kusomiso on this on is vastly better. There is jazz sampled on the back, mixed with piercing feedback, delay speed manipulation, echo, harsh bursts. It is vastly more electronic. Abstract, but also a lot of parts of playing slightly blown out suffocated jazz recordings. It gets very noisy at the times, when saturated sound collage includes frantic percussion, movie samples and funky music bits. Other times it is odd, like the 50's sci-fi effects combied with raw manual hand crafted noises. Whatever project does, it is quite far from what many associalte as "japanese noise".
Dokuchinko goes into muddy harsh noise realm. Simple, heavy crunch of mid frequencies. Not much ripping high frequencies nor deeped bass. It is rotten and raw. In some ways I think of Thirdorgan, even if tech and composition is totally different. Soon it goes to length japanese spoken word piece and progresses into delay treated feedback noise, like the 80's UK power electronics. Tape hiss and humming as addition. More spoken word and marching music, until quickly bursts into crackling harsh noise with some delay pedal tricks.

[Euro Trash Bazooka]

I love that Kusomiso/Dokuchinko split tape. Total weirdness.

[Duncan]

Probably have to make another Special Intererest podcast about japanoise rarities...

Do this please.

[wonderland_media]

Past few months I've been diving deeper into the Violent Onsen Geisha discography and absolutely love everything I've gotten my hands on. Favorites being "Shocks! Shocks! Shocks!" (the remix cd) and "Que Sera, Sera (Things Go From Bad To Worse)", particularly the latter. Absolutely love his juxtaposition of pop music, turntablism, obscure garage and blues rock, and then totally insane screamed vocals with wild noise. Recently been listening to the Otis cd and while I enjoy it it's not my favorite I've heard so far. "The Midnight Gambler" is a really fun one and the 7" "Balloon Collector In The Wilderness (Who Is Totally Naked) / Real Wild Thing" is great too (and I absolutely can't help but love the title of the A side). For me, this is what I've been needing from noise lately, it feels totally outsider but my understanding is that he grew up educated in music or something along those lines?