Currently Listening To...

[bromithia]

Queen - Fat Bottomed Girls

[so_cold]

Rotary Connection - Respect

[TeslaGuy]

There was apparently a big avant-prog scene in Japan in the '90s. I discovered a bunch of bands on the Mutant Sounds blog, and waded through much of the YouTube-available material of two of them before I realized that I just wasn't having much fun while exploring this music. Just not a sub-genre that I am crazy about. If this is your style of music, rest assured that there is plenty of it out there. I did pull a couple of reviews off the web to help inform the curious.


"Tipographica were a Japanese band that existed from 1986 until 1998 and who released four albums in the 90s. They play completely instrumental music, basically a rhythmically complex type of jazz-rock. Influences from RIO (Henry Cow, Picchio dal Pozzo), (free) jazz and instrumental/classical Zappa (Hot Rats, Waka Jawaka, The Grand Wazoo, Studio Tan, etc.) are obvious. Furthermore, influences from world music can be heard both in the choice of exotic instruments (djembe, sabar, etc.) and the complex and diverse rhythms. Some traces of 20th century composers (for example Edgar Varese and John Zorn) seem to be present as well.

The albums usually consist of longish tracks (generally in the 6-11 minute range). All tracks show tight and busy, at times slightly dissonant, interplay between the various instruments. The instrumental palette consists mostly of brass, electric guitar, synthesizers, bass, drums and lots of additional percussion. Several instruments get solo space, but even then the instrumental backing remains strong. There are some quieter passages as well, which sound like the best "classical" works of Zappa or a jazz-rocking version of Zorn/Varese. The quiet passages gradually build in intensity and slip effortlessly into the more hectic, percussive parts. There seems to be a continuous, ever-changing flow of musical ideas, while always worshipping "the God of the groove" (as Tipographica put it themselves). The hectic, ever-changing character makes Tipographica's music demanding, but interesting to listen to.

Although some of their musical influences show clearly on their albums (i.e. Zappa), I wouldn't call them clones. Their music is original and fresh enough in my opinion to stand as a individual musical statement . If you like melodic symphonic rock or neo-prog, you probably won't like their music. RIO freaks, jazz or jazz-rock lovers, and fans of Zappa or complex music in general definitely should try one of their albums. Any of their four albums is a good place to start."

Tipographica - Naked Lunch

"All of Koenjihyakkei’s songs are sung in a private language. Some have argued that they’re just strings of nonsense syllables. I, however, after consulting sunken Atlantean tomes and my Dungeon Master’s Guide, have parsed the secret code. Thus I can tell you that, translated, “Koenjihyakkei” means “deadly keyboard assault by frothing Viking elves.” Or possibly “Freddie Mercury and Ornette Coleman have been clubbed and kidnapped by Alban Berg and forced to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.”

In any case, Koenjihyakkei’s third album, Nivraym—released in 2001 and recently reissued by Skin Graft—is intense prog weirdness from Japan, where they know how to do their prog weirdness right. The band is helmed by drummer Tatsuya Yoshida, most famously of the Ruins. Where the Ruins turned their prog jones into a brutal pummeling reminiscent of metal, however, Koenjihyakkei uses a fruitier, squigglier attack. “Mederro Passquir,” for example, starts with a repetitive, irritatingly catchy carnival hook and then gives way to a protracted battle between a Leonard Bernstein chorus and a whole barrel of amphetamines. (The amphetamines win.) “Axall Hasck” opens in full-out fury before slipping halfway through towards something that sounds suspiciously like funk. The monumental nine-minute “Gassttrumm” is a thudding, jerking processional for a seven-legged space tyrant, with occasional interruptions by his hyperactive, heavily-armed jester. And what does the jester say? Near as I can tell, he declaims, “Lu, dimi ta monasi, tigol t’me tahundai.” And, you know, I couldn’t agree more."

Koenjihyakkei (at Koenji!) - Rattims Friezz

After extricating myself from the prog bog, I soon found another blog that listed some Japanese groups that were much more my kind of different. Here's one of them, The Eccentric Opera. This 90's group was the duo of Nami Sagara, who does multitracked vocals, and Nahoko Kakiage who plays the keyboards.

The Eccentric Opera - Sanctus

The Eccentric Opera - Black is the Colour

The Eccentric Opera - Ani Holem al Naomi

[Princesse-de-Porcelaine]

kukui - Nijuusou (instrumental)

[TeslaGuy]

Dip in the Pool - 4 A seeker

[EmilScherbe]

Originally Posted by TeslaGuy

There was apparently a big avant-prog scene in Japan in the '90s.

Doctor Nerve: If You Were Me Right Now I'd Be Dead

In August 1996, this band's guitarist Nick Didkovsky toured Japan
and played with these musicans.
I went 2 nights and it triggered to step in the scene
(but broke away after 2+ years).

http://www.doctornerve.org/nerve/pages/gigs.shtml
Nick Didkovsky - Japan Tour


Each night's program:


Solo performance by ND
Japanese band's performance
Collaboration:

• ND joins Japanese band for one of their pieces
• ND joins Japanese band for a Doctor Nerve piece
• Conducted improvisation
• Free improvisation

August 1 - MANDA-LA2, Tokyo, with P.O.N.
August 3 - MANDA-LA2, Tokyo, with Happy Family
August 4 - MANDA-LA2, Tokyo, with Isso Yukihiro
August 6 - LA MAMA, Tokyo, with Tipographica
August 7 - MANDA-LA2, Tokyo, with Mamoru Fujieda
August 8 - MANDA-LA2, Tokyo, with Koichi Makagami
August 10 - CLUB QUATRO, Osaka, with Happy Family and varius artists
August 11 - TAKUTAKU, Kyoto, with Hisato Hosoi and Haco

[TeslaGuy]

^ That sounded awesome! Lucky you.

[TeslaGuy]

Midori Hirano - Triangle

[Princesse-de-Porcelaine]

Nightmare - livEVIL

One of the last VK bands I still listen to sometimes.

[justriiingo]

midori hirano....

Skalpel - 1958