And off to Kobe we go! My old pal from back in the day Crys is on tour in Japan, playing with Oren Ambarchi and Tim Olive and a couple of new improv names. I’ve seen Ambarchi 3 times now and he always brings something different, and I’ve enjoyed Tim Olive’s work for a good while now. His work with percussionist Jeffrey Allport is worth checking out, if you can find it. Looking forward to an evening of rubbing and scratching and humming. Wagons ho!

And off to Kobe we go!

My old pal from back in the day Crys is on tour in Japan, playing with Oren Ambarchi and Tim Olive and a couple of new improv names.

I’ve seen Ambarchi 3 times now and he always brings something different, and I’ve enjoyed Tim Olive’s work for a good while now. His work with percussionist Jeffrey Allport is worth checking out, if you can find it.

Looking forward to an evening of rubbing and scratching and humming.

Wagons ho!

Mar. 9 2013
Via standardgrey
1 note
 Music Interiors - Root Blog Mix of Japanese new-age/ambient/minimalist music, mostly emanating from the corporate infrastructure of the 1980s asset bubble. FM synthesis, prefab “lifestyle” soundscapes and the illusion of nature in a hyper-urban environment. Tracklist:Hiroshi Yoshimura – “Water Planet” from Soundscape 1: SurroundToshifumi Hinata – “Colored Air” from Reality in LoveMidori Takada – “Mr. Henri Rousseau’s Dream” from Through the Looking GlassYas Kaz – “Jungle Book/Windscape” from Jomon-ShoYutaka Hirose – “Nova” from Sound Scape 2: NovaShiho Yabuki ‎– “Tomoshibi” from The Body Is A Message Of The UniverseInoyama Land ‎– “Mizue” from Danzindan-PojidonYoshio Ojima ‎– “Sealed” from Une Collection Des Chainons II: Music For SpiralYoichiro Yoshikawa ‎– “Nube” from CyprusInterior ‎– “Park” from InteriorYasuaki Shimizu – “Kono Yo Ni Yomeri #2″ from KakashiHiroshi Yoshimura ‎– “Water Copy” from Music For Nine Post CardsYoichiro Yoshikawa – “Crater on the Moon” from Miracle PlanetHaruomi Hosono – “(In-store background music for Muji storefront)” from Muji BGMKenji Furukawa – “(Untitled Water Recording) from Sound Stream: Mizu Fairlights Mallets and Bamboo Vol. 2 coming soon…

 Music Interiors - Root Blog

Mix of Japanese new-age/ambient/minimalist music, mostly emanating from the corporate infrastructure of the 1980s asset bubble. FM synthesis, prefab “lifestyle” soundscapes and the illusion of nature in a hyper-urban environment.

Tracklist:
Hiroshi Yoshimura – “Water Planet” from Soundscape 1: Surround
Toshifumi Hinata – “Colored Air” from Reality in Love
Midori Takada – “Mr. Henri Rousseau’s Dream” from Through the Looking Glass
Yas Kaz – “Jungle Book/Windscape” from Jomon-Sho
Yutaka Hirose – “Nova” from Sound Scape 2: Nova
Shiho Yabuki ‎– “Tomoshibi” from The Body Is A Message Of The Universe
Inoyama Land ‎– “Mizue” from Danzindan-Pojidon
Yoshio Ojima ‎– “Sealed” from Une Collection Des Chainons II: Music For Spiral
Yoichiro Yoshikawa ‎– “Nube” from Cyprus
Interior ‎– “Park” from Interior
Yasuaki Shimizu – “Kono Yo Ni Yomeri #2″ from Kakashi
Hiroshi Yoshimura ‎– “Water Copy” from Music For Nine Post Cards
Yoichiro Yoshikawa – “Crater on the Moon” from Miracle Planet
Haruomi Hosono – “(In-store background music for Muji storefront)” from Muji BGM
Kenji Furukawa – “(Untitled Water Recording) from Sound Stream: Mizu

Fairlights Mallets and Bamboo Vol. 2 coming soon…

Feb. 12 2013
Via rootstrata.com
15 notes

連獅子4 

Jan. 5 2013
Via youtube.com
6 notes
Our favourite local record peddler in Nara drops his year-end list. Just got some new music from his shop in the mail today! flaumusic: Kenji Terada | Pastel Records (nara)playlist 2012eric chenaux : guitar & voice （constellation）anna von hausswolff : ceremony （kning disk）ripple & murmur : reverie （kning disk）steffi thiel and michael chashmore : late but never （Coptic Cat）sophie hutchings : night sky （preservation）black elk : sparks （KOMU/KOMU002）dana falconberry : leelanau (antenna farm records)ombre : believe you me （asthmatic kitty records）the tallest man on earth : there’s no leaving now （dead oeans/doc068）josephine foster & the victor herrero band : anda jaleo/perlas [deluxeedition] （wind bell/four112/113）masayoshi fujita : stories (flau)espen eriksen trio : what took you so long （rune grammofon）grand salvo : slay me in my sleep （preservation）christina vantzou : N°1 DVD and remixes （christina vantzou）oren ambarchi : audience of one （touch）nuojuva : valot kaukaa （preservation）emma gatrill : chapter 1 （willkommen records）the boats : ballads of the darkroom （our small ideas）james blackshaw : love is the plan, the plan is death （important records）greg haines : moments eluding [solo piano series Vol. 3] （kning disk）hammock : departure songs (hammock music)andre mehmari - chico pinheiro - sergio santos : TRIZ （rip curl recordings）

Our favourite local record peddler in Nara drops his year-end list. Just got some new music from his shop in the mail today!

flaumusic:

Kenji Terada | Pastel Records (nara)

playlist 2012

eric chenaux : guitar & voice （constellation）
anna von hausswolff : ceremony （kning disk）
ripple & murmur : reverie （kning disk）
steffi thiel and michael chashmore : late but never （Coptic Cat）
sophie hutchings : night sky （preservation）
black elk : sparks （KOMU/KOMU002）
dana falconberry : leelanau (antenna farm records)
ombre : believe you me （asthmatic kitty records）
the tallest man on earth : there’s no leaving now （dead oeans/doc068）
josephine foster & the victor herrero band : anda jaleo/perlas [deluxe
edition] （wind bell/four112/113）
masayoshi fujita : stories (flau)
espen eriksen trio : what took you so long （rune grammofon）
grand salvo : slay me in my sleep （preservation）
christina vantzou : N°1 DVD and remixes （christina vantzou）
oren ambarchi : audience of one （touch）
nuojuva : valot kaukaa （preservation）
emma gatrill : chapter 1 （willkommen records）
the boats : ballads of the darkroom （our small ideas）
james blackshaw : love is the plan, the plan is death （important records）
greg haines : moments eluding [solo piano series Vol. 3] （kning disk）
hammock : departure songs (hammock music)
andre mehmari - chico pinheiro - sergio santos : TRIZ （rip curl recordings）

Dec. 30 2012
Via flaumusic
10 notes

grafiks:

RADICAL TV - 80s Japanese video art

youtube playlist: http://bit.ly/UGSh5R

Heavy on the Ryuichi Sakomoto.

 Hit the playlist. Absolutely fantastic headphone/fullscreen viewing.

(via standardgrey)

Dec. 16 2012
Via grafiks
27 notes

8..6.12. bon odori

solarflares — nara soundscape

Listen

Bon Odori at Gokoku Shrine. August 6, 2012.

Recorded on a humid August night at what I learned later to be a “Defend Japan” shrine in Nara.  The snaky guitar lines give it an uncanny African feel, love the clipping on the PA system.

Recorded using iRig app on my phone. Pic by me as well.

Nov. 28 2012
8 notes
Well, well, well. Might be time to finally cross seeing Mr. Akita live off the bucket list. CONPASS » BRILLIANT年末 2DAYS – 秋田昌美の夜 – 『 MERZBOW ONE MAN LIVE 』 LINEUP: MERZBOW INFORMATION: OPEN 18:00    START 18:30    CHARGE: ADV. ¥2500(D別)　DOOR. ¥3000(D別)2日券 ¥4000(各日D別) TICKET INFO: 近日詳細更新！チケットぴあ ( Pコード )ローソンチケット ( Lコード )e+ ( イープラス ) WEB: MERZBOW30日の吉田達也の夜の詳細

Well, well, well. Might be time to finally cross seeing Mr. Akita live off the bucket list.

CONPASS » BRILLIANT年末 2DAYS – 秋田昌美の夜 – 『 MERZBOW ONE MAN LIVE 』

LINEUP:

MERZBOW

INFORMATION:
OPEN 18:00    START 18:30   

CHARGE:

ADV. ¥2500(D別)　DOOR. ¥3000(D別)
2日券 ¥4000(各日D別)

WEB:

Nov. 9 2012
Via conpass.jp
7 notes

Gagaku: The Court Music of Japan (complete)

For all you history and music eggheads.

Informative doc, good music and dance performances, plus Nara’s deer and Shoso-in make an appearance!

Gagaku: The Court Music of Japan allows the viewer to experience the haunting sounds of the Japanese court orchestra and to see the magnificent costumes and masks of its stately dances.

Host for the program is Dr. William P. Malm, Professor of Ethnomusicology at the University of Michigan, who introduces the instruments of gagaku and the musicians who play them. Also featured in the program is Suenobu Togi, Gagaku Master at UCLA and Dr. Sidney Brown, Professor of Asian Studies of the University of Oklahoma, who explains the historic roots of gagaku. Performances by the Imperial Court Orchestra in Tokyo illustrate the contrasting styles of gagaku.

Nov. 7 2012
Via youtube.com
4 notes
12k Japan Tour: Illuha  || Simon Scott || Taylor Deupree || Marcus Fischer in Kyoto. New camera, trying to figure out it’s quirks  - the menu, settings and such are all in Japanese, recently searched and downloaded the English manual from the interwebs- so the shots aren’t that great, but still- it compensates nicely for next-to-zero light. The first night was a proper concert, the second was an impromptu recording session where anyone from the previous evening was invited to come watch for free. While the first night was a genuine pleasure - each artist doing their drift, night two moved more naturally. The lack of a formal pay-at-the-door-here’s-the-bar-here’s-the-merch-table gig vibe made it looser, and the group improv displayed more crackle between the artists. The atmosphere was quieter- maybe only seven people in attendance- and being in Kinse, a warm and comfortable 200-year-old ryokan made it feel like a mellow party in someone’s living room.  I met some good people, the artists were friendly and approachable (always a plus), I bought some new music - Simon Scott’s Below Sea Level comes highly recommended- overall, a lovely two nights. 12k Japan Tour: Illuha  || Simon Scott || Taylor Deupree || Marcus Fischer in Kyoto. New camera, trying to figure out it’s quirks  - the menu, settings and such are all in Japanese, recently searched and downloaded the English manual from the interwebs- so the shots aren’t that great, but still- it compensates nicely for next-to-zero light. The first night was a proper concert, the second was an impromptu recording session where anyone from the previous evening was invited to come watch for free. While the first night was a genuine pleasure - each artist doing their drift, night two moved more naturally. The lack of a formal pay-at-the-door-here’s-the-bar-here’s-the-merch-table gig vibe made it looser, and the group improv displayed more crackle between the artists. The atmosphere was quieter- maybe only seven people in attendance- and being in Kinse, a warm and comfortable 200-year-old ryokan made it feel like a mellow party in someone’s living room.  I met some good people, the artists were friendly and approachable (always a plus), I bought some new music - Simon Scott’s Below Sea Level comes highly recommended- overall, a lovely two nights. 12k Japan Tour: Illuha  || Simon Scott || Taylor Deupree || Marcus Fischer in Kyoto. New camera, trying to figure out it’s quirks  - the menu, settings and such are all in Japanese, recently searched and downloaded the English manual from the interwebs- so the shots aren’t that great, but still- it compensates nicely for next-to-zero light. The first night was a proper concert, the second was an impromptu recording session where anyone from the previous evening was invited to come watch for free. While the first night was a genuine pleasure - each artist doing their drift, night two moved more naturally. The lack of a formal pay-at-the-door-here’s-the-bar-here’s-the-merch-table gig vibe made it looser, and the group improv displayed more crackle between the artists. The atmosphere was quieter- maybe only seven people in attendance- and being in Kinse, a warm and comfortable 200-year-old ryokan made it feel like a mellow party in someone’s living room.  I met some good people, the artists were friendly and approachable (always a plus), I bought some new music - Simon Scott’s Below Sea Level comes highly recommended- overall, a lovely two nights. 12k Japan Tour: Illuha  || Simon Scott || Taylor Deupree || Marcus Fischer in Kyoto. New camera, trying to figure out it’s quirks  - the menu, settings and such are all in Japanese, recently searched and downloaded the English manual from the interwebs- so the shots aren’t that great, but still- it compensates nicely for next-to-zero light. The first night was a proper concert, the second was an impromptu recording session where anyone from the previous evening was invited to come watch for free. While the first night was a genuine pleasure - each artist doing their drift, night two moved more naturally. The lack of a formal pay-at-the-door-here’s-the-bar-here’s-the-merch-table gig vibe made it looser, and the group improv displayed more crackle between the artists. The atmosphere was quieter- maybe only seven people in attendance- and being in Kinse, a warm and comfortable 200-year-old ryokan made it feel like a mellow party in someone’s living room.  I met some good people, the artists were friendly and approachable (always a plus), I bought some new music - Simon Scott’s Below Sea Level comes highly recommended- overall, a lovely two nights. 12k Japan Tour: Illuha  || Simon Scott || Taylor Deupree || Marcus Fischer in Kyoto. New camera, trying to figure out it’s quirks  - the menu, settings and such are all in Japanese, recently searched and downloaded the English manual from the interwebs- so the shots aren’t that great, but still- it compensates nicely for next-to-zero light. The first night was a proper concert, the second was an impromptu recording session where anyone from the previous evening was invited to come watch for free. While the first night was a genuine pleasure - each artist doing their drift, night two moved more naturally. The lack of a formal pay-at-the-door-here’s-the-bar-here’s-the-merch-table gig vibe made it looser, and the group improv displayed more crackle between the artists. The atmosphere was quieter- maybe only seven people in attendance- and being in Kinse, a warm and comfortable 200-year-old ryokan made it feel like a mellow party in someone’s living room.  I met some good people, the artists were friendly and approachable (always a plus), I bought some new music - Simon Scott’s Below Sea Level comes highly recommended- overall, a lovely two nights. 12k Japan Tour: Illuha  || Simon Scott || Taylor Deupree || Marcus Fischer in Kyoto. New camera, trying to figure out it’s quirks  - the menu, settings and such are all in Japanese, recently searched and downloaded the English manual from the interwebs- so the shots aren’t that great, but still- it compensates nicely for next-to-zero light. The first night was a proper concert, the second was an impromptu recording session where anyone from the previous evening was invited to come watch for free. While the first night was a genuine pleasure - each artist doing their drift, night two moved more naturally. The lack of a formal pay-at-the-door-here’s-the-bar-here’s-the-merch-table gig vibe made it looser, and the group improv displayed more crackle between the artists. The atmosphere was quieter- maybe only seven people in attendance- and being in Kinse, a warm and comfortable 200-year-old ryokan made it feel like a mellow party in someone’s living room.  I met some good people, the artists were friendly and approachable (always a plus), I bought some new music - Simon Scott’s Below Sea Level comes highly recommended- overall, a lovely two nights. 12k Japan Tour: Illuha  || Simon Scott || Taylor Deupree || Marcus Fischer in Kyoto. New camera, trying to figure out it’s quirks  - the menu, settings and such are all in Japanese, recently searched and downloaded the English manual from the interwebs- so the shots aren’t that great, but still- it compensates nicely for next-to-zero light. The first night was a proper concert, the second was an impromptu recording session where anyone from the previous evening was invited to come watch for free. While the first night was a genuine pleasure - each artist doing their drift, night two moved more naturally. The lack of a formal pay-at-the-door-here’s-the-bar-here’s-the-merch-table gig vibe made it looser, and the group improv displayed more crackle between the artists. The atmosphere was quieter- maybe only seven people in attendance- and being in Kinse, a warm and comfortable 200-year-old ryokan made it feel like a mellow party in someone’s living room.  I met some good people, the artists were friendly and approachable (always a plus), I bought some new music - Simon Scott’s Below Sea Level comes highly recommended- overall, a lovely two nights. 12k Japan Tour: Illuha  || Simon Scott || Taylor Deupree || Marcus Fischer in Kyoto. New camera, trying to figure out it’s quirks  - the menu, settings and such are all in Japanese, recently searched and downloaded the English manual from the interwebs- so the shots aren’t that great, but still- it compensates nicely for next-to-zero light. The first night was a proper concert, the second was an impromptu recording session where anyone from the previous evening was invited to come watch for free. While the first night was a genuine pleasure - each artist doing their drift, night two moved more naturally. The lack of a formal pay-at-the-door-here’s-the-bar-here’s-the-merch-table gig vibe made it looser, and the group improv displayed more crackle between the artists. The atmosphere was quieter- maybe only seven people in attendance- and being in Kinse, a warm and comfortable 200-year-old ryokan made it feel like a mellow party in someone’s living room.  I met some good people, the artists were friendly and approachable (always a plus), I bought some new music - Simon Scott’s Below Sea Level comes highly recommended- overall, a lovely two nights.

12k Japan Tour: Illuha  || Simon Scott || Taylor Deupree || Marcus Fischer in Kyoto.

New camera, trying to figure out it’s quirks  - the menu, settings and such are all in Japanese, recently searched and downloaded the English manual from the interwebs- so the shots aren’t that great, but still- it compensates nicely for next-to-zero light.

The first night was a proper concert, the second was an impromptu recording session where anyone from the previous evening was invited to come watch for free. While the first night was a genuine pleasure - each artist doing their drift, night two moved more naturally. The lack of a formal pay-at-the-door-here’s-the-bar-here’s-the-merch-table gig vibe made it looser, and the group improv displayed more crackle between the artists. The atmosphere was quieter- maybe only seven people in attendance- and being in Kinse, a warm and comfortable 200-year-old ryokan made it feel like a mellow party in someone’s living room.  I met some good people, the artists were friendly and approachable (always a plus), I bought some new music - Simon Scott’s Below Sea Level comes highly recommended- overall, a lovely two nights.

Oct. 8 2012
11 notes

Just learned that James Blackshaw might do a show in Nara!

Props beyond the usual well-deserved to Kenji / ‏Pastel Records.

And now some Brethren of the Free Spirit to tide me over til October.

Jul. 17 2012
5 notes

Yoake no Scat

Yuki Saori — Japanese Oldies

Listen

Flying into Osaka at night with piped-in enka on the headphones is always a treat. Amazing lightshow, and the aerial view of Mt. Fuji on the way is a bonus if you happen to be sitting on the right side of the plane.

Yoake no Scat - Yuki Saori

One of our most favourite favourites ever.

Flying into Osaka at night is always a treat, especially with this track piped-in on the headphones . Amazing lightshow, and the aerial view of Mt. Fuji on the way is a bonus if you happen to be sitting on the right side of the plane.

Jul. 6 2012
9 notes
RA Podcast: RA.294 DJ Nobu Headphone journey.

RA Podcast: RA.294 DJ Nobu

Headphone journey.

Jan. 28 2012
Via jp.residentadvisor.net
8 notes
Last night: Crys Cole, Jim O’Rourke & Oren Ambarchi at Urban Guild, Kyoto. Last night: Crys Cole, Jim O’Rourke & Oren Ambarchi at Urban Guild, Kyoto.

Last night: Crys Cole, Jim O’Rourke & Oren Ambarchi at Urban Guild, Kyoto.

Jan. 23 2012
7 notes

For the hell of it.

Noise collage in the idiom created from treated/edited field recordings made at a video arcade in Nara, Japan. Headphones not recommended.

Oct. 21 2011
Via SoundCloud / standardgrey solarflares
20 notes
Raster Noton 15th Anniversary Japan Tour.Club Metro, Kyoto. Pics = kinda meh, but whaddya want from a little Sony Cybershot? Raster Noton 15th Anniversary Japan Tour.Club Metro, Kyoto. Pics = kinda meh, but whaddya want from a little Sony Cybershot? Raster Noton 15th Anniversary Japan Tour.Club Metro, Kyoto. Pics = kinda meh, but whaddya want from a little Sony Cybershot? Raster Noton 15th Anniversary Japan Tour.Club Metro, Kyoto. Pics = kinda meh, but whaddya want from a little Sony Cybershot?

Raster Noton 15th Anniversary Japan Tour.
Club Metro, Kyoto.

Pics = kinda meh, but whaddya want from a little Sony Cybershot?

Oct. 8 2011
6 notes