"New Japan" series on Tzadik - the POLL

ruins - symphonica

fuck yes. actually some of yoshida's best stuff is on tzadik

Too difficult to pick one at the moment! Probably one of the Otomo, Hoahio or Death Ambient. Or Yasunao Tone. Or Agata. I've really only heard about 20% of these, if that.

This is hard. If Melt Banana wins, I'm chalking it up to "voting due to vague familiarity" though.

and I'll be pissed.

I haven't heard "Symphonica", though I do have "Hyderomastgroningem" - actually that's my only Ruins album. I think it was actually you Dominique who once mentioned that the sound on the Tzadik Ruins releases is a bit too clean - that they'd benefit from a bit louder, less genteel, more typical rock mix. I think that's an interesting point - there are pros and cons I guess. One pro, perhaps, is that the sound hasn't aged as much - since it doesn't have that mid-90's rock sound, and the dynamics are much more open and less compressed than many of them - and in many respects the recording sounds great - clear, precise. In any case, "Hydero.." is a pretty darned good Ruins album to own - it seems to incorporate much of what is great about the band - the insanely catchy gibberish, pounding riffs, and interesting structures.

symphonica is unlike any other ruins release

Not being funny, but sharing a tour van with the guy from Ru1ns a few years back (for a month) put me off them for life. 10 years ago I loved 'em! Now I couldn't care less. Am I shallow?

explain

I like these a lot:
Ruins - Hyderomastgroningem
Rovo - Tonic (live album, which is actually my favorite by them)

These I like, but should listen to more:
Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Ensemble - Dreams
Yamamoto Seiichi - Nu Frequency (some interesting ideas, but lacking the crazed energy of his Boredoms/Omoide Hatoba work)

Kind of an interesting oddity, which I play rarely:
Zubi Zuva - Jehovah (Yoshida's doo-wop album - warning: no drums)

And one that didn't do much for me:
Death Ambient - Death Ambient (stellar line-up, and it would probably make an interesting soundtrack to the right movie, but I never felt in the right mood to play it)

ha, o.nate -- I think I'm getting old then, I think the Tzadik Ruins records sound great now! Symphonic is almost a koenjihyakkei sounding record, tho more swampy sounding. Tzadik rock records all sound like they were recorded in a big hall, lots of room reverb, which makes things very boomy. But I like that now.

that live Korekyojin is awesome too. actually new japan series has a lot of good records, one of the better sub-groups on tzadik I think (tho pretty much all of tzadik has not so hot stuff)

Yes, that's true - they can be a bit boomy - the bass drum usually stands out. They also sound like they were recorded mostly "live" in the studio - with a minimum of over-dubs. I like the drum sound though. I should check out "Symphonica", since I like Koenjihyakkei a lot.

I want to hear these, anyone know them?

Ayuo : Aoi
The creator of two of the most fascinating releases on the New Japan series (Izutsu and Red Moon) now turns his hand to one of the most curious of all Japanese musical forms, the Noh play. Mixing the feeling and sounds of psychedelia with an ancient tradition through voice and instruments, Aoi is another masterpiece from one of Japan’s most prolific and eclectic musical minds. Also included are two lush instrumentals, an evocative piece for bouzouki and a minimalist suite for solo piano.

Personnel:
Ayuo: Bouzouki, Sitar-guitar, Cornemuse, Bass, Soft Synths, Fue, Tin Whistle, Voice, Guitars, Darbukka
Yuji Takahashi: Piano
Ken Awazu: Low Male Chorus
Takada Kazuko: Sangen, Vocals
Nagasu Tomoka: Biwa, Shakuhachi, Vocals

Compostela : Wadachi
One of the most original groups in modern Japan, Compostela blends folk musics of Eastern Europe with the tradition of Japanese chindon (street musicians who play at grand openings of supermarkets and pachinko parlors, dressed as geishas and samurai). The late saxophonist Shinoda Masami was one of the most exciting musicians of recent years, the first to bring klezmer and Eastern European music to the Japanese audience. This special compilation, which includes original compositons as well as tunes by Sidney Bechet, Victor Jara and Gilrod & Sandler, was assembled by Compostela's surviving members to pay tribute to one of Japan's musical luminaries.

Personnel:
Komazawa Hiroki: Pedal Steel Guitar, Mandolin
Nakao Kanji: Soprano Saxophone, Trombone, Clarinet, Drums
Shinoda Masami: Alto Saxophone
Sekijima Takero: Tuba

Makigami Koichi : Electric Eel

An entire CD of compositions and improvisations on jaw harps! Creative and versatile, Makigami's first CD of solo voice improvisations was a favorite of vocalists from Mike Patton to Pavarotti. On Electric Eel he takes an unexpected turn. While studying Mongolian throat singing with masters in Tuva, Makigami became acquainted with the simple folk instrument the jaw harp. Fascination turning to obsession, he has now developed an incredible array of extended techniques on this ancient instrument, and in collaboration with Swiss "Maul-Trommel" virtuoso Anton Bruhin (who has released several CDs of traditional European music for jaw harp), they have created a CD of sounds you've never heard before. In addition to over 50 different varieties from soprano to contrabasso, this astounding recording also features the premiere of Anton Bruhin's electric jaw harp and water jaw harp.

Personnel:
Anton Bruhin: Electric Trampi With Unagi System, Dromb
Makigami Koichi: Voice, Dromb, Electric Trampi With Unagi System, Woodtrumpet
Tadagawa Leo: Dromb, Ilimba

Wow, I need to look into this series more. I know only the two Merzbow releases on there -- but those two really have some of his best work, I think. All of 1930 is mind-blowing, and the last 2 tracks especially on Sphere are just awesome.

The Ruins stuff I've heard hasn't been on Tzadik. I'd be interested in hearing their Tzadik stuff (as well as every single other record on that list).

I'd vote for rovo three times but that would be wrong

I voted Rovo, but Nani Nani gets points for "Eep Man."

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

ayuo is fantastic. red moon gets my vote

That's a pretty good Rovo record. Some Yamamoto Seiichi solo stuff is good but not that stuff. Check out "Mantral" -- apparently Steve Shasta saw him perform a 45 minute version with Jaki Liebezeit....

There's a lot of good artists on that list but usually the stuff on Tzadik isn't as good as elsewhere. Check out Purple Trap, Afrirampo, Korekyojinn and Tetsu Inoue. The Ikue Mori album up there is pretty dope too!

::votes for Nani Nani 2::

Haino Keiji - Tenshi No Gijinka

i only really like the first ayuo...

i'm going for the haino, too, cause i haven't heard most of these and don't really have fond memories of death ambient/death praxis.

if otomo yoshihide's cathode was part of this series it'd win for me, hands down.

anyone heard that friction release? does it compare at all to their early stuff?

Haven't heard that many off this list, but I really love Hoahio's 'Peek-Ara-Boo'

I don't know enough of these to vote. Mr Clemente was right up there - the Merzbows are both really tasty. The Melt-Banana is okay but far from their best work. Which still beats out a lot of people's stuff. I need to hear New Rap, I think.

I feel totally out of sorts on this one—I know about eight of those releases and really like 'em, but I feel like that's not enough to vote.

Wow, second thread within a week where I realize the impact my co-worker Colin had on my tastes… I do wonder if he's still around here (used to post as Brakhage). It's because of the cassettes he abandoned that I have those Death Ambient albums. Which are pretty good…

Check out Ni-Hao!(two bass guitars with drums trio featuring the singer from Limited Express Has Gone, who are also great but didn't get my vote because I've seen them mentioned here at least once before.)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Symphonica is good!

Is it? I know the other Ruins album.

That's a pretty good Rovo record. Some Yamamoto Seiichi solo stuff is good but not that stuff. Check out "Mantral" -- apparently Steve Shasta saw him perform a 45 minute version with Jaki Liebezeit....

-- Catsupppppppppppppp dude 茄蕃, Sunday, 16 September 2007 23:29 (2 days ago)

yep, seiichi yamamoto band with dual drummer action = china mana (RIP) & jaki liebezeit... super long psyched out version as an encore at an underground club in Kyoto. i interviewed him afterwards and got all the dirt on the Boredoms break-up.

spill it

Ha! Seriously.

I think I forgot to vote in this - but it would have been a tough call between the Rovo and Hyderomastgroningem.

ss - did you see either of the yamamoto shows?

Its a shame I missed this thread, I would have been the tie breaking vote for ‘Tenshi No Gijinka’.

I was at one of those Rovo shows that was taped for the Tonic live album. I remember that Zorn was there with the engineer - sitting behind a big rack of recording equipment. I also recall that the band had a couple of Akai MPCs along with the 2 drummers.

dom,

i was at the BOTH show, good stuff.

ssssss

me too, and really liked. I tried to talk to him afterwards, but a) I don't think he spoke much (if any) english, and b) his wife (?) was talking a blue streak so there was no way anyone was going to start anything w/him

I ran into Yamamoto in the crowd at the Boredoms show at Bowery Ballroom in NYC a couple of years ago. He was in town for a gig a few days later. I came up to him and said that I was looking forward to his gig, and how much I liked his work with Rovo. He was polite but didn't say anything besides "thanks".

DL: did you walk up to him and say "amazing!" right by the side of the stage after the show

i think i walked by to the restroom when you did that!

he speaks a little english, moreso than anyone else in the boredoms does.

actually I said "insane!" but a lot is lost in translation

But what about the dirt??

did Hoahio ever release anything else?

dang, missed this thread. would have voted for aiko shimada's "blue marble", which i had an inexpicable fixation on at the time. feats evind kang & bill frisell. nice.

ruins live album deserved a vote or two. that thing is staggering.

man, hoahio are AWESOME

thank you thread for reminding me to listen to em

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKs4S-BgrUc

which one is the Ruins live album?

i just picked up Tonic 2001 recently and it's pretty massive, though I don't know if I could listen to it all at once again

mandala 2000. definitely one of my fave ruins albums, and though I prefer koenjihyakkei, I love me some ruins too.

but it's also exhausting to listen to. I would wager moreso than the rovo album but I haven't heard that one.

the Rovo album is not really that difficult at all, it's just super long. as for Ruins I've never really been sold, love "Praha in Spring" a bunch but I don't really know what full albums would work for me....thought "Stonehenge" was alright but its amazing how much of it just passes me by before I realize the album's like, halfway through

have you listened to koenjihyakkei? they go down much smoother than ruins. less chaotic, full band, much more condensed discography (all killer, no filler).

I personally love nivram but make sure you get the shimmy disc remaster of that one. big improvement.

i'll have to give that one a shot then

cool.

you may also want to try symphonica. it's like proto-koenji.

but honestly, burning stone and stonehenge are two of my favorite ruins releases and they're all of a piece despite the various lineups. ruins might just not be your bag.

What happened to Hoahio? Just came up on shuffle, man, these guys/girls were good.

been wondering that myself since I've been on an after dinner kick and that led to revisiting ohayo! hoahio! (still rules). it's been about 10yrs since the last album, so my guess would be that the project is done for :-/