noise and weird

Cascades of electronic noise, a psychedelic touch and vocal belching mixed together constitute the ingredients of Mademoiselle Anne Sanglante Ou Notre Nymphomanie Auréolé, the double-barreled name for Masonna. Maso Yamazaki founded his project in 1987, with a charismatic and glamorous personality who become a cult figure in “Japanoise” scene. Masonna’s abundant productions on his own legendary and astonishing label Coquette were presented in very limited edition, sometime totally confidential (one sole copy), and reflect his predilection for 60’s psychedelic music revisited in its own very peculiar way. He transforms his voice into noise, feeding the microphone back through a process of extreme distortion. His shouts become clipped bursts of overloaded sound, doubled and extended by a delay that displace the sounds into stuttered blasts of static.
Filled with unquestionable feelings along with Freak is an ultra-rare cassette originally released in 1995 by Coquette in an edition of only 36 copies and now return for the first time in a stunning vinyl format fully remastered!
The two sides of the cassette / vinyl are completely different from each other. Side A can be considered a classic Masonna piece, where it reaches its full artistic maturity here. This side is very brash, earsplitting and mad. The distortion and effects on the vocals are top notch, they in combination with his awesome screaming create a complete audio assault. Remind also to his first period as Open your cunt and Like a vagina tapes. Everything is scraped, fast and beautiful and focuses an electrically overcharged universe, punctuating the thrilling and vocal sonorous power with some quite moments and brief interruptions, conferring a very particular dynamic to work. Side B is completely different. The voice disappears (or is no longer heard because it is covered or transformed by feedback). The structure is more compact and organized but eventually becomes far wilder, building up to pointillistic bleeps and dense layers of electronic fizz that unexpectedly cut to near-silence; these bear many uncanny resemblances to the simple melodic improvs and incessant ostinatos of Terry Riley.
At once beautiful and remarkably challenging, Filled with unquestionable feelings, is an absolutely revelation in the wide discography of Masonna and easily one of the early contenders for the best artist release.  It is reissued on black vinyl in a limited edition of 299 copies. Original tape copies are virtually unobtainable, skirting well into the three figure realm, so this one Lp is not to be missed!

Masonna - Part 1 Excerpt (from Filled with unquestionable feelings)

Uncle Ted's Cabin

The 1990s were a fascinating moment for music and new idioms of experimental music began to bubble in the underground. While often belonging to highly localized scenes and thus overlooked by a broad listenership in the moment, many of these gestures have proven to be profoundly important and influential and have left an indelible mark on the musical landscapes that have followed in their wake. Particularly notable among others C.C.C.C.'s first album ,Cosmic Coincidence Control Center, that sprang from Japanese noise scene, during what can be considered the "golden age of noise".
The Japanese noise act C.C.C.C. was formed in 1989 by Hiroshi Hasegawa and Japanese bondage film star Mayuko Hino and was active until 1998. On their first work , recorded at Telecom Studio in Higashi-Nakano, Tokyo on 1991 and released by Hasegawa’s own label Endorphine Factory  in CD format on 1992, there are four members; each playing a different instrument, to create their own unique sound.  Hiroshi Hasegawa  and Fumio Kosakai on electronics and synths, Ryuichi Nagakubo on bass and Mayuko Hino on vocals and metal percussion working together make for a diverse project that goes a way beyond the standard "electronic roar" that most noise artists rely on. The result is a startlingly visionary body of sound that stretches across this vinyl reissue, gathering intricate, noise ambiances and captured sonic fragments, deftly manipulated and infiltrated by electronic pulses and various other interventions, toward an immersive and cohesive sonic environment, that drowns the ear in sheets of detail. Bordering on an ecstatic sonic assault of the highest order, the work’s movements range from incredible arrangements of electronic noise and tonality to a stunning effort of synth, all constructed with an incredible sense of immediacy and physicality, making the album easily one of the most noteworthy and incredible recordings from C.C.C.C.
With Hidenobu Kaneda’s pictures from the photo session used for the original CD artwork  and Akifumi Nakajima's original notes on layout, Urashima created the perfect replica of the original artwork for the vinyl version; while the audio for vinyl master was taken from the original DAT audio and shared on a 12 inch and a 7 inch in a limited edition in just 299 copies. Some exclusive inserts and posters complete the reissue of this absolute gem from the vaults of '90s noise music and certainly  one of the most beautiful noise records any of us is likely to encounter all year: bristles with energy, physicality, and immediacy, representing a highwater mark from one of the most important noise collectives of the last 30 years. It isn't to be missed, and is bound to fly off the shelves.
Link in bio.

C.C.C.C. - Reticular Formation (from Cosmic Coincidence Control Center)

Merzbow came roaring onto the Tokyo scene in 1979. To this day, the project remains one of the most prolific and aggressively forward-thinking acts in experimental music. Initially a duo of Masami Akita and Kiyoshi Mizutani, before settling as the moniker of Akita alone, the project took its name from German artist Kurt Schwitters' pre-war architectural assemblage, The Cathedral of Erotic Misery or Merzbau, and quickly set out to challenge entrenched notions of what music could be. Embracing technology and the machine, even in its earliest iterations, Merzbow broke boundaries and pushed toward new territories of the extreme, arriving at an unadulterated manifestation of sonic expression that has continued across the last 44 years, setting the pace for the entire genre of noise along the way. 
When it comes to Japanese noise, few projects have pushed boundaries or risen to a more iconic status than Merzbow. The mutant child of punk and experimental music, the project’s blistering sounds - as singular and wild as they are unique - are among the movement’s most important, definitive statements, continuously laying the groundwork for countless artists who have followed in its wake. Cloud Cock OO Grand marks a new era for Merzbow, the first of many CDs that will go in the direction we’d see in the ’90s. It is also the first time that this seminal document from Merzbow’s '90s period has ever appeared on vinyl. Composed and performed on synthesizers, metal devices, noise electronics and string instruments, all recorded at extreme volumes, Cloud Cock OO Grand’s five tracks present an enthralling sonic assault, deeply driven by the presence of electronic sounds, played against the sparse interjections of Akita’s heavily processed strings, that push toward new territories of the extreme, while subtly nodding toward historical gestures from the early years of the avant-garde. On the double vinyl, release for the first time by Urashima, the tracks are not only remastered by Merzbow, but are recontextualized and open up a new sense of his studio experimentation at the time.

Merzbow -  Spinnozaamen (Another Mix) Excerpt (from Cloud Cock OO Grand)

Audio from upcoming Violent Onsen Geisha - Wagamama Na Ofukuro LP out on 24 March, 2023 - link in bio

In 1987, Nakahara Masaya founded the project Violent Onsen Geisha, which quickly became one of the most well-known and influential names in the Japanese noise music scene, distinctive among others for frequently displaying a bizarre, sarcastic, and mischievous sense of humor. The band's name, which translates to "violent hot springs geisha," is a reference to the traditional Japanese practice of hot spring bathing, as well as a nod to Nakahara's confrontational and irreverent approach to music. As Violent Onsen Geisha, he creates experimental music that blends elements of noise, industrial, and avant-garde styles. He is known for his use of unconventional instruments and sounds, including feedback loops, field recordings, appropriated or "found" music, in addition to (or even instead of) straight-ahead noise. As well as his work as a musician, Nakahara is also a prolific visual artist and writer. His artwork has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, and he has published several books on the subjects of art and music. He is known for his irreverent and humorous approach to art, which often subverts traditional Japanese imagery and cultural norms. Despite his underground status, Nakahara has been a highly influential figure in the Japanese art and music scenes for over three decades. His work has inspired countless musicians and artists both in Japan and around the world.
"Wagamama Na Ofukuro" is a super rare 1993 cassette release by Nakahara’s label “My Fiance's Lifework” . The title translates to "Selfish Mother" in English, and the tape is known for its confrontational and irreverent approach to music. It consists of handful of tracks that features a barrage of harsh noise, feedback, and distorted vocals. Despite its abrasive nature, there is a sense of humor and playfulness to the music, with artist incorporating samples of children's songs and nursery rhymes into the mix. Nakahara's use of unconventional instruments and sounds, as well as his willingness to push boundaries and challenge established norms, make this cassette a standout in the noise genre.
Violent Onsen Geisha's "Wagamama Na Ofukuro" has been reissued on vinyl for the first time in high-quality remaster of the original recording and comes in an inside-out sleeve featuring the original artwork by Nakahara Masaya with scattered collages added and includes a printed insert on felt-textured on both sides paper. Limited to just 299 copies, the reissue is a prime example of Violent Onsen Geisha's confrontational and irreverent approach to music, and the vinyl format allows for a deeper and more immersive listening experience. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to the world of noise or experimental music, this vinyl release is not to be missed.

VOG - Kyūshū Aishū Ryokō(from Wagamama Na Ofukuro )

Audio from upcoming C.C.C.C. - Reflexive Universe LP out on 24 March, 2023 - link in bio

C.C.C.C. (Cosmic Coincidence Control Center) is a legendary Japanese noise music collective that was founded in Tokyo in 1989. The group originally had four members - Mayuko Hino, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Fumio Kosakai, and Ryuichi Nagakubo - who are known for their unique approach to noise music, and quickly gained a reputation for their intense and chaotic live performances. The group's sound is characterized by its use of high-volume, distorted noise, feedback, and electronics, as well as their incorporation of unconventional instruments and objects. Beyond their music, members of C.C.C.C. has also been involved in a variety of artistic endeavors, including film, performance and installation art.
C.C.C.C.'s "Reflexive Universe" cassette, released on the Japanese label Vanilla Records in 1991, is a must-have for fans of Japanese noise music. The cassette features one track intense and immersive noise, showcasing the group's unique approach to sound and experimentation. The album is a 23-minute epic that builds from a fast, almost hypersonic opening to a wall of noise that seems to encompass the entire universe. Recorded live at Maya in Kobe on September 15th, 1991 only with two members performing - Mayuko Hino at electronics and voice  plus Hiroshi Hasegawa at synthesizer and electronics. The performance is a testament to the group's innovative and boundary-pushing approach to sound, and a reminder of the enduring power of noise music as an art form and Vanilla Records label has done an excellent job of capturing the raw and visceral sound of the group's live performance.
Reissue for the first time in vinyl in a limited edition of 199 copies with added an amazing live performance on other side, recorded one month before Reflexive Universe at Donzoko House in Kyoto with all four member. The vinyl is housed in a deluxe sleeve with a glossy finish using original pictures  by Hidenobu Kaneda and an insert with a photo of the band performing live. Whether you're a longtime fan of C.C.C.C. or a newcomer to their unique brand of noise music, this vinyl reissue of Reflexive Universe is an essential addition to any record collection.

C.C.C.C. - Reflexive Universe Excerpt (from Reflexive Universe)

VA 'Noise Forest' CD / 2LP / Ltd 2LP

A classic compilation that emanated out of Osaka, "Noise Forest" brings together a powerhouse of early 90's Japanese noise stalwarts: MERZBOW, C.C.C.C., SOLMANIA, DISLOCATION, MONDE BRUITS, MASONNA, VIOLENT ONSEN GEISHA, and INCAPACITANTS. 

The ultimate Japanoise collection, originally released in 1992 on the cult Les Disques Du Soleil label / record store on CD-only, and now impossible to find. Remastered and presented here on deluxe 2LP in matt-laminate gatefold sleeve (first time on vinyl) and new CD edition, all with new artwork.

A forest isn't something normally associated with noise; it brings to mind silence and solitude. However, the ominous cover art here - and the artists within - bring to mind the notorious suicide forest Aokigahara. Despite all tracks falling into the Japanoise genre, the tracks are very diverse, yet every track is so distinct it could only be by that artist.

"One of the most unique and stand-out noise comps of the 90's". For mini-reviews of each track, please visit the release pages, or listen to Noisextra's 'Noise Forest' special: https://www.noisextra.com/2024/01/10/various-artists-noise-forest.

OUT 6th DECEMBER 2024:
 
• CD in matt-laminate digipak.
https://coldspring.co.uk/csr340cd

• 2LP Black in matt-laminate gatefold sleeve.
https://coldspring.co.uk/csr340lp

• 2LP Forest Green in matt-laminate gatefold sleeve. Ltd 250 copies.
https://coldspring.co.uk/csr340lp-green

https://coldspring.bandcamp.com/album/noise-forest-csr340cd-lp

Listen: https://soundcloud.com/coldspring/sets/noise-forest

Digital: https://orcd.co/csr340cd

INCAPACITANTS - Automatic Loss Cut

Merzbow - Untitled Extract (from Lowest Music.2 LP)

Merzbow B - 1 Extract (from Remblandt Assemblage Double LP)

A track about femininity.
Image source: Omoide Emanon

Released on Trans Visibility Day: to all my trans/gnc siblings.

validation pyre

Noisevember

Finally, we can rest (for Eva)

Incapacitants are the best noise band to ever come out of Japan. The group was formed in 1981 in Osaka, as the solo project of Toshiji Mikawa, a member of the amazing noise group Hijokaidan. Mikawa, a bank employee, later moved to Tokyo, where he joined with government office worker  Fumio Kosakai (also an occasional member of Hijokaidan, as well as a former member of C.C.C.C.) to make Incapacitants a duo. Toshiji Mikawa and Fumio Kosakai are no ordinary salarymen, though. They've been making some of the most unremittingly ear-shattering racket for decades as Incapacitants, one of the most significant noise outfits to emerge from the groundbreaking Japanese scene in the early 1980s, and still one of the most radical and powerful. They've consistently been responsible for some of the most complex, chaotic, loud, and downright fun releases in the genre. 
The holy grail comes with “I, Residuum” , a devastating release from 1997, whose sound is particularly impressive, painfully dense and full of detail – there's very little air to breathe here. It's basically an Incapacitants all-in-one featuring the trademark frenzy, exciting psychedelics and sonic bulldoze, all sounding crystal clear.  Just pure, unadulterated electronic distortion of the highest quality done by two of the masters who have ever turned the knob on a distortion pedal that is fun, terrifying, hypnotic and fascinating all at the same time; their noise takes root not in violence or gimmickry, but in pure energy. Incapacitants create inexhaustible chaos verging on the sublime, and take you on a truly excruciating journey toward catharsis. This is truly the spirit of noise:  no macho posturing, no pseudo-intellectualism, no "rocking out," no pretense!
Reissued for the first time in vinyl, the record has been pressed on 140 gr black vinyl with black label and black inner sleeve and comes in a deluxe silver silkscreen on black cardboard sleeve in 199 copies. 
Perfect to make your head explode, which is what you were looking for in the first place after all.

Incapacitants - Part 1 Extract (from I,Residuum LP)

Even rawer harsh noise with my <3 Laura !

Untitled 29 - 12 - 18 (w/ Laura Knox)

DJ Ginseng

Insect zombie queen

Naked baboon psycho trill

Freezeray freedom

Outtake from The Apple of Every Eye part2

Unreleased Tracks

Unrelenting Dread (W/ Muddy Lawrence)

TL024 Endometrium Cuntplow

Excerpt track off from an upcoming soundtrack-inspired release. Cut up harsh noise meets Phillip Glass.

Soul Murder

the victim of Cthulhu is brain-crushed; brains are crushed and Cthulhu will not humbly despise. bless, Cthulhu, with thy favor yuggoth, and let the walls of r'lyeh be built.


noise and weird

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