Various Artists - Musique Du Jouet

Label : Novel Cell Poem - NCP-010

Country : Japan

Year : 2001

Format : CD

I am still alive and I have seen the comments. Somehow I missed some Google security update wrt Google Drive download links, even had a deadline. Hopefully I can fix this without much trouble, but perhaps this early Christmas present can tide you over. Before yuletide sets in, that is.

This is one CD I've had my eyes on for awhile, never really finding the right Discogs seller or Japanese auction to snipe. Until now, that is. I've laid clear my huge interest in Toypop scene in the past, both through posts on this very blog and lists on another. This CD is a good showcase of the variety of sounds produced in this cross-continent yet seemingly tiny movement, and it makes for a good collected companion to the sort of "thrown-against-the-wall" nature of my playlist. 

As for now, "musique du jouet" still languishes in a sort of obscurity that I hope changes in the future. If only a little bit of exposure, it's a beautiful and rich assortment of sounds for anyone willing to lend an ear. At this point I oughtta write a book on it.

Click the CD

Various Artists - Cruel Beasts

Label : Maboroshi no Sekai - B...018

Country : Japan

Year : 1994

Format : C45

Something special for your Sunday. I'd like to think this is rare, but for all I know this could be shelf fodder in its homeland. This is an early release on the very cool Maboroshi no Sekai label which produced similar albums of this sonic ilk throughout its continued existence. The sounds presented here are of a diverse type all deriving from that all encompassing "experimental" umbrella. Some tracks branch off from the textures sprouted forth from bands such as the Boredoms and the Ruins, the spectrum of noisy mayhem and technically proficient chaos.

One may recognize some of the names here, with Japanese underground luminaries like Otomo Yoshihide, Koichi Makigami, and Seiichi Yamamoto making an appearance and also one of my favorite groups from that very subterranean artspace, Harpy. In fact, Harpy's percussionist itoken is the one who chose these artists for this tape. You may recognize him from my Zuppa di Pesce posts awhile back, I really respect his work. Some bands included are avant-proggers Soh Band and psych-noisters Children Coup D'Etat, who turn in some impressive performances. A band I don't recognize is Piranezi, jazzy noise rock for busted eardrums. Lots of unheard tracks here, don't miss it.

Here

Lossless, so don't lose out!

Zuppa Di Pesce - Colazione

Label : Compare Notes - CN-0010

Country : Japan

Year : 2006

Format: CD

Strange tidings from a different sea. Changes of eye/ear level abound in this circus cavalcade of fine dining (Italian) errors. Itoken is a guy who has been involved in a lot of music of which I quite enjoy, whether in the phenomenal Harpy or the beautiful musings of Win A Sheep Free (Both of these bands along with Itoken's solo works appear in the soundtrack of Mecha game Phantom Crash, oddly enough) and with Toshokan, which may come soon on this very blog.

Listening to Itoken's music, one can place his sound down pretty well. Using toy instruments, especially percussive ones, to create unique avantpop pieces, not unlike fellow toypopper Klimperei. Zuppa di Pesce is slightly different, however, as shown by the previous post showcasing this wondrous group. The sound here goes for more of a synthetic brass-band sonic injection, as opposed to the sparse arrangements found on his other projects. Still great, though. Those illustrations alone are worth the price of admission.

Here

Can't believe I forgot to mkrasna for sending me this exquisite amalgamation, but that he did.

Zuppa Di Pesce - Cicoria / Zucchinie Trifolate

Label : Enban - PC-2

Year : 2009

Country : Japan

Format : 7 inch

Here's a recent item from my own collection. Itoken is a rather prolific musician in the Japanese vanguard, codifying the sounds of some great groups like Harpy and Win A Sheep Free. This project is not so different from those of his past, keeping the avant-garde inclinations and nostalgic enterprises into children's music, only this time it's aiming for a cuisine-themed concept with a brass sidedish. Enban seems to be an obscure little epicentre of the Japanese style of Avant-pop that has sprung about the turn of the century or so, hosting the aforementioned Itoken and the likes of Jon.

As mentioned above, this is a food centered little slab. The titles of both tracks reference Italian dishes and even includes a nice little Italian excursion which probably talks about the foods if I knew a lick of it (see above). They actually have a CD out with the same concept, if anyone has it and is willing to share I'm all ears.

Here