Boredoms - Vision Creation Newsun (1999)

 

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This has to be the most accessible Boredoms record that I have heard so far. Often, EYヨ and company can reach way our far. Sometimes catching small pieces of heaven and showing us what it sounds like. Other times they reach a bit further and try to break our eardrums. This album is moving away from some of the harsher noise, and more into tribal, psychedelia, freakout music. It's sometimes even meditative. This album sounds exceptionally great in my headphones, while laying in the grass at the park.

Vision Creation Newsun

Yellow Machinegun - Father's Golden Fish (1996)

 

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I've been really enjoying the thrashy-punk madness this record offers. It's unapologetic and in your face loud, which is what my brain has been demanding of late. I chalk it up to being indoors too long, due to shitty weather and the like. A lack of sunshine can make you an asshole, or at least that's the excuse I'm using. So take this for a walk around the block a few forty times.  

Father's Golden Fish

Boris - W (2022)

 

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The latest effort from one of Japan’s best experimental trios. This is a much welcome change from all the doomy shit I’ve been pumping into my head. This release differs only slightly from the Boris repertoire, mixing moody ambient guitar textures and featuring the beautiful, albeit almost lost in the mix at times, vocals of Wata. There’s still elements of Boris’s trademark heaviness, however it’s subtle, and appropriate. This is such a beautiful record. 

W

ANMA - Limbus (2020)

 

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Another gem brought to you by Andreas. This time not released on tape but instead fully digital. This collection is ANMA's concept of limbo, or that space between heaven and hell. The tracks are longish and sparse and you can definitely feel the lost floating nothingness, that eventually drifts into what I can only explain as an electronic heartbeat. This collection takes some time to digest, but eventually will wash over you. As previously mentioned, the best time for ANMA is early morning, or late evening, for me. This time I've traded the rain for snow. Have fun with this set. 

Limbus

Synth Sisters & Nikmis - Synth Sisters & Nikmis (2019)

 

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Collected here is another wonderful set of music from Muzan Editions 2019 Winter release. This tape has a much different vibe then the 2 previous collections, in that it has melody and sound structure as opposed to lush flowing ambiance and droning. 

Side A is 2 beautiful  EDM-esque tracks by the Synth Sisters. Track 1 features a wall of sound driven by a slight heartbeat sound. It reminds me of what it must've sounded like when Roy finally got on the ship and they blasted off into space. All the colors and sounds and vibrations. Disassociated voices floating in and out of his unconscious mind. This means something. 

Track 2 very much keeps to the same theme. Floating carelessly in space. There's huge walls of sound that are complimented by ping-ponging pads that bounce all over your head. This is definitely the part in Roy's trip when he's suspended in deep sleep for the big jump back home to the 3rd Kind's planet. 

Side B starts off with Nikmis creating some big ass mind opening swells that lull the listener into a false sense of calm, before taking off into a bouncing, almost Nintendo soundtrack vibe. This is the last and final stop for our hero Roy. He's reached the planet. He's wondering if he made the right choice leaving all of his friends and family behind. 

As previously mentioned, Muzan is offering this collection and many others on their bandcamp for a name you price fee. Head over there and spend some of those coins you've collected on this trip. 

Synth Sisters & Nikmis

Ghost - Second Time Around (1992)

 

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I feel that the cover for Ghost's sophomore release captures the serenity of this recording, perfectly. There's still some beautiful freak-outs, but the overall vibe is calmer and more collected, in my opinion. Considering their debut to the world began with Batoh screaming at the top of his lungs, Second Time Around sweetly guides you in before they blast off. 

They used quite the collection of instruments for this record. Some of the more advanced listed are, 'Holy Talking', 'Sympathy', and my favorite instrument of all, which is clearly noticeable through the whole record, 'Smile'. Not to mention the 'some nameless bells and stones' that the whole band took part in playing. I really like the growth with this set. Click below and chill. 

Second Time Around

Cheekbone & Hirotaka Shirotsubaki - Cheekbone & Hirotaka Shirotsubaki (2019)

 

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Let's end the month with another beautiful collection of ambient drones brought to you by Muzan Editions. There must be a certain level of chill an artist has exude, and I imagine they'll need to have a permanent relaxed disposition and a slight grin at all times. That's exactly how I feel whenever I listen to anything from this label. 

Featured in this collection, Cheekbone starts Side A with 4 super lush, slow burning vibes that remind me of spring rain, delicious milky tea lattes, and light jacketed walks through the woods with my Wife. It's a collection of nice droning tunes with what I imagine are a bunch of perfectly times windchimes caught in an ever-warming breeze. This shit is beautiful.

Side B continues with Hirotaka Shirotsubaki 3 track run of how I feel Sunday mornings are supposed to sound. A slow-building wall of sound that is gently guiding the sun to rise, warning us basic ass 9-5er's that tomorrow we start this shit all over again, but we might as well enjoy today to the fullest. If you're into American Football, today is also the day that you [or in my case, my wife] screams mercilessly at the television for like 6 hours. Oh, the insults are incredible. 

As previously mentioned, Muzan is offering this collection and many others on their bandcamp for a name you price fee. If you're feeling it, give them some of your coins you greedy bastards.  

Cheekbone & Hirotaka Shirotsubaki 

Terumasa Hino ‎– Journey To Air (1970)

 

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Side A [Journey To Air 1] resembles a massive traffic jam at midday, during the summer. Everyone is in a hurry, honking their horns, edging slightly forward, almost dangerously too close to the car in front of them. This of course is causing even more panic, followed by more honking. This is complete and total chaos. That's exactly what Side A sounds like to me. 

Side B [Journey To Air 2] starts kind of sparse, fusionesque and definitely more laid back. It's a welcome relief from the absolute madness of the first track. It does pick up, but not nearly as aggressive. There's a bit more rhythm, and the instruments are much easier to separate. It's quite the sonic workout. I'm honestly not too familiar with Hino's work, but I hope to change that in the months to come. Here's the ticket, now take that trip.

Journey to Air

Standard Grey & km: (2019)

 

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Muzan Editions has been releasing a series of amazing drone/ambient albums for the better half of 4 years now. This collection presents 4 beautiful tracks, originally released on a 100 tape run in the winter of 2019. Side A features Standard Grey’s 25 minute mind-melting trip that helps dissolve any problem you thought you were experiencing. Side B shows km:’s scattered brained 3 track noise experiments, that further help you to forget those troubles.

There were a number of tapes released during the winter of 2019 that are all worth mentioning, and will eventually make their way here. The collection has long since been sold out, and it’s easy to see why. Their bandcamp does offer a name your price, so if you’re feeling the tracks go on and slide over there and check the label out. It’s well worth the time for lovers of ambient/drone.

Standard Grey / km:

Ghost - Ghost (1990)

 

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Keeping in tune with yesterday's post, I'd like to introduce those of you whom haven't had the pleasure of experiencing Japan's Ghost just yet. What a great trip you will have with this record. Freak-outs, into meditative chanting, into free jazz explorations, into fuzzed-out psych, this record has it all. Their history is just as interesting. Performing in Buddhist temples, to squatting in abandoned train stations in Tokyo, Ghost seems to move through time at their own will. I enjoyed this record the most during  late-night listens. 

Ghost

Ryuichi Sakamoto - Thousand Knives (of) (1978)

 

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Here be Sakamoto's debut, right before his career with YMO exploded. Speaking of, Sakamoto has had one of the most interesting careers, to date. He's credited as the Godfather of Techno & Hip-Hop, an Olympic opening composer, and even worked with some big name pop stars, like David Sylvian, Fennesz, and even acted alongside David Bowie, just to name a few. Here on Sakamoto's debut [styled Thousand Knives, Thousand Knives of, and 千のナイ] he shows his absolute love for all things moog. It feels a little dated at times, but still so refreshing. The guitar work all over this album is amazing. Give it a whirl. 

Thousand Knives (of)

ANMA - Kitahama Ghosts (2019)

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This recording is full of white noise, mixed with big atmospheres, dissonance and empty spaces. This was released on cassette and I am really into the tape revival. I think there's something romantic about it. The more you listen, the better the chances are at stretching the tape and creating a whole different experience, or just reducing it to total shit, it all depends I guess. 

I remember as a kid saving up $18.00 and visiting our local Goldblatts with my Aunt to buy my first Walkman. I was so stoked. I dubbed over weirdo sound collages on any cassette I could get my hands on. Take the advice on the cover and listen during a rain storm. It's beautiful. 

Kitahama Ghosts