Videos of the Week 9/20/09

Hondalady "In A Model Room"


Found this one posted on Omodaka's site. Looks like he's doing a DJ set at an event with Hondalady. Anyway, this is a nice and simple video from Hondalady. I'm not sure what it has to do with P-Model's album In A Model Room though. ^__^

Hit the jump for more!


Polysics "Computer Obaachan"


Polysics has a new album out (hint: review coming soon!). This is not on that album, but it was on the DVD that came with one of its singles (which I reviewed here). It's a cover of an old children's song called "Computer Obaachan." The single is well worth the price, even if just for this one rare live track. Super cute!

Maximum the Hormone "Tsume Tsume Tsume"


This is a bit of a random pick, but it is still the newest song from Maximum the Hormone. They've been taking time off so that one of their singers can get some rest and recovery from some throat problems. I can't wait to hear some new stuff from them. Oh, and this video is a bit weird. Sort of makes me think of Silent Hill...

Adachi Tomomi Royal Chorus "Yumiko" (Italian version "Romeo")


I don't know why I thought to look up Adachi Tomomi, but I'm glad I did. There are actually a few new videos up, like this one. It's an Italian group doing a version of Tomomi's "Yumiko," renaming it "Romeo." I was skeptical at first, but I think they actually managed to make it even more awesome.

Weeble "Restroom"


And, of course, it would not be a post on the Internet this week without at least a little timely Kanye West humor. Can this be over now please? Thanks!

Adachi Tomomi / Adachi Tomomi Royal Chorus

Adachi Tomomi is an avant-garde/experimental artist who uses his voice along with a few electronics and self-made instruments to create his art. Like many other experimental/noise artists (see: Merzbow) Tomomi uses homemade sound generators to produce his unique brand of sounds. Unlike many of them, Tomomi also uses his voice to generate the signal. This is then filtered through a hodge-podge of gizmos that turn it into otherworldly sounds. These include wearable devices like shirts and gloves as well as very small kits made out of Tupperware that have bits of raw wire sticking out that can be “played” by touch. He's made several art gallery installations featuring a variety of his strange yet playful sound generating toys.

1997 saw his first performance as Adachi Tomomi Royal Chorus, formed with a few other non-musicians and non-traditional musicians. It truly is a chorus, using nothing other than their voices as instruments. As Tomomi explains it, there is no actual harmony or set musical pitch to the pieces. The members simply play off of the natural tones of the other performers. At first listen it might seem like a chaotic swirl of staccato "ah" and "nu" types of utterances, but eventually words and patterns form out of the stuttering rhythms. The styles range from angry and frenetic to soothing and almost playful. From a round of rapid-fire screams and shouts (think "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" in hell) to soft, eerie passages fit for only the most terrifying of survival horror video-games. If Fantomas and Rockepella got into a fight, this would be its soundtrack.

Adachi Tomomi Royal Chorus has released two full-length albums. Their first, nu (2001) is a collection of songs written by Tomomi and several other members of the chorus. With 2003's YO Tomomoi took over all the writing duties as well as production. The album even caught the attention of avant-garde godfather John Zorn who was involved as executive producer. The albums are extremely stark yet very organic, which shouldn't be surprising considering the free-form vocal approach. From the warm undertones to the ear piercing high end stabs, the songs range from calm burbling streams to violent vocal firestorms. Certainly not something you'd want playing in the background of your next high society dinner-party, but maybe useful in chasing away those unwanted door-to-door salesman.

Yumiko




Official Site

Members
ADACHI Tomomi with EGAWA Risa, FUKUNAGA Ayako, IWATA Chikako, UNAMI Taku, HIRATA Yuji, FURUSAWA Takeshi, FUKUI Tomoko

Releases
nu - 2001
YO - 2003

Voice and Infrared Sensor Shirt


Tomomin Synthesizer II


Two Snails and One Pig

Koenjihyakkei

"I'm probably going out on a limb here, but from my vantage point, this is not only the most brilliant of all of contemporary Japanese bands, but perhaps the greatest group currently operating in the world." -Alternative Press

Yes.

Well OK, best band in the world might be pushing it a bit, but if you're grading based on intensity, musicality, prowess and sheer weight of sound, then Koenjihyakkei is definitely one of the best bands out there.

If Fantomas, Ex-Girl, John Zorn and Godzilla were all battling at the end of the world, than you might get close to the sound of Koenjihyakkei. They are first and foremost an avant-garde, progressive, jazz/rock/choir fusion band. There isn't a straight time signature to be found for miles, and the concept of verses and choruses have been thrown right out the window. Instead, Koenjihyakkei focus on an ever evolving wall of voices and massive drums, conjuring up the aforementioned epic space battles on the edge of an erupting volcano. The most distinguishing features have to be the operatic vocals sung by just about everyone in the band. In that respect they are a lot like Adachi Tomomi Royal Chorus, only with a furious band full of synths, bass and drums behind them.

The official genre-fication of Koenjihyakkei is called zeuhl. While Wikipedia has a full explanation, it's summed up simply (in my opinion) as intense prog-rock with made up words. Drummer, vocalist and founder Yoshida Tatsuya is part of another zeuhl band called Ruins, which gets its major influence in the ur zeuhl band, Magma.

While the following videos are awesome, they don't compare to the utter heaviness of the albums.

Grassttrumm (live)




Official Site
Unofficial MySpace

Members
Yoshida Tatsuya: drums, vocals
Sakamoto Kengo: bass & voice
Kanazawa Miyako: keyboards & voice
Yamamoto Kyoko: vocals
Komori Keiko: reeds & voice

Major Releases
Hundred Sights of Koenji - 1994
II - 1997
Nivraym - 2001
Angherr Shisspa - 2005

Mederro Passquirr (live)


Rattims Friezz (fan-vid)


Rattims Friezz (live)


Axall Hasck (live)


Live at WFMU