This post originally was intended to take a look at pioneering Japanese noise act Hijokaidan’s new record, “Keniten (乾為天)”. Released via label Reveal, the studio recording album serves to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band. It’s a great new record, so I’ll speak on it a little, but I stumbled on something even better … Continue reading Hijokaidan’s Strangest Record in 40 Years of Noise →

Loss, simply put, is a multifaceted concept. The loss of one thing or one person can serve as a trigger for the realization of an even greater loss. Such is the case on “Komachi”. Released by Hiroshima-based producer Daisuke Fujita under his alias Meitei earlier this year in March via Métron Records, “Komachi” follows up … Continue reading The Lost Japanese Mood of Meitei’s “Komachi” →

After a post I wrote last week about Daisuke Tobari, an outsider folk singer from Japan whom I compared to Jandek, I did some more digging. It turns out I’m pretty alone in that thought. It appears that a lot more, (at least relatively), people make the Jandek comparison in reference to Kengo Iuchi, a … Continue reading The Desperation of Kengo Iuchi →

When attempting to speak on any issue related to a military conflict, even as trivial as related music, there’s a lot of context that’s needed. In 500 to 750 words, there’s no way I could possibly delve into causes and effects of Vietnam War with the proper level of detail, so if you think you … Continue reading Liberation Music of North Vietnam →

Since 1978, a man who might be named Sterling R. Smith has released nearly 100 albums as Jandek. Images of the man, only confirmed to be him when he began playing shows in 2004, graced the cover of many Jandek releases. Jandek performing in 2007(via Wikimedia Commons) The enigmatic Houston-based project occasionally features other musicians … Continue reading Daisuke Tobari, Japan’s Jandek →

If you’re interested in harsh noise at all, there’s a pretty good chance the first artist you heard was Japanese. Mine was. Merzbow, the act easily most synonymous the with genre, is Japanese. Other seminal figures like Hijokaidan, Incapacitants, and Masonna all hail from the country. Masami Akita performing as Merzbow(via Creative Commons Japanese artists … Continue reading Is “Japanoise” a Real Genre? →

For a genre with such an interesting past, molam doesn’t get enough coverage. While it’s had a minuscule boost in Western popularity over the last few years, molam deserves far more acclaim. The genre, originating in Laos and Thailand’s northeastern Isan region, developed in the 17th century as a mixture indigenous music from countries including … Continue reading Molam 2000: Southeast Asia’s Psychedelic Folk in the New Millennium →

“Xièxie” marks the 100th release by Tokyo-based, American-born musician, writer, and photographer William Long under the name Celer. Between Celer and his three other projects, Long has released over 200 albums. Celer - Xièxie (via Two Acorns) This album exists as an expressionist take on Long’s 2017 trip to China. As he describes in a … Continue reading An Ode to Isolation on Celer’s “Xièxie” →

Indonesian President Sukarno banned rock ‘n’ roll in 1961. He wanted the country, less than two decades independent of Dutch imperial rule, to remove outside cultural influences. Sukarno had a particular hatred for The Beatles, ordering their albums to be burned along with literature, films, and other music from the West. He had Indonesian bands, … Continue reading Jaipongan: The Most Traditional Pop in the World →

To a lot of Westerners, perhaps Americans the most, throat singing is something of a joke. It’s so strange and alien relative to the music we typically consume, it can be easy to think about is as something less than music. Throat singing, a type of singing in which resonance is manipulated as air travels … Continue reading A Beginner’s Guide to Tuvan Throat Singing →