Archive for the japanese Category

Suicide- Celebration 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1985, goth, goth-rock, japan, japanese, post-punk, suicide on January 22, 2015 by Frankie Teardrop

Welcome to 2015! A bit of a slow start here, but I’m slowly ripping a lot of things I’ve acquired over the past few weeks, with plenty of great stuff to go around for a while. So with that in mind, thanks as always for visiting, and I hope to keep your ears happy in 2015.

Despite the fact that the title of this post reads like a twisted self-help book, what we have here is an excellent and uncelebrated post-punk/goth 7” from Japan, released on Captain Records in 1985.  I unearthed this gem at a record fair in Brooklyn, listening to only a few seconds of each track on what looked like a Fischer Price turntable, and immediately it ticked all the right boxes. Chorus-drenched bass, big guitar hooks, and driving, but melancholy melodies across three tracks. This is the last of three 7”s from this band, and from my understanding, this one leans more towards the goth side of the spectrum, while the first two appear to be more straightforward anthemic punk.

This one should definitely appear to fans of Blitz, Christian Death, Lost Loved Ones, and any other driving and/or big-minded goth bands. Here’s the info:

Suicide- Celebration 7”
1. Celebration
2. Last Decide
3. Darkness

*download it here*

7 Comments »

Madame Edwarda- Illuminé K7

Posted in 1980s, 1986, goth, goth-rock, japan, japanese, post-punk on June 2, 2014 by Frankie Teardrop

Happy Monday, folks!  Here’s a generous donation of a very special Japanese cassette, courtesy of Elias, who runs an excellent Facebook page on the Japanese goth movement.  Until now, I hadn’t heard much about Madame Edwarda, just some passing familiarity with the name, but I’m psyched to offer this release from 1986.  Fans of Japanese post-punk/goth bands such as G-Schmitt and D-Day should find lots to love here.

This is one of five releases from Madame Edwarda, a four piece band who, even at first glance, seemed very influenced by The Damned, Bauhaus, etc.  The band formed in 1980 and took their name from a Georges Bataille’s novel of the same name. Their earlier releases are more straightforward goth-rock affairs, while this cassette combines those influences with an experimental, almost neo-classical approach (see also In the Nursery for a suitable reference point).  There are several killer goth tunes here, including “Honey,” “La Nuit,” and “Marionette,” while other tracks are a bit more esoteric, mixing carnival-esque melodies, synth choir patches, and what sounds like cellos from time to time (though may very well be synth patches as well).  All in all, it’s an incredibly interesting listen from front to back.

The cassette box itself is a rather curious affair, with a larger box and book with rather intricate designs inspired by Aubrey Beardsley and Art Nouveau designs, which more or less sets the stage for the aural treats on this tape.

Ps- for anyone looking to hear their other releases, Elias has provided me a few links to share as well… They aren’t his own, nor mine, but if anyone would like to hear more and can’t find them elsewhere, please leave a note and I’ll upload them soon.  That said, you can still get a copy of the Lorelei 12” from the band’s official site.  With that in mind, here’s the information for this excellent cassette, with embedded English translations courtesy of Elias as well!

Madame Edwarda- Illuminé K7
1. 混声合唱 (Mixed Choir)
2. Carnival
3. 夜間飛行 (Night Flight)
4. 夜想曲～ノクターン～ (Nocturne)
5. 幻惑 (Enchanting)
6. 回転木馬～メリーゴーラウンド～ (Carousel～Merry-Go-Round～)
7. 青い悪魔 (Blue Devil)
8. 大観覧車 (Ferris Wheel)
9. サーカス (Circus)
10. 恋歌～ロマンス～ (Love Song～Romance～)
11. Le Château
12. Honey
13. コクトーの剣 (Sword of Cocteau)
14. Marionette
15. La Nuit
16. 夢想 (Reverie)
17. Emeralde

*download it here*

3 Comments »

Harumi Shimada- Yakō Shōnen 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1984, after the sludge, harumi shimada, japan, japanese, masahiro sugawara, minimal, minimal synth, new wave on March 27, 2013 by Frankie Teardrop

Another quick and dirty post here, an excellent 7” from Japan, released in 1984 via Forecast Records. According to the discogs entry, this 7” was written by Masahiro Sugawara, who was also involved in After the Sludge.  Harumi was just one of six people who performed on this 7”, which features an excellent mid-tempo minimal synth track.  The B-side appears to be a bizarre dub version of the track which weaves in and out of coherence and descends into chaos over the course of 5 minutes.  Safe to assume that the B-side is the English translation of Yakō Shōnen.

I have plenty of excellent coldwave on the back burner, but it’s been a long time since we’ve had a bona fide minimal synth rarity, so have at it!

Harumi Shimada- Yakō Shōnen 7”
1. Yakō Shōnen
2. Midnight Boy

*download it here*

4 Comments »

Diastereomer- Mothersun 7”

Posted in 1989, darkwave, diastereomer, japan, japanese, minimal synth, new wave, puppets records, sect commune, synth, synthpop on December 19, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

This will likely be my last post until after the holidays, so why not end this year (my fifth) with an extremely rare and extremely top shelf 7” from Japan!

I first discovered this Japanese duo through a Youtube clip, and have been playing their tracks almost nonstop at the weekly Wierd records party ever since. This particular 7” dates back to 1989 and was released on Puppets records, a private press label that was also home to Sect Commune, co-producer of this gem. High school friends Yoshio Fukumitsu and Katsuya Shoman took turns singing on these tracks (Fukumitsu sang and contributed lyrics to the A-side, while Shoman wrote the music to both tracks and is responsible for the vocals and lyrics of the flip). Both played synths, with Fukumitsu also contributing bass and Shoman on piano.

Fans of Xymox, Depeche Mode, OMD, and various darkwave legends both big and small will find lots to love on this record. Many thanks to Katsuya Shoman for the extra info and generous permission to upload these for you all to enjoy!

Diastereomer- Mothersun 7”
1. Mothersun
2. Place

*DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED* – check out the new Ignition Advancer LP, which collects these tracks as well as a few unreleased gems from the band, via Bitter Lake Recordings.

While I’m here, I just wanted to thank everyone for the wave of support over the years. This blog wouldn’t exist without the camaraderie and interaction of friends, fans, and the musicians who have chimed in with their support and kindness. See you all in 2012!

8 Comments »

Excentrique Noiz- Matt Crescent LP

Posted in 1980s, 1986, coldwave, darkwave, excentrique noiz, japan, japanese, post-punk on August 22, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

At long last, here we have the full length LP from Japan’s Excentrique Noiz, which I must say, does not disappoint. Six killer tracks here, very reminiscent of the 7” released a year earlier. Click here to grab that one, in case you missed it previously. Just missing their very first 7” and a compilation track! Get their s/t flexi here via Habit of Sex! Many thanks again!

It’s prudent to mention that there are female vocals on the title track, courtesy of Syoko, the lead vocalist of G-Schmitt, another killer Japanese post-punk band worth many, many listens.

Excentrique Noiz- Matt Crescent LP
1. Moonlight
2. Fluorescent Dream
3. All That Place
4. Still In My Heart
5. Time To Lose
6. Matt Crescent

*download it here*

7 Comments »

Excentrique Noiz- Dark Crystal Day 7”

Posted in 1980s, 1986, coldwave, darkwave, excentrique noiz, japan, japanese, post-punk on July 14, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

I keep forgetting to post this one. A recent favorite, you may recall seeing these guys on the Systems of Romance vol. 1 compilation. A rare Japanese darkwave entry, Excentrique Noiz released two 7”s and a full length LP before calling it a day. Here we have their second 7” from 1986.

Obvious touchstones here include Clan of Xymox and Danse Society on the A-side, while the flip is a fantastic piece of post-punk/coldwave. A strange stylistic shift halfway through the song, but still an awesome tune. Here’s the info:

Excentrique Noiz- Dark Crystal Day 7”
1. Dark Crystal Day
2. In Dis Tree

*download it here* (RE-RIPPED 6.4.13)

7 Comments »

Takumi- Meat the Beat LP

Posted in 1980s, 1983, japan, japanese, minimal synth, new wave on February 22, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

It seems as if Japan is one of the last vestiges of rare synth music, with many more hidden gems yet to be discovered. With that in mind, here’s an LP from 1983. Not a lot of info to be found on this one, but you can expect some great minimal synth-tinged tunes here, some with lyrics in English, and some more experimental and quirky than others. Other tracks, like “Mein Schatz,” are perfect for the dancefloor. For me the album really rolls up its sleeves and gets serious during the second half, but your mileage may vary.

There also exists a 12” for Fragments of Time, released around the same time. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for that one, but in the interim, here’s the information for this little gem:

Takumi- Meat the Beat LP
1. Hauch Von Mir
2. Snapshot
3. Tokyoite
4. In The Ordinary Way
5. Reproduced Functionalist
6. A Cloudy Sky In My Yard
7. Myron
8. Days of Romance
9. Dear Dori
10. Mein Schatz
11. Wave Over And

*download it here*

7 Comments »