Japan
Fabulous, catchy bedroom rock music, a real classic of Japanese home taping. Tadashi “Usui” Aioi also recorded many improvised tapes as well, mainly with guitar. he also had a project called Balloon Kids.
This is also some excellent bedroom rock. Guitar, drums and strange vocals abound. A very fun ride by an artist I only heard on this one cassette.
The inimitable Naofumi Ishimaru is Yximalloo. One of the real outsider artists, Yximalloo produced many tapes of lo fi insanity and genuine creativity. This is not easy listening but it isn’t also just noise. This inhabits a very intriguing space.
Tatsuya Nakatani is a percussion master who migrated to the US to live a few years ago. He still tours and records with his huge arsenal of percussion instruments. He is also a very sympathetic collaborator in improvisational settings.
Loud bashing, distorted guitars, screamed vocals add up to a bizarre, unqiuely Japanese experience by Okaniwa Fumihiro. He had a couple of other tapes with his group Laser 7.
Another fine improvisation tape from Tatsuya Nakatani. This time he teamed up with Vic Rawlings for a lovely and atmospheric exploration of natural space. This one came out in 1999.
The madness that was ( and is ) Nao Ishimaru is exemplified majestically on this 1982 cassette. No one sounds like him that’s for sure.
A 1990 release by Tadashi “Usui “ Aioi. A solo tape of guitar wailing and thrashing with some vocals as well. Aioi was a unique artist working in group and solo situations that could be pop or avant garde.
Two tapes by Okaniwa Fumihiro. The top one is by his group, Orange Lady, from 1992 and features his usual wild percussion and flaying about. Vocals do appear sometimes and are also pretty extreme. Below that is his solo tape from 1994. Seemingly inspired by hardcore and improv, this is also a far out release with plenty of moments of questionable sanity.
From 1979, “Independent Religion” by Yximallo ( Nao Ishumaru) was an early example of where his madness would lead. The ultra lo fi vocals and crazy sounds sprung to life and established this artist as a real outsider with a fascinating and uncompromising vision.
Another aural challenge throw out by Yximalloo on his Sakura label from Japan. His titles are fascinating and this 1986 release, “I Can’t Stop Making Muzik” features cover art by Jad Fair.
An early tape from 1982 by Kinno Yoshiaki who used the moniker , Onnyk. Mainly live improv material he also added some sounds to existing pieces by others on this tape called “Noisy Listening”. Later, he would release CDs on the Public Eyesore label.
Apologies, another poorly performed scan of this tape by Tadashi “Usui” Aioi and his project Balloon Kids. Angular improvs and songforms twisted into spirals and bent back into shape on his Chi records label.
Another messy conglomeration from Okaniwa Fumihiro with a collab on side two with Nagahara Ichirou.“High Tech Gallery” was released in 1994 on a British label run by Dennis Barkass.
Tadashi “Usui” Aioi created some of the most remarkable home recorded music from Japan. On this 1996 tape to the right he sings sweet, angular melodies with spiky guitar in the background. Some erratic drumming and stumbling sounds also ensue. Aioi also issued recordings of pop, solo guitar and group rock as well.
Speckenstein was actually the moniker of Japanese artist, Nobu Kasahara, here joined byRoboku Akasawa. This tape is a muddy and indistinct glob of sound sort of like hearing a noise concert underwater. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it creates a hazy patina to become lost in. This project released a few other tapes and even CDs. This tape was from 2005.
Although their music has nothing in common Nao Ishimaru ( Yximalloo) and Daniel Johnston have something similar going on. The low fidelity sound of their early tapes adds a magic that enhances the songs trying to break through. Yximallo is a fascinating artist when one hears the variety that he has achieved in his many years doing home recording. Overloaded with dozens of tracks per release, the overall feeling is of an artist staking out his own territory and doing whatever pleases him.
More crazy and unique aural landscapes from Japan’s master home taper. This 1986 tape does not disappoint with its onslaught of weird variety and sonic terrorism.
It’s feedback boogie and otherworldly delights as usual on this 1975 (!) release on his Sakura label. This may be the earliest cassette I have of Yximalloo and shows his creative urge has been flaming for many years. Many of these songs are actually taken from earlier recordings putting this at the forefront and even horizon of home taping itself. Super lo fi of course but all the elements are there: strummed madness, eeked out vocals, blues whispers and strange, exotic sounds.