Kyozin Yueni Dekai (’giant hence big’) is Yoshihito Mizuuchi on guitar and vocals (and on stilts) and Shinji Wada on drums. Having performed with Afrirampo, DMBQ and Masonna, they arrive in Australia this month to perform at the 2011 Big In Japan events in Sydney and Melbourne.

Big In Japan 2011 presents Isao Sano aka OVe-NaXx direct from the breakcore/raggacore underground of Osaka. He’ll be performing at our Sydney and Melbourne events this month with his mad mashed electronics, ragga, hip hop, death metal, J-Pop, dancehall and future synth melodies “still spiced with japanoise sense for basic nasty riddim”, accompanied by a VJ set from Onnacodomo …

In Tuvan overtone singing, two or more harmonised pitches sound simultaneously from deep in the throat. Ethnomusicologists trace the rise of the style to the pastoral animism that has been practiced in the region since antiquity and continues to this day. The geographic characteristics of the region are also integral to the artform; Tuva’s open landscape allows for the sounds to travel at great distance, and singers are said to roam far into the mountains or countryside looking for the proper setting. Khoomi – the most common strand of Tuvan throat singing – is said to be founded on human mimicry of nature’s sounds, including those of animals, wind and water …

Avant-garde khoomei singer and performance/installation artist Fuyuki Yamakawa works with light bulbs, yogic breath, antiquated medical equipment, modified musical instruments and the beat of his heart. Likened to a ‘shamanistic ritual from the 23^rd century’ (Washington Post), his hallucinogenic performances involve outputting his bodily functions (like his heartbeat, amplified with an electronic stethoscope) in synch with external sound and light so the space becomes an extension of his body. Fuyuki arrives in Australia this month for the annual Big In Japan events in Sydney and Melbourne.

(Images below from Fuyuki’s dusk performance at Ensembles in Tokyo, October 2009 )

There’s an awful lot of stuff around us, and Onnacodomo use some of it to make things out of things you wouldn’t think the things would be made of. Comprising DJ Codomo, Yasuko Seki and Ruka Noguchi the group perform their improvised, illusory scenarios via live feed with the help of a trusted magnifying glass and old-school smoke and mirrors. Their make-believe worlds appear out of everyday commodities like cutlery, cups of tea, CDs, children’s toys, rice crackers and stationary. Onnocodomo arrive in Australia this month for Big In Japan 2011.

From the fecund Osaka underground : Afrirampo drummer Pikacyu + twelve female friends =

モンモントゥナイト or ‘monmontonight’ (femalemasturbationtonight) …

Once, looking at a full moon behind street telegraph cables, Hitoshi Nomura saw music. Between 1975 and 1979 he made ‘Moon Scores’ by photographing the lunar body silently moving across the night sky on film marked with five lines, turning each subsequent image into an item of musical notation. Transferring the notes to staff paper, he then had the chance compositions performed by a chorus and a string quartet. He later did a similar series with birds – you can listen to the music here.

More on Hitoshi Nomura here.

Listen here: this recommended looking and hearing material is courtesy of Asa Chang & Junray. Percussionist Asa Chang of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra formed the ‘post-music’ band in 1998 with programmer and guitarist Hidehiko Urayama before being joined by tabla player U-zhaan in 2000.

Good news for your good ears: Big In Japan 2010 guest artist shabushabu of Kyoto label KUMARU RECORDS joins with fellow Osakan Usamu Okamoto as AGYOU. They endorse their self-titled debut record: “footloose sketches of stateless genres performed by two of the craziest but technical woodshed in the Kansai Japan scene. you can hear mixtures of dancehall and ancient Japanses marching bands,  Salsa and Samba fried with ….Osaka…. hardcore, and more…. Once you push the play button, you are traveling through 3D Dubbed up psychedelic Mangas. Enjoy!!”

They won every heart from every nipple-studded chest in the room when they ppperformed at Big In Japan last year, now the inimitable performance outfit Trippple Nipples are releasing their debut LP, available on iTunes from today.

Illustration by Dora & Maja

For the last decade, bassist Zai, guitarist Ma-Chan and drummer Hime have been performing their instrumental, improvisational, krautrock-esque hypnotic magic to their ever-growing, ever-adoring following. We are way happy to announce Nisennenmondai (‘Year 2000 Problem’) will be bringing their pummelling rhythms to Sydney and Melbourne this November for our Big In Japan! events.

Ideas that have broken free from “the suffocating historical dominance of conservative utility”. That was how Kenji Kawakami described his Chindōgu movement of useless consumer products.

Maywa Denki operate on a slightly different principle of nonsense machine instrumentation. The director Nobumichi Tosa might be continuing from where Jean Tinguely’s metamechanics or Reuben Goldberg and Heath Robinson’s superfluous machinery left off, but his language is very much grounded in Japan’s hyper-consumerist culture. Dressed in the blue suit uniforms of Japanese electric store workers, he refers to Maywa Denki’s live performances as ‘product demonstrations’ and holds Nonsense Idea Conceiving Workshops.

eYe photographed by Sebastian Mayer

Big news concerning the real live Boredoms: their current incarnation is to perform real and live in Melbourne and Sydney this October. It has been some time since the Osakan cosmic-noise-psych-gurgling-tribal-chaos royalty dropped by. They are planning a version of their hypnotic Boredrum drumming. Buy tickets and get bored stupid. And cast your eyes over old album art from Boredoms founder Yamataka Eye – aka eYe or EYヨ and DJ 光光光 (‘DJ pica pica pica’) …

With the tools for reproducing images, text and sound now at the tips of all our grubby fingers, Aikawa Masaru has been keeping busy copying popular albums with meticulously hand-painted and drawn cover art and liner notes, along with burnt CDs with all the tracks duplicated using nothing but his own vocals.

The works of obsessively laborious affection are on show in Tokyo at Mori Gallery’s triennial exhibition of new Japanese art, Roppongi Crossing (see my review for Frieze here). Set up to resemble a CD shop, his listening booth comprises dozens of hand-made original fakes of albums by the likes of Kraftwerk, The Ramones, Primal Scream and Patti Smith (there’s even a hilarious a cappella rendering of Beethoven’s Symphony 9) as well as the artist’s helpful ‘tips’ printed on the wall:

- I can not play any instruments.

- There are many copy bands, but I am the best.

- I love music more than pictures and sculptures.

- I like hearing legends about the musicians.

- When I am creating my work, I can be the musicians whom I respect and love.

- I sometimes think that I am cool when I sing song ardently.

- To choose CDs from my favorites, was difficult but fun.

- I think the jackets of Heavy Metal CDs are cool.

- I like “Megadeth” more than “Metallica”.

- The good jacket has good songs on the CD.

- I hate “Greatest Hits”.

- I never buy songs from the “iTunes Music Store”.

- A lot of illegally copied CDs are sold on the streets of Asia .

- I am a Japanese, and a Japanese are good at mimicry.

- I think “iPods” are useful.

- I love the works of Andy Warhol.

- I sympathize with “D.I.Y” mind of the punk / hard core.

- It is possible to listen to my song only in the exhibition.

- The works of CDs are duplications, but nevertheless are myself, and also my original work of art.

Top image by Stefan Riekles, others by Amelia Groom.

The Biennale of Sydney has just opened and the amazing Superdeluxe program at Artspace kicks off this week with OORUTAICHI, bringing his ‘progressive drifting folklore music’, own invented language and and penchant for primary colours all the way from Osaka to Woolloomooloo. (The only problem being Hiroshi Sugimoto is giving the Biennale Keynote on the same night!) Stay tuned for more news on the Superdeluxe program and remember tickets are free but bookings are required.

Multitracking his own voice to interpret music by King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, Wes Montgomery, Slayer, the Rolling Stones, Miles Davis and many others, Dokaka gives new meaning to the concept of A capella. He appeared on Björk’s album Medúlla and distributes his recordings primarily as free downloads from his website.

Improv forest post-rock from OOIOO, a girl band founded by The Boredoms drummer Yoshimi P-We. They prefer to play their music to trees than people.

I think it would be best if I let Kiiiiiii introduce themselves. Kiiiiiii according to Kiiiiiii:

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drums…..lakin’ a.k.a REIKO TADA

lakin’ the Kiiiiiii loves….

Queen!

PERRY&KINGSLEY, Jackson5, Ramones, mute beat, KRAFT WERK, C-C-B, Yoko minamino….Ra-men, TV programs for Children(like SESAME STREET), Stickers and her cat(named “NYAN”)!

Lakin’ is a illustrater ,a designer and liryc & song writer in Kiiiiii.

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vocal…….ut a.k.a UTAKO TAYAMA

ut loves…..

MICHAEL JACKSON!

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, NEU!, tama, Miho nakayama…..SPAGHETTI, macaron, pho, Cosmetics(Paul&Joe,anna sui…e.t.c) and her dog (named “STOMP”)!

u.t. is an actress in TETSUWARI ALBATROSKET.

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When we met each other for the first time, we were 12 years old. Since then,we have been special friends like DJ & KIMMY in “FULL HOUSE”!

++We play songs by……The Wiggles, Chip munks, Roco’s modern life by NIKELODEON, Hooley dooleys, Michael Jackson, and kiiiiiii ( Almost all songs are written by Lakin’ except for cover songs.)!

Live footage and video works by Kiiiiiii will be featured at the Big In Japan event (CarriageWorks, December 2) and exhibition (Black & Blue Gallery, December 5-19), so you can get yourselves properly acquainted with the self proclaimed “masters of girl magic”.

Illustrations by Tada Reiko of Kiiiiiii.

It seemed like a pretty standard uptight fashion week party at TRUMP ROOM last night, until the Trippple Nippples exploded onto the dance floor with screams, water pistols, glitter bombs, fake blood and feathers, whipping everyone up into a messy mania before disappearing as quickly as they appeared. You better brace yourselves for these guys before they perform at our event in December!

On the rooftop of an abandoned school near the flashing lights and madness of Tokyo’s Akihabara Electric Town, there is a nightly happening comprising kinetic sculpture, balloons, instrumental inventions, light, sound and performance art.

Without chronology, centre or climax the series of improvisations unfold as the sun goes down and a harmonious atmosphere envelops all. Rest-ful Musical Devices is a part of Ensembles, an initiative by avant-garde musician Otomo Yoshihide which is taking place in various venues around Tokyo. Thinking about the highly individualised way people listen to music today, with earphone straight on eardrum, Otomo wanted to focus on making sound within space, emphasising the interactive and social dimensions of music.

The line up includes some of Japan’s most interesting performers and experimental sound artists: Atsuhiro Ito, Fuyuki Yamakawa, Yuko Mohri, Sachiko M, Tetsuya Umeda and Kanta Horio. A pretty special evening if you’re in Tokyo any time between now and November 3.

Photos by Amelia Groom.

Masaya Nakahara’s Monthly Hair Stylistics albums (including Big Audio Dynamite Shit, 30 Minute Panty People and Electric Success In The Ghetto) are made up of heavy, intense noise experiments with irresistible  dashings of hilarity and silliness. Nakahara – who is also a film critic and novelist – does all the accompanying album art works, and their chaotic, semi-explicit bricolaged imagery is in keeping with the style of his recorded sounds. Monthly Hair Stylistics are issued by Nakahara’s record label Boid.

Meet the Trippple Nippples, your new best friends / favourite Tokyo performance group. They are coming to Sydney as one of our guests for the Big In Japan event this December, bringing their unhinged DIY aesthetic, an inimitably intense live energy and a song about teaching your nipples to speak. We can’t wait to see them ‘express’ themselves!

Tenniscoats is: Saya and Takashi Ueno, and a plethora of floating members >>> Stripped back, left-field pop and delicately psychedelic folk >>> Sweetly naieve melodies, detuned pianos, woodwind instruments and distorted synthesizers >>> About to bring their emotive live performances to Australia, thanks to Room40!

When Makoto Azuma moved to Tokyo with his band, he didn’t expect to find himself in a flower shop. 12 years later, the artist and musician has cultivated a new approach to creative practice through his florist Jardins des Fleurs. Former curator of AMPG Gallery (where he installed one exhibition per month for two years) and previously featured at Milan Design Week and colette in Paris, Makoto’s green projects are sprouting a healthy reputation far outside of Tokyo. We present a sampling of his work here.

How do you describe what you do?

I manage a haute couture flower shop and at the same time continue to work as an artist.

Why did you decide to open a flower shop?

One day I passed by a flower shop near my house and I saw a recruitment notice. That’s how it all began! I never thought I’d be a florist and I haven’t ever been taught or trained by anyone. All of my artwork and style of flower arrangements are my own.

You are an artist, a musician and a florist; is there a connection between your different creative pursuits?

I believe that using ‘living creatures’ properly expresses my world. To me, plants and sound are the same ‘living creatures’.

What natural environments inspire you and your work?

I live in Tokyo and this definitely provides inspiration. It is such an advanced urban city and so many things happen every day. But at the same time, Tokyo is a city where I feel keen sense of the seasons and beauty as in other parts of Japan. To devote time to sharpening my senses within this urban environment provides a sort of mystical inspiration I suppose.

What projects do you have planned for the future?

Naoshima project

Naoshima is a small island of Shikoku, which focuses on contemporary art. I am building a cactus garden in a greenhouse at the public baths.

Six Scents

This project uses plants to visualize the scents and imagined world of six world-famous designer’s perfumes. I am working on an installation for its event.

Shanghai World Expo, Japan Pavilion gardens project

I will participate Japanese Pavilion at World Expo in Shanghai next May. The theme revolves around a modern Japanese garden, and I have something quite innovative planned.

POLA Museum Annex project

At the moment I am working on an experimental project using a piece of pine. I have taken the raw beauty of pine and covered it with thousands of pieces of steel panels. This will result in the exhibition Tea ceremony: My Microcosm to be held at the contemporary art exhibition space in Ginza, Tokyo, in February 2010.

Photos by Robynne Hayward, ATP Sydney, 2009

Pikachu (drums, vocals) and Oni (guitar, vocals). Two Osakan girls with penchants for red, Africa, catchy melodies, free noise, volume, improvisation, call-and-response vocals and jumping. Since forming in ’02 they’ve toured and collaborated with the likes of Acid Mothers Temple, Sonic Youth, Lightning Bolt, Yoko Ono and Keiji Haino as well as recorded nine albums and temporarily disappeared into the Cameroonian jungle to live with Pygmy tribespeople.

They performed at the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival curated by Vincent Gallo in ’05 and earlier this year at the Australian ATP curated by Nick Cave. If you were there you’ll remember that chant they got us all shouting: ‘we want to have a party, at Nick Cave’s house with family – in MELBOURNE!’ … For those who missed out, their profile on their website encapsulates their energy to a T:

Naked rock!!!!! Naked soul!!! Red red strong red dress!! Freeeeeeeeedam paradice rock! Jump! With improvisation. Sooo fantastic & wild performance ! wowowowowowowowowwoooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Formed in 1978, Yellow Magic Orchestra exerted a huge influence on the electronic musical landscape of the late 70’s and early 80’s, and they continue to be a reference point for many contemporary artists.As pioneers of electronic pop (techno-pop in Japan), their technological explorations resonate many of the fascinations of Japanese popular culture, with futurist impulses tempered with just the right amount of kitsch and humour.

Band members Haruomi Hosono, Yukihiro Takahashi and Ryuichi Sakamoto all continue to follow successful solo careers. Most notably, Sakamoto’s balance of immense and varied creative output with his dedication to global activism has placed him as one of the heroes of modern Japanese culture.

Recommended listening: YMO’s second album Solid State Survivor.

Recommended viewing: YMO performing Firecracker on Soul Train.

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