Title: Omnibus#1 -Kurouto Hadashi- Production Co: Ariola (BMG Victor) Cat#: BVCR-1414 Release: 93/9/22 Price: Y2800 Length: 54'38" Track Data: All tracks feature music by Acrobat Bunch 1 Acrobat Bunch - "Death Disco" 2 ECD - "Shounen Rokku" 3 ECD - "Me and A-B" 4 Microphone Pager - "Iiwake" 5 Microphone Pager - "Microphone Pager" 6 A.K.I. - "Koi no Japani-zu" 7 A.K.I. - "About 'Japanese Psycho'" 8 Kimidori - "Tantantararara Kimidori" 9 Kimidori - "Shiroi Yami" 10 East End - "Acrobatic Verse" 11 East End - "Tenki" 12 Acrobat Bunch - "Death Disco #4" Goodies: Standard jewelbox. Booklet includes lyrics and photos Comments: This incredible album features one of the best Japanese funk rock bands backing up the best of Japanese rappers. Really funky at some moments and then rocking out at the next, this ones got some unbeatable style. Hopefully the first album of a series. Cover: "Pepsi-like" logo: "OMNIBUS #1" on black background. Tiny photo of producer in lower right. Grade: A Genre: Funk Rock, Rap Bought via special order from Kinokuniya Bookstores (Benjamin Lit: list@scf.usc.edu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Artist: Various Title: Jazz Hip Jap 1 Production Co: Seven Samurai (NEC Avenue) Cat#: NACL-1083 Release: 92/11/21 Price: Y3000 Length: 51'19" Track Data: 1 El Malo - "Sling and Solution" 2 Monday Michiru and Jazz Krush - "Do Dat Dance?" 3 DJ Takemura - "Dedicate for the Sun" 4 Zoot Dragon - "Enemy Headlights on My Back" 5 DJ Matsuoka - "Gas" 6 Winking Googaws - "Stoned Soul Picnic" 7 Men Against Cool - "Anger" 8 Shade of Blue - "Hangin' Loose" 9 Oha - "Une Rose" 10 Sherry Dez and the Koich - "Games" Goodies: Standard jewelbox. Comments: Good compilation of Acid Jazz. Featuring some of the best groups in Japan. Cover: "JAZZ HIP JAP" Cover grapic of guitar, snare drum and trumpet in yellow and red. Grade: A- Genre: Acid Jazz Bought via special order from Kinokuniya Bookstores (Benjamin List: list@scf.usc.edu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Artist: Various Title: Jazz Hip Jap 2 Production Co: Big Chameleon (NEC Avenue) Cat#: NACL-1105 Release: 93/5/21 Price: Y3000 Length: 56'31" Track Data: 1 Jungle Oasis Inc. - "Shaft of Ubik in Jungle Oasis" 2 Skipjack - "Bossa Bossa" 3 Monday Michiru - "Naked With You" 4 Krush - "Slow Chase" 5 El-Malo - "They Cuss, I Fuss" 6 Jeff Brown and 33 1/3 - "747 Party in the Sky" 7 Monkey Drop - "Drop" 8 Nobukazu Takemura - "The Quest is a Reward" 9 Soul Rebel - "Freedom Latin Drunk" 10 Magic Ware - "Scandinavia" Goodies: Standard jewelbox. Comments: More excellent acid jazz from the best in Japan. This disk and its predecessor were recently compiled and released in England (on Acid Jazz or Talking Loud). Cover: "JAZZ HIP JAP2" Red & white striped background. Grade: A Genre: Acid Jazz Bought via special order from Kinokuniya Bookstores (Benjamin List: list@scf.usc.edu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Artist: Various Title: Music Hologram 1 - Electric Blue Production Co: Electric Blue Cat#: EBCD-1 Release: 1992 Price: Y3000 Length: 73'16" Track Data: 1 DRP - "Velocity Insane Asylum (Help Me Find My Coke)" 2 Techno Skelter - "Mind Wars " 3 Snakehead Men - "Berts in Groove - Space Drivers Video Tune" 4 2nd Communication - "Interaction" 5 Norimizu Ameya - "CFTV [monaural]" 6 DRP - "Kraftmania" 7 Public Embryo - "Eingezogen Gestalt" 8 Guniw Tools - "Cor..." 9 Psycho Candy - "Body & Soul" 10 Winter Mute - "I Wish To... (all wet mix)" 11 Anarchic Loop, Ancient Net - "Bibliolater (Iconoclast Mix)" 12 KTR - "House Mannequin" 13 2d Communication - "Exclusive Image (Immature Mix)" Goodies: Standard jewelbox. Comments: Now _this_ is an odd album. This appears to be a sampler by new label "Electric Blue." The style, strictly industrial and techno. _Not_ for everyone, but, it does have some material that I think most would find interesting. Particularly so is Norimizu Ameya's "CFTU," a song which is primarily samples from TV and "H" films (very unique!). "Kraftmania" by DRP is a tribute to Germany's first technopop band, Kraftwerk, and an accurate one. KTR's "House Mannequin" is a Techno-house song with effective sampling of Middle Eastern sounds. The album is a good mix of stlye, though, all under the "electronic music" umbrella. While there are a couple songs that are of debatable quality, as a first release for Electric Blue, I'm impressed. Cover: Matte black cover. Gloss black factory graphic with words "ELECTRIC BLU3" Grade: B Genre: Techno, Industrial Bought at the Wave in Ikebukuro. (Benjamin List: list@scf.usc.edu) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Various Title: Galax3 Production Co: SSE Communications Cat#: SSE 4008 CD Release: 1991 Price: Y2400 Length: 72'41" Track Data: 1 Gult Dep - "Transpose" 2 Bikkly-H - "Rain" 3 Shimo-nu Furuyuki - "Tegami - Yoake no Skyatto" 4 Nazoo - "Betar than 'Black'" 5 Kitamura?? & Tachibana? - "Lost Wings" 6 Zeni-Geva - "Honou - Blood Sex" 7 Mucti - "Harairo no Umi" 8 Bacteria - "Rhythm 21 - 'Deep My Kiss'" 9 Walt Fall - "Slash the Man" 10 False Love - "Rugget Stone" 11 Macchi Uri no Shounen - "Dosei de Warau Hito" 12 Katsurei - "Igami" Goodies: Standard jewelbox. Comments: Within this horrible compilation of Japanese alternative music are a couple good songs by Gult Dep, and Bikkly-H. What I disappointment. I'm surprised this series made it to the 4th disk. There may be more by now, but if this is any indication, stay away! Cover: "INFORMATION" "G-3" "MXC" Kanji: "Uchuu Enerugi- de Koibito ga Tanjou" Text over collage of images. Grade: D Genre: Indie Rock, Techno, Death Metal, Unclassifiable Crap Bought at Edison in Shinjuku. (Benjamin List: list@scf.usc.edu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Artist: Various Title: Dance 2 Noise 001 Production Co: Invitation (Victor) Cat#: VICL-229 Release: 91/10/21 Price: Y3000 Length: 75'23" Track Data: 1 Jarring Voice - Hidehiko Hoshino 2 CALL ME - M-AGE 3 Think of Making Love SONIC MOSQUITO DUB MIX - SUBSONIC 4 Domingo Expess - TATSU 5 (?)-mi-ka - Hamlet Machine 6 Planet!! - PC-8 7 Flame of Illusion - Cryptemen 8 Bikkuri - Cool Acid Suckers 9 Little Bit Cool - D.M.X. & A.M. 10 heaven -paint in watercolour 11 MACRO-MUTOS -from a film "GOD+ANALOGIA" - PBC 12 VIOLATOR - MAZZ + PMX 13 VISION OF LOVE - BRAIN DRIVE 14 nicht-titel - SCHAFT Goodies: Standard jewelbox. Booklet with photos. Comments: This is a hard series to pigeonhole. That is what makes it particularly appealing to me. The label is "anti-dance-culture dance music." While this may be an amorphous descriptive to some, here, the varied selections fall into recognizable categories. A couple techno songs, a couple house songs, several industrial songs, one rap song and the rest may be considered alternative rock. Particular standouts include Hidehiko Hoshino (Buck Tick), M-AGE (easily comparable to England's Jesus Jones), Paint in Watercolour (a unique alternative group born of the late 80's Manchester movement), Cool Acid Suckers and MAZZ + PMX (Japan's answer to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ice Cube respectively). The album as a whole is quite a unique package, showing the diversity of the late '80's band boom. Cover: Odd graphic composite of crowds, vulture and satellites. Grade: B+ Genre: Indie Rock, Electronic Rock, Techno, Rap Bought at large video/cd store in Ikebukuro. (Benjamin List: list@scf.usc.edu) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Various Title: Dance 2 Noise 002 Production Co: Invitation (Victor) Cat#: VICL-290 Release: 92/4/21 Price: Y3000 Length: 62'30" Track Data: (No order listed) X Yokan - Sakurai Atsushi + XYMOX X A HOWLING OF AN AUTIS - PANDEMONIUM X (I'm Not Your) STEPPING STONE - SECRET GOLDFISH X Love Stain - PIPES OF WATER DREAM X SPACE INVADERS GO!! - SPACE INVADERS X "Who is to Take the Blame?" - HOT TOASTERS X DUAL VOICE - DUAL VOICE X "FLY" - Stray Mac X Mental Box - OFF MASK 00 X CHAIN GANG - KRUSH POSSE X ieie '92 - SAEKI Kenzou + CMJK X SIN CITY SONG - D'f Goodies: Standard jewelbox. Fold-out insert with photos. Comments: Perhaps not one of the stronger of the "anti-dance-culture dance-music" series, this one has less stand-out acts than its predecessor and following sequels. Standouts include Dual Voice (a male-female duo), D'f, the now defunct rap group Krush Posse and CMJK (of Pop-House band Denki Groove and now the Cutemen). Notably good songs for otherwise fairly mediocre bands include the "Stepping Stone" cover by Secret Goldfish, and "Love Stain" by Pipes of Water Dream. Cover: "Flaming" super-hero. Grade: B- Genre: Electronic Rock, Indie Rock, Techno Bought via special order from Kinokuniya Bookstores (Benjamin List: list@scf.usc.edu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Artist: Various Title: Dance 2 Noise 003 Production Co: Invitation (Victor) Cat#: VICL-319 Release: 92/10/21 Price: Y3000 Length: 76'30" Track Data: 1 Gult Dep - "Matrix Bug" 2 The King of the Hippies - "For the 21st Century of the Hippies" 3 Jamaican ZAMURAI - "Koi no Daiyaru 0990" 4 Coaltar of the Deepers - "My Speedy Salah" 5 Bikkly H - "Ice" 6 Brain Drive - "Somewhere Wonderful {remix}" 7 Hardcore Reggae - "She Nah She Nah" 8 DJ Honda & Yoshikatsu - "Scream!" 9 Nazoo - "Android Images" 10 Nav Katze - "Mujaki na Kizuna (featuring Maki's Noises)" 11 Doom - "Will Never End" 12 aJaJa Stars - "Cut Bass" 13 Deep - "I Need You" 14 K.A - "Room" Goodies: Standard jewelbox. Booklet with photos. Comments: Arguably the one of the best of the "anti-dance-culture dance-music" series thus far, this ones got some great stuff! Hard-core techno band GultDep redefines the term "hardcore techno" with Matrix Bug. Denki Groove's TakQ Ishino creates a hypnotic mix of reggae dub and electronic music as "Jamaican Zamurai." Bikkly H is an interesting mix of alternative rock and backbeat ala Stone Roses. Coaltar of the Deepers is "Speed-Grunge-Alternative-Rock" band getting attention on the fringes these days. DJ HONDA was a winner in the Japan National DJ contest of 1990, was featured in an album that was the result of that contest called "Dee Jay 3," and is now an active producer. Members of "Yoshikatsu" include members of Soy Sauce Sonix. This is what got me started buying Japanese music in 1992. A "must!" (+standard disclaimer) Cover: "D.A.N.C.E.2.N.O.I.S.E.0.0.3" Pink, glowing glass sculpture over black background. Grade: A Genre: Indie rock, Techno Bought at Record Heaven in Kawagoe Saitama. (Benjamin List: list@scf.usc.eu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Artist: Various Title: Dance 2 Noise 004 Production Co: Invitation (Victor) Cat#: VICL-374 Release: 93/4/21 Price: Y3000 Length: 68'22" Track Data: 1 M.A.S.S. - "Frozen Bug" 2 Controlled P.K.O. - "State Violence State Control" 3 Virtuo Psycho Mare - "Jesus Sky" 4 Super Planet - "Gender Bender" 5 B-2 Dep't {Ex Dep't SK} - "Butterfly Song" 6 M-Age - "Sink {2010 mix}" 7 Aska Kaneko with Maceo Parker - "Walking Eyes {Runnning Eyes}" 8 Lucy's Drive - "Believe" 9 Paint in Watercolour - "Unknown" 10 Ninety-Seven Percents - "Personality Overload" 11 Pornography - "Destruction" 12 Sugizo - "Revive (waltz for remeniscence of mind)" Goodies: Standard jewelbox. Fold-out booklet includes photos. Comments: The 4th album of the "anti-dance-culture dance-music" series, this one will be considerably challenging to _most_ music listeners. The series has tacked noticeably from its preceding releases. Stylistically, the first several and the last couple tracks are of the industrial genre, marked by an electronic, grinding sound and often accompanied by a lead singer more screaming than singing. To me it is remeniscent of my exploratory high school days, when going music shopping meant buying everything on the "Waxtrax" label. Fans of industrial music may dig this, others should steer clear. As an example of its genre, its quite good, but again, an acquired taste. The other offerings by Paint in Watercolour, M-AGE and the pairing of Aska Kaneko and the JB's sax great Maceo Parker are the exception, rather than rule on this album, but great examples of the Japanese indie scene. Cover: Green-toned rocket on top of blue background. Grade: B Genre: Industrial, Indie Rock, Techno Bought via special order from Kinokuniya Bookstores (Benjamin List: list@scf.sc.edu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Artist: Various Title: Dance 2 Noise 005 and 006 Production Co: Victor (Invitation) Cat#: VICL-463/VICL-23081 Release: 93/10/21 Price: Y3000 / Y2300 Length: 56'29" / 29'02" Track Data 005: 1 Ninja Head - "Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio" 2 Toukyou Kurafutowa-ku - "The Telelphone Call" 3 Brain Drive - "You Really Got Me (Kinky Mix)" 4 Naz's-O - "Ihoujin" 5 Nav Katze - "Take Me Home Country Roads" 6 Secret Goldfish - "Lovely Rita" 7 Angel In Heavy Syrup - "ShunRanman" 8 Paint in Watercolour - "See My Friends" 9 Lucy's Drive - "Miss Me Blind" 10 M-Age - "Konya ha Beat It!" 11 Machida Machizou + KitasawaGumi - "Tango" Track Data 006: 1 Def Master - "Love Kills" 2 Coaltar of the Deepers - "Earth Thing" 3 Machida Machizou + KitasawaGumi - "Burari Shinbei Doujou Yaburi" 4 Audio Sports - "Kitty Bey" 5 Trickstar - "Purple Haze" 6 Doom - "Parasite" Goodies: Standard jewelbox. Booklets include photos. Comments: The fifth and sixth disks of the series, released simultaneously, continue the style of the 1st to 3rd volumes, but this time enclosed songs are cover tunes. There is definitely no lack of variety this time around, and many of the tunes are solid. Cover: Colorful cover has two mannequin-like heads facing each other with "Dance 3 Noise" logo in the center. text on bottom "dANCE 2 nOISE 005" (and "006" respectively) Grade: B Genre: Techno, Indie Rock, Speed Metal, Acid Jazz Bought via special order from Kinokuniya Bookstores (Benjamin List: list@scf.usc.edu) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------