Alternating
under names like Atomic Soul Experience, C-T-Z-N, db Function and G-O-O-D,
Kyoshi's music is a series of electronic instrumentals, some with spoken word
vocals. Some of it is on the political tip (c-t-z-n's 'Japan As The 51st State
Of The USA' and Atomic Soul's 'Missiles And His Bank Loan'), and it's all good.
The deadpan delivery of the spoken word pieces move this stuff into the realm of
performance art a la Laurie Anderson, and the programming sounds
delightfully old-school in the manner of early Art Of Noise. There's an optimism
about this music that suggests a clean and happy future, like the best New Wave
music did.
The db Function disc features the song 'Wrong', and if it's not a Joy Division
cover, it should have been. The other song on this disc is called 'Time's In
Charge', a dense guitar rocker that echoes the edgy guitar work of XTC. Kyoshi's
got a million influences, and he's not afraid to use each and every one.
One Atomic Soul Experience disc (there are two) contains 'Run Through The
Night', a brisk bit of electronica with surf guitars, Tijuana trumpets and a
sample from one of the most bitchin' surf songs ever, the Chantays' 'Pipeline'.
That ASE can convey the surf feel without giving an inch in the electronica
department says something about the band's creativity. 'USH.com' is a hoot, with
its Johnny & The Hurricanes tremelo organ and 60s pop attitude under another
detatched spoken vocal. On both of these tracks, ASE puts forth an appropriately
sloppy track, capturing the feel of the genre extremely well.
The G-O-O-D disc offers up some trip-hop with samples of Japanese children and
an old-time slammin' bed that's extremely reminiscent of 'Close To The Edit' and
Malcolm McLaren's work with the Supreme Team. Some nice analog synth lines set a
cool mood while the track bubbles along, and the mix of traditional Japanese
singing with the hi-tech track is a nice contrast. 'A Night In Hands' is pure
Europop - crisp, clean and made for club play. The minimal track highlights a
piano melody that adds a cinematic quality to the song.
I know very little about Kyoshi or his crew (programmer Tosia Arai and B and J
Hill in undefined roles), and I don't know whether this group of CDs has been
made into an album. I'd be surprised if it hasn't, because taken in pieces, they
stand as a series of very strong singles. If Kyoshi released this as an album,
it would probabaly be one of the club records of the year.
If you'd like to know more about Kyoshi and Gunma Records, you can contact
them kyoshi@mail.wind.ne.jp.
This story was previously published by BLAH3 CD AND CONCERT REVIEWS