Tag: deep-dives
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THE SUSUMU HIRASAWA FILES VOL.3- BEFORE THE FREEZE
The year is 1984, and the world is moving incredibly fast. Everyone is carrying a Walkman, listening to new music and AOR, and adjusting their eyes to the bright neon lights that weren’t on these streets before, or at least not in this density. Young people frequent clubs, go on late-night drives in stylish cars,…
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bed: Japan’s Most Revolutionary Band is About to Turn Tokyo Music Upside-Down
Shibuya, 2:30am. You are at a party in Dogenzaka’s clubasia with 600 other people. The night so far has provided an eclectic mix of EDM DJs, rappers, and a psychedelic rock band. You follow the crowd to the main hall. The techno DJ is turned down. You hear a few electric sparks, then the sound…
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All About Chou-Chou Merged Syrups
“True glory consists in doing what deserves to be written, in writing what deserves to be read, and in so living as to make the world happier and better for our living in it.” With these words, Pliny the Elder conveys a sentiment that holds a very intense, very concise flame to it. With Chou-Chou…
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Love, Zombies and Rock ‘n Roll: Revisiting Guitar Wolf’s Wild Zero (1999)
“Love has no borders, nationalities or genders! DO ITTTTT!” Every great band needs a movie to immortalise their exploits on the silver screen. The Beatles have A Hard Day’s Night, the Spice Girls have Spice World, and garage punk power trio Guitar Wolf have 1999’s sci-fi shlock horror masterpiece Wild Zero. Guitar Wolf certainly need…
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(ESSAY) Yellow Magic: YMO, Mirrors, and the Reversal of Orientalist Gaze
“YMO’s music and thoughts function like a mirror, reflecting how the West looks at the East, and also how the East looks back at itself from that gaze.” Yellow Magic: YMO, Mirrors, and the Reversal of Orientalist Gaze “YMO’s music and thoughts function like a mirror, reflecting how the West looks at the East, and…
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SUSUMU HIRASAWA FILES #1- THE MANDRAKE DAYS
The beginnings of Susumu Hirasawa’s legendary career