Recently in Digital Release Category

One of my preferred emerging Japanese artists at play here in Tokyo over the past couple of years has been the somewhat enigmatic Tsuyoshi K (he doesn't tell anyone what the 'K' stands for), who started out making fringe, left-of-centre electro-pop stuff as Gadget Cassette but more recently changed name to Cut Bit Motorz and at the same time began pushing through more tech-house related sounds.

Funnily enough, even though we live in the same city and constantly email each other as well as remix each other's tunes, we haven't ever actually met.

But that didn't stop us releasing a digital slab of mixes of Tsuyoshi's latest tune 'Dry Fruit', in which we got on board some of his more experienced Japanese peers - DJ Wada (Co-Fusion), Toshiyuki Yasuda (Robo*Brazileira), Takashi Watanabe (DJ Warp) and Tomi Chair - to do the rejigs, making it an entirely Japanese putsch that criss-crosses eclectic, tech, electro, house and (dare I say it) a marginally more progressive stance.

Truth is I really dig working with this elusive digital mate and Tsuyoshi is breaking ground with his own work (he recently remixed the Dead Agenda track 'Chaos Theory' as well as Tomi Chair's 'Stroboscope') and you'll probably brush up against the guy more often in future outside of this forum.

Anyway, I ran some concepts by him to get a wee bit more background fodder as follows; luckily he didn't object to the more obscure, self-indulgent questions:

BACKGROUND

"I started making music from age 13. My first synthesizer was a Yamaha SY-55, and after that I worked with some bands. These days my favourite music-making tool is Protools - I've been using it for two years, and it surprised me because I can work so efficiently with it. If only I'd been able to use it at an earlier stage!"

INFLUENCES

"TM Network, Soft Ballet, CMJK, M-age, and wonderful techno music that a lot of people don't know, or I don't know the names of. I like Ken Ishii, if it's limited to Japanese electronic musicians.

"As for YMO, Susumu Hirasawa and Isao Tomita, I've really been influenced by them since we're from different generations."

JAPANESE SCENE

"It's subdivided very much and is healthy."

FAVOURITE GODZILLA CHARACTER

"I like King Ghidorah, though I'm not well-informed about Godzilla. I think I like Ghidorah because his name and appearance are so striking."

CUT BIT MOTORZ

"Cut Bit Motorz was started from 2009. I was making tunes for DJ friends."

DRY FRUIT/GOLDEN GARDEN REMIXES

"Wonderful! I've been most surprised about these people actually choosing to do the remixes in the first place, and it's exciting. I want you to listen to them by all means."

CURRENT MUSICIANS

"I don't have any favourite musician right now - however, I do like rock better than techno."

SAKE

"I like sake! And the best sake is Koshino Kanbai, made in Niigata."

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

"I want to work as regularly as possible - and I want to play parties!"

BEST ANIME MOVIE

"Definitely I'd say 天空の城ラピュタ [Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986), by Hayao Miyzaki] - this movie has a wonderful outlook on the world and the story is awesome. Then there's the musical score which is sublime."

DIGITAL vs VINYL

"As for the vinyl, I don't want it to disappear, though I can't play it myself... Regarding digital, there are great outlets online through which to dig up music from all over the world, and then share it about, which is fantastic."

MUSIC TO MAKE LOVE TO

"I like music with sorrow - and probably rock rather than techno."

UPCOMING

"I'm contributing to Tomi Chair's release 'Colourful', which will be out on 23 August through Bellarine Records."

Here's a digital Ep I missed, but have now bumped into. As usual with Input-Output it shows off Cynthia Stern's excellent taste in music. I've only ever so very rarely not stood behind one of his releases 100%. That doesn't change with this one. Good stuff. put it in your ears.

Of the two fellows behind the moniker 'Dead Agenda' I know --and support!-- Mike, although I'm sure the other fellow, Dan, is a stand-up fellow as well.

I find it interesting that in the Dead Agenda interview, that Andrez put up yesterday, Bleep Radio is mentioned. Bleep Bonding for the win!

I don't really have anything serious to add, just that this digi-EP is FitM supported artist heavy. Yes!

This has been available now for a whole month. I really should sort my inbox more often. I've over-looked a few things -- and have had the nerve to complain about not enough stuff coming out.

This is a slieu of remixes, all of which are of tracks from a recent Luke's Anger digi EP. Andrez of IF? has naturally spoiled us with tracks out the ying yang courtesy of some names we know around these parts!

OK, here's where I 'fess up to one of my aliases I generally play down or don't mention, since I don't believe it really represents me (now) but reflects the person I was 15 years ago.

Back then, around 1994-95, I was heavily into Tresor and relatively new label Force Inc. Music Works, who were tossing out EPs and compilations by artists like Cem Oral (Jammin' Unit/G 104), Ingmar 'Walker' Koch, Thomas Heckmann (Age/Exit 100), Alec Empire, Wolfgang Voigt (Mike Ink/Love Inc), Jörg Burger, Cristian Vogel, Ian Pooley, Khan Oral (4E/Bizz O.D.), DJ Rush, Gene Farris, and Martin Damm (Biochip C/Subsonic 808).

We actually toured Biochip C to Australia in 1995 through my label IF?

Anyway, a bit over a year ago, somehow hankering for a bit of old school Force Inc. acid techno action and nostalgic as heck (I'm still not quite sure why!), I did a couple of tracks that were a vaguely adequate homage - then asked Biochip C to remix one of them. That mix was released digitally through Elektrax here in April 2009, with another mix by Bitch Shift (Ben Mill).

We even did it under the dodgy name 'Psyborg-9' (a reference to actor Ernest Borgnine).

Then I promptly forgot all about the release.

I still drop Martin's Biochip C mix out and about sometimes - it really is a nice late 2000s reconsideration of that mid '90s Force Inc. sound; the mix also has some screaming peaks and troughs that are just made to get people, well, crazed.

It's not quite what I'd term my 'style' now but it rocks my socks in spite of my better judgment.

Today, it all comes flooding back. I was pottering around on YouTube; I was supposed to be focused on my other writing deadlines - but then I found this little baby. Someone I don't know with the YouTube tag-name obscuretoonzage recently did a videoclip for the Biochip C remix of Psyborg-9.

And it's a mad, mad video I just had to share about a bit. Obscuretoonzage, whoever you are, cheers. You've restored my faith in the marvels and fun-filled mayhem the Internet can still provide!

Luke has a free digital EP for download on his web-site right now. Two artists with no back story. They could be real people or they could be pseudonyms. I certainly don`t know and only time (and someone spoiling it) will tell.

The two tracks on offer aren`t what you may expect although they are in that style. Once you hear them that won`t seem nearly as cryptic as it may now. I like The Sad Confessor`s track the best.

The official spiel does just fine on this one...

Luke's Anger returns to Tigerbeat6 after a 2-year hiatus, bringing to the table four tracks of downright raw and unadulterated jacking machine-funk.

If you're in the mood for some sharp Electro with a no-nonsense attitude than Kevin Collier's Audio Textures label is what you should be checking out this week. Balls to the wall, for those who like it rough.

Vadz on the Bleeps and Bass!

Marcin has met up with Andrez and they've hatched a plan to release a mitten full of Marcin's tracks. I know I've told Marcin that his stuff is good and finally a wider audience get's to check it out. I suggest keeping an ear open for more in the future too.