6/30/10

山口百恵 - GOLDEN FLIGHT



not much to say about this (as i don't know much about Yamaguchi Momoe's [山口百恵] life or career, except that it was successful), but this is a prime example of good 1970s/80s idol pop from japan. very melancholic and jazz-influenced. i definitely suggest you check this one out.

1. MADE IN U.F.O.
2. BLACK CAB (ロンドン・タクシー)
3. LIVERPOOL EXPRESS
4. AIR MAIL
5. CHECK OUT LOVE
6. 愛の TWILIGHT TIME
7. PORTBELLO の銀時計
8. 嵐ヶ丘
9. SEINEより愛をこめて
10. IMITATION GOLD


enjoy

6/26/10

PURE MAGAZINE



Pure was a two issue magazine released by Peter Sotos, notorious hedonist/libertine and former member of power electronics founding band Whitehouse (whose albums i promised, but will most likely not be able to provide directly from this blog [i do have them, however, so ask, and you will receive]). this magazine that he published himself (because no one else would) is essentially the modern-day version of 120 Days of Sodom; nothing is taboo, nothing is frowned upon (except christian morals). Sotos praises pedophiles, rapists, and serial killers, writing long articles describing their antics, worshiping death.
suffice it to say the weak of heart should avert their gaze. i will be honest; this shocked me and frustrated me upon first read. it is . . . sickening.

enjoy:

1 (pdf)
2 (pdf)
extras (.rar)

[kindly provided by my friend La Grippe over at Terror Noise Audio]

6/20/10

Atrax Morgue - DEATH-ORGASM CONNECTOR



Atrax Morgue was always about death (particularly suicide). but, unlike most bands with suicide/death themes, Marco Corbelli actually did the deed three years ago.
he hung himself.

this is a very dark album. the lyrics aren't all that complicated; for the most part, Marco just repeats the title of the song over and over again, slowly stretching out the syllables until he turns them into long, high pitched whines and moans.
overall it's an absolutely emotional album. a definite favorite.

ENJOY

6/15/10

非常階段 - VIVA ANGEL




Hijokaidan could possibly be credited as being the founders of the noise genre as we know it today (though Whitehouse did it first, as well as NON, they didn't do it as loud as Hijokaidan did it). the band began playing music at "the Drugstore" (a live venue) in 1979. the band was influenced by psychedelic bands as opposed to industrial bands. this difference is very distinct, although the latter made noise the harshest genre around.

Viva Angel was one of Hijokaidan's earliest albums. while the album is still very loud and very spastic, it has a much more accessible sound than, say, Zouroku No Kibyou (which is undeniably their best album). all the same, it is a very loud experience that will still damage your ears.
possibly the best part about this album is Junko's loud, squealing voice. the woman honestly is the most powerful noise vocalist around (putting Yamazaki Maso to shame).

ENJOY

6/14/10

Bloody Woods - COLOUR



Colour is the second album by the chinese neofolk group Bloody Woods. the band is made up of 白水 (Bai Shui) and Gu Dao. on this album, they are also joined by the vocalist Lamia, from Whisper Of Tears. not much information is available in english about these guys, but a couple sources (mostly just their last.fm page) would suggest that Gu Dao had left at this point, leaving just Bai Shui and Lamia. either way, they make gorgeous neofolk that gets its roots from western, as well as middle-eastern music (you'd think that a neofolk band from china would play traditional chinese folk, and i almost wish that they did).
the highlight tracks off this album are "Ai Vist Lo Lop" (which seems to be an old hungarian classic, though correct if i'm wrong about this) and "Orange Blossom Ring".



ENJOY

6/13/10

戸川純 - TOGAWA FICTION



Togawa Jun was a mock-idol pop musician from the 1980s. her music was avant-garde pop, with a strong post-punk influence (in fact, her first band, Yapoos, could most certainly be called post-punk). her lyrics focused on surreal, ero guro nansensu ideals. unfortunately this blogger does not speak japanese, and can't find any of her lyrics translated into english, but a self-analysis from Jun herself describes lyrics about a woman who transforms into a bug, and a woman who grows a weed out of her back. the self-analysis in question can be found here (it's depressing to read, and it reminds me of Dazai Osamu's No Longer Human. her sister [the actress Togawa Kyoko] committed suicide in the summer of 2002, so perhaps depression runs in the family. regardless, the self-analysis is particularly strange because the music that she makes is, for the most part, delightfully upbeat).

ANYWAYS, onto the album that i am about to present to you.
this is togawa jun's most recent album. it doesn't have much in common with her early 1980s pop albums (either as a solo artist, or with Yapoos or Guernica). so you must be wondering, "why did you just describe her pop music and then give me something that isn't pop?" the answer to that is simply that this album cannot easily be found on the internet. her other two solo albums (besides Suki Suki Daisuki, which i shall upload in due time) can be found fairly easily.
Togawa Fiction is a psychedelic rock album. the opening track is nearly ten minutes long, and is a wondrous example of good, modern jazz/psychedelia. those who have already heard her early sound will be treated to a more mature sounding woman who is still just as insane. her voice switches from crooning songstress, to nervous little girl, to manic wailing all within the same song. a modern comparison would be Midori's Mariko Goto or Ringo Shiina.

enjoy.

INTRO TO SEX

welcome to A SOFTLY SLEEPING ROSE. after finally returning my music library to its once mighty state (i had to wipe my hard drive in january of this year, all was lost), i now feel confident that i might be able to share some of the more worthy selections from my collection.

this blog will primarily focus on musica obscura, particularly music in the noise, power electronics, and pop genres (though i will also post deathrock, grindcore, black metal, post-punk, and "experimental" albums from time to time). usually i will also include a review or description of the album in question.

thank you.