Space Streakings - Hatsu Koi,CD,1993,Japan
The Boredoms, Shonen Knife and Pizzicato Five may get all the media attention, but there's a lot more to contemporary Japanese rock than that. With a cast that reads like a badly translated film festival — Captain Insect (bass, programming), Karate Condor (guitar, guitar synth, vocoder), Screaming Stomach (vocals, guitar, trumpet) and Kame Bazooka (vocals, sax, guitar) — Space Streakings creates hyper-speed meltdown noise, a thick hysterical barrage of galloping electronic percussion, horns, whistles, samples and shouted Japanese vocals, achieving a disjointed level of frenzy that suggests a flooding factory full of workers scrambling for the exits in a blind panic. Far more boisterous and a lot less methodical than American industrialists, the quartet rushes in and around its tracks, layering bits on to a point of distraction in which chaos would come as a welcome relief. Kazuyuki K. Null of Zeni Geva produced Hatsu-Koi ("First Love"); Steve Albini attended to the studio documentation of 7-Toku. Short-attention-span fans never had it so good, but neither album is for the easily agitated.
[Ira Robbins]
For Trouser Press
7 comments:
Interesting anecdote:
I went to see Space Streaking at some point in the mid-late nineties in Boston (@ The Middle East). They were touring behind a collaborative LP with Mount Shasta. UNFORTUNATELY their van broke down and they canceled. We were told we could go downstairs to see 'Built To Spill', which is like saying "We're all out of the whiskey you ordered, how about a nice glass of warm milk?". Needless to say, my friend Audra and I left and headed back for Maine. About twenty minutes from her house, a blinding light appeared in the sky, so bright that it was a complete distraction. Staring in amazement, we drove off the road and onto a beach. Unharmed, we jumped out as this multi color object silently crept slowly over the dark horizon.
TRUE STORY.
I did the manufacturing and U.S. distribution for Nux Organization, which released this album (via Charnel Music). The Space Streakings were a great band, only played one tour over here in the U.S. before they essentially broke up. I've lost touch with the guys since then. Someone should reissue this Cd at some point...
-- Mason
Thanks.
I saw this band live in Atlanta, GA. What a show! The guitarist had a chainsaw engine in his instrument, and wore the truck horn as a backpack. Some dreadlocked troll decided he would enjoy the show more from the front row with no pants on. I think Mount Shasta played with them. Cool guys
What a great band. Thank you.
Thanks a lot. Does anyone have 7 toku?
An interesting and enjoyable listen. There are still copies available to purchase on Cd from various Amazon stores both new and second hand.
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