V/A-MAX VARIETY SHOW!!, CD, 1997, JAPAN

This largely staggering compilation of Japanese experimental electronic artists (barring the mysterious inclusion of U.S. composer Carl Stone) offers up a seriously disorienting array of largely unknown synthetic weirdity. Commencing any compilation with a track by the completely astounding Kimitaka Matsumae (whom I've posted several CD's by including his work in Expo) is certainly gonna get my attention and his Speed-Racer-meets-Pong contribution here is acutely whacked. Elsewhere, @sushi contribute a rather pointless stretch of disjunctive slow speed tape splutter, legendary computer music composer Carl Stone offers up something unexpectedly video game doinky and playful, Hitomi Shiraishi with Boctok contribute squelchy electronica eviscerations somewhere between Nobukazu Takemura and L@N, Masayuki Akamatsu drifts in on wispy tendrils of electronic filigree and delicately hovers in place to lovely effect, EV do some sorta retarded mulched drum 'n' bass thing, Nobuyasu Sakonda staggers into view with a brain damaging romper room inversion of the Werkbund/ Mechthild Von Leusch aesthetic that has to be heard to be believed, Masahiro Miwa offer a winningly confounding melange of tape collage, computer speech and piano arabesques and Cubic label recording artist Kyo Ichinose picks up the rear with escalating swaths of harmonic turbulence of an almost symphonic cast that close out the proceedings with a pronounced bang.

Get part one Here

Get part two Here