On 2 /28 /12 Batoh's new solo album
is out by Drag City. |
Masaki Batoh Brain Pulse Music DC471 LP/CD List Price:
$18.98/$14.98 Track Listing Masaki Batoh's Brain Pulse Music is the result of years of research into the bioelectric functions of the human brain combined with the traumatic aftermath of Japan's Great East Earthquake. When Batoh initially conceived the idea for this project, it was purely out of interest to realize music from extracted brain waves. There have been performers in the past who have made similar claims, but they have utilized electric current, static electricity and blood flow volume in the brain. Brain Pulse Music is contrived from brain waves, in the purest sense of the word. Notes included in the album package further explain the science behind Batoh's methods. Batoh's intention was to create a machine, similar in function to an effects pedal, which would interface with the brain waves in a therapeutic way allowing the user to make adjustments to normalize brain wave levels. This could prove to be an effective means of treating depression and anxiety disorder but could also help everyone else get their righteous heads together as well. The album was to be made entirely of BPM music; the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011 altered this plan while emphasizing the importance of it's deepest concern. The recording session was postponed as the studio was closed due to aftershocks that continued to shake the grounds of Tokyo. Scheduled blackouts and radioactive contamination forced residents to temporarily evacuate the city. Although Tokyo is some 230 km away from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, radiation levels reached above 0.34'SV and placed the city under serious danger. Meanwhile, thousands of lives were lost, and the stricken northern regions of Japan were devastated. Since that day, patients complaining of mental instability increased at Batoh's acupuncture clinic, and people were ridden with anxiety. With his family still in evacuation as he concentrated on treating his patients, the concept of this album slowly began to come into focus. What was initially to be an austere demonstration of experimental bio-electric procedures was fully realized as part of Batoh's ongoing effort to use electonic and musical processes to reconcile the spirit and the body. All seven Brain Pulse Music tracks are a prayer/requiem. They are a "Mitamashizume" (a requiescat) and "Tamafuri" (reinvigoration of the withered soul) to the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Two pieces are composed of BPM machine recordings; the remaining five are rhythms and melodies commonly heard in religious rituals and provincial festivals using traditional Japanese instruments. This seems to have been a natural reaction for Batoh, considering these rituals were quite often carried out to appease gods thought to cause epidemics and disasters ﾊfor instance, the famous Gion and Aoi festivals held in Kyoto both originated as a purification ritual addressing the gods that bring about calamity upon the people. The BPM recordings are the furthest incursion Batoh has made into the deep space and mystery of the human condition. The acoustic recordings are the purest expressions of his traditional folk influence that he has released in over twenty years of music-making, a deep and soulful expression intended to calm and aid in the healing of all around him. And so from the rubble of Japan's damaged bodies and minds, the power of Brain Pulse Music has emerged. A concomitant objective of Brain Pulse Music is to donate the proceeds from the sales of the album to the disaster victims through Japan Red Cross. COMING SOON! OWN A BRAIN PULSE MACHINE OF YOUR OWN! --- Brain
Pulse Music in DRAG CITY shop People Spread This Link Over The World To Save Nuke Accident Victims
In Japan!
＜タイトルが意味する所／BPMとは何か？＞ タイトルが意味するものは同義語として２つあります。まず今回開発したBPMを使用する１と、邦楽器による２です。いずれも大脳辺縁系に働きかけ、安定した脳波＝精神状態＝身体環境 を得るものであります。究極の目的は脳神経系の先天的異常（発達障害やてんかんを含む）患者に対し、治療機器として用い自己の異常スパイク（異常脳波）を抑制すること、正常安定値を獲得する訓練として発展させる事であります。また、鬱症候群、パニック障害などの健常者が BPMとはBrain Pulse Musicの略称です。今回我々が開発したBPM machine は、馬頭の要請によって（株）MKCの開発、制作により実現化しました。machineは、ヘッドセットと本体のマザーボードとから成ります。レコーディングでは更に、脳波のレベルが一目で分かるようにマザーボードとシンクロしたインディケーターランプを眼前に配した特殊なゴーグルを装着して演奏しています。ヘッドセットは、演奏者の頭に装着します。主に頭頂葉部と前頭葉部から採取した脳波をマザーボードへ無線送信します。マザーボードでは、それらの電波をジェネレーターを通じてパルス波へ変換して音像として出力するというものです。 もちろん同時進行の為、刻々の精神状態を反映する脳波が瞬時に音として私たちの耳に聴こえるわけです。手に楽器を持たずして、精神状態をコントロールすることによって自在に音を操れます。ただ、一定の修練は必要です。誰しも装着してすぐに納得の行くコントロールはできないでしょう。基本的には瞑想状態の脳がα波を始め、δ波やθ波寄りに推移することによって反応します。リラックス、または超能力や念力とも全く異なる、完全なる無我の境地から微細な脳波の揺らぎを捉えるmachineです。リラックスした精神状態中で現れる「覚醒」が最も重要なカギとなります。 ＜作品の主旨＞ ７曲全てが祝詞／レクイエム。犠牲者全てへの鎮魂と魂振り（霊振）。 当初、本作品の制作を想起した際に馬頭が持っていたものは、純粋に脳波を抽出した音楽の具現化でした。過去に同じ文句をうたった演奏家はいましたが、いずれも頭部の付帯電流、静電気や脳内血流量を用いたもので、純粋に脳波の音楽ではありませんでした。アルバムは全てBPM音楽に統一される予定でしたが、２０１１年３月１１日の東日本大震災によって全てが変わりました。レコーディングセッション この大震災以降、馬頭の鍼灸クリニックでは精神状態の悪化を訴える患者が急増し、人々は不安に苛まれました。家族を疎開させたまま日々治療に打ち込むうちに、アルバムのコンセプトは、当初の極めて実験的で無機質なエレクトロニクスから魂と肉体の融和を目指す有機的なものへと変容を遂げたのです。それは日本の伝統楽器を使った、ごくありふれた郷里の祭事や神事でのリズムであり、旋律でした。ごく 録音は、BPMの実験録音と邦楽器を使った熊野写本の２本だて。一見全く関係のない音楽同士に見えますが、どちらも死界へ旅立った者達と、この世に残って生き続ける者達への鎮魂と、聴く者達全ての精神安寧＝肯定的な脳波の変化 を目的として作られた究極の楽曲なのです。 日本で定義する鎮魂（みたましずめ）とは、西洋キリスト文化圏でいう requiem とは全く解釈が異なります。死者の冥福を祈る挽歌ではなく、重大な事柄に面した時に、遊離した、或は遊離しようとする魂を鎮め、肉体に繋ぎ止める呪術を言います。逆の作用をするものに魂振（たまふり） |
2012年、Damon &
Naomi With Ghostのアルバムが再発。|
Back in print on vinyl and for the first time on Drag City CDs,Damon & Naomi with Ghost is a sweet meeting of mind and soul featuring Ghost's Masaki Batoh and Michio Kurihara in full collaboration with the titular hero and heroine. Everybody brings their heaviest and lightest sounds and the album ? a pre freak-folk freaky folk excursion ? now meets us on the other side, all charms intact. "If the soaring arc of Damon and Naomi's melodies intersecting with Ghost's earthly meditations doesn't bring a tear to your eye, there's a chance you are already dead. This is mountain-peak listening par excellence." --Ben Chasny (Six Organs of Admittance) "PS - And I don't consider the mountain-peak comment hyperbolic. I have actually listened to this record on a mountain-peak!" |
Ghost Overture: Live in Nippon Yusen Soko 発売中
- 9 Oct 2006 DVD+CD DC330
●米Drag Cityから発売 国内盤の発売予定はありません
● Tower Record, HMV, Virgin 等で入手可能です
● Amazon
http://www.amazon.co.jp/Overture-Live-Nippon-Yusen-Soko/dp/B000V3OUYS/ref=
sr_1_9/250-3307428-2158666?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1187622623&sr=1-9
GHOST Overture: Live In Nippon Yusen Soko 2006 DC330 CD/DVD
List Price:
$18.98
Release Date: October
At sunset on the night of October 9th, 2006, a crowd gathered
at Nippon
Yusen Soko, a converted warehouse space located on Yokahama Bay.
Their
purpose: to see and hear new music played by Ghost. Once they
had completely
arrived, the doors were shut and locked and the announcement made:
no one
would enter or exit the space until the performance was complete.
Starting
in complete darkness, the performance was spun, like yarn from
a cocoon.
The set for this evening was not just new to the audience. For
this event,
Ghost played entirely improvised material. Improvisation is the
wellspring
of creation for Ghost, both live and in the studio, though they?ve
never
made an entire album of improvisations until now. In order to
not miss a
single inspiration, Ghost brought their orchestra?s-worth of
instrumentation, playing bass, drums, piano, electric and acoustic
guitars,
saxophones, flute, tin-whistle, bells, frame drums, lute, tabla-baya,
waterphone and even tapes!
The performance space was chosen for its sonic qualities such
as natural
reverb as well as its resemblance to Potala Palace in Lhasa ＾
an ancient
meditation retreat. Band members were spaced apart to prevent
eye contact
and allow distance for the reverberations to unfold between them
＾ which in
turn, were recorded by four microphones spaced distantly from
the band and
faced toward the walls, in order to catch the sound in the room
with the
audience present as well as the echo of that sound.
The CD performance is an edited version of the evening?s events
＾ but the
DVD is a completely live, four-camera view into the collective
journey of
Ghost and their audience. In addition to the sounds and sights
of the band
in action, the viewer will also experience the atmospheres created
by
Overheads, whose far-ranging light works (and subtle placement
of a lace
curtain) enhanced the mood within Nippor Usen Soko that night.
Ghost?s music has always been projected into the universe and
eternity ＾ and
with Overture, it has been captured, in distinct aural and visual
versions
for our immortal witness.
Selling Points
- Overture is a two-disc (CD and DVD) package featuring all-new
music from
Japan?s Ghost.
- Following their new studio album In Stormy Nights earlier in
2007,
Overture brings Ghost?s living spirit of improvisation to this
multimedia
release.
- Overture is the third Ghost live document ＾ Temple Stone LP/CD
(now OOP)
and the CD/DVD Metamorphosis. Ghost live is something Ghost in
the studio
can never be.
- We invite you to compare and contrast the crafty edited CD version
from
Ghost?s longtime producer Taihi Takizawa with the utterly live
DVD version.
Both are the same performance!
- The live sound of Ghost is a singular craft. Ghost have only
played a
single tour in Europe and won?t return to America until the people
change
their course, but Overture provides at-home sounds and visions
until that
time.
- Overture is unique entertainment that we will rally support
for in the
pages of international publications and entertainment centers.
- Overture will be sent o all concerned retailers ＾ state your
concern!
--------------------------------------------------------------
●８枚目の新作 "In Stormy Nights (嵐の夜に)" 発売中！
呪術的フォークチューンから結成初期を想起させるアグレッシブなインプロ曲、
更には現代音楽的解釈を遥かに超越した野卑極まりないティンパニ組曲が混在した珠
玉の作品。蛮嵐の夜想か涅槃の夢か メンバー達が最高傑作と自負する最新盤を貴方
の耳で御確認下さい。
リリース：
1/ 7 P-Vine Records(日) CD
1/23 Drag City(米) [DC313] CD/LP
●日本盤は歌詞、対訳付き
●アナログLPは２枚組で曲順が異なります。又、ボーナストラックとして
「Caledonia」の "SING TOGETHER MIX" が追加
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
GHOST In Stormy Nights DC330 2xLP/CD List Price: $16.98/$14.98
Release Date: January 23, 2007
CD Track Listing:
Motherly Bluster Hemicyclic Anthelion Gareki No Toshi - Water
Door Yellow
Gate Caledonia Grisalle
LP Track Listing:
Hemicyclic Anthelion Water Door Yellow Gate Gareki No Toshi Motherly
Bluster
Caldeonia Grisalle Caledonia 'Sing Together Mix'
In stormy nights we live and survive, seeing through the darkness,
the wind
and the rain to another dawn and a new day?
Over the hour's-worth of music and sound that makes In Stormy
Nights, Ghost
apply their folk sounds, improvisations and avant-garde constructions
to a
savage evocation. In the world we live in today, we can only imagine
what
this means. And we agree.
Throughout In Stormy Nights there are a variety of sounds and
songs, ranging
from pop-folk numbers to hard rock to outre´ concepts held together
by
Ghost's diverse musical personality. The essence of Ghost is the
epic
?Hemicyclic Anthelion.' Nearly thirty minutes of free improvisation
from
several live shows are strung together into a seamless progression.
This
piece is a cornerstone of In Stormy Nights and the a representation
of
original approach of Ghost pure improvisation. Ghost are forever
looking
for themselves in the music they make. To make ordinary beauty
is easy, but
Ghost are listening beyond that. Even the acid-folky songs are
based in
improvisation.
Over the years, Ghost have never had the same lineup twice
on any of their
album sessions until now. The In Stormy Nights Ghost is the same
Ghost that
recorded Hypnotic Underworld and the same group that thundered
across the US
in 2004. They display intense power on these new recordings, incorporating
frame drums and tympanis and the "springer" (a device
made by Batoh that
contains metal springs, a resonance box, plasma ball (light) and
rotating
machine to create a heavy yet theremin-like sound) into their
already-diverse orchestra. The center of the album is a series
of
tympani-driven songs that rock with a fury, mirroring the martial
mood of
our governments a mood that musicians and artists may not share
in beyond
reflecting it. This powerful section concludes with an absolutely
blasting
cover of Cromagnon's 'Caledonia' a favorite band of Ghost?s that
they are
delighted to share with listeners in this fashion.
The CD concludes as it began: Grisalle' and 'Motherly Bluster'
form an
eternal loop, rising about the chaos at the center. In Stormy
Nights Ghost
survive and flourish.
Selling Points
- In Stormy Nights is the new album from Japan?s Ghost.
- Following the acclaimed Hypnotic Underworld and the audio-visual
delights
of the career-spanning Metamorphosis DVD, In Stormy Nights is
new directions
in music from Ghost.
- The 2xLP version of In Stormy Nights is a different sequence
and contains
an additional version of Cromagnon's "Caldonia" the
"Sing Together" mix. A
lyric sheet is included for all aspirant singers-along.
- The cover graphic for In Stormy Nights was painted by Heinrich
Hermann
Mebes before World War I.
- The live sound of Ghost will move even the most remote listener.
Ghost
won?t return to America until after the exit of the Bush administration,
but
In Stormy Nights will supply their extremely lively sounds in
the meanwhile.
- In Stormy Nights contains messages tht need to heard a full
mailing to
press and radio will help carry these messages to the world.
- POP for In Stormy Nights will be sent to all concerned retailers.
Let your
voice be heard!
DRAG CITY
* Metamorphosis Ghost Chronicles 1984-2004 DC279 DVD
2005年3月21日 DragCity Recordsよりリリース
〜Ghost初のDVD作品が登場。過去から最新ライブまで２０年間の映像記録を収録。
また、初期Ghostの膨大な未発表音源から編集したCDをカップリング。
Ghost結成２０周年を記念した映像の集大成。殆どの方が見る機会のなかった寺院、
教会といった場所での<Live Temple>ツアーや結成初期に行なわれていたというハプ
ニング的・政治的要素の強い市街ゲリラ演奏、舞踏との共演、海外公演、最新のライ
ブ記録など盛り沢山。８０年代の音源を中心とした未発表作品その殆どはGhostの出
発点となった即興演奏でワイルドかつ瞑想的実験色の濃い楽曲です。
Drag Cityよりリリース情報です。全て国内盤発売の予定はありません。大型輸入CD
ショップ等でお買い求め下さい。 http://www.dragcity.com/news.html
〜永らく入手困難になっていた Ghost 関連作品のリイシューです。９月発売予定。
* Collected Works 1995-1996 Masaki Batoh DC180 LP/CD
当時 L.AのレーベルNow Soundが発表したGhostのリーダー馬頭將噐の1st&2nd ソ
ロ LPが一枚のCDとして登場。
http://www.dragcity.com/catalog/records/dc180.html
* Live At Your Cosmic
Mind Sweet & Honey DC181 CD limited edition
