Boredoms | Starlight Ballroom 4.2.08

An explosive, chaotic, hypnotic, and relentless rhythm rave is what Japanoise band Boredoms brought to Starlight Ballroom last night in Philadelphia. Their nearly ninety-minute set ranged from minimal beats and ambient washes to a full on aural assault of thundering tribal percussion and crushing primal noise.

Frontman Yamatsuka Eye opened the set on a pitch black stage swinging around a pair of trippy MIDI controlled light orbs that produced growling electronic feedback every time they were shaken. The noise produced by the glowing orbs steadily matured into a consistent thump, gaining intensity that culminated when the lighting was switched on and the triple drum attack of Muneomi Senju, Yojiro, Yoshimi P-We was unleashed. Eye threw the orbs to the floor and tore into the “Sevena,” a seven necked guitar that he played percussively with an array of baton like drumsticks. A dizzying stampede of flowing rhythms and sonic layers blasted from the stage setting the tone for the rest of the show.

Perhaps most impressively, the trio of drummers performed non-stop, like clockwork at times rising off their seats to pound on their snares, toms, and cymbals. Equally amazing is that they had unbelievable endurance, finishing the set and encore stronger than when they began. Eye was like a torrent on the stage and had a seemingly relentless amount of energy. He rotated between wailing on the Sevena with various sized “drumsticks,” producing melodic drones and creating blankets of noise on a joystick controlled synth. Between his duties on the synth and Sevena, he would let out indecipherable shrieks and exclamations like “Ha. Ha. Bia! Bia! Boog boog boog. Bia! Eeeeeet!” If I weren’t witnessing it first hand I would have assumed there was a pterodactyl on stage when Eye hit his “Eeeeet!” notes. Much to the dismay of the roadie/soundguy who tuned the seven-neck guitar throughout the set, Eye managed to break many of the strings on the upper necks during the final song.

Toward the end of the set, my ears were absolutely pummeled and I made my way toward the back of the crowd where I learned that Eye had a broken foot and was wearing an air cast the entire show. I went into the show being a more casual Boredoms listener, not super familiar with the band’s catalog, but I can see myself delving deeper into their records following last night’s torrent of a live show.

Live, Boredoms sound is nothing short of IMMENSE. I left the former roller skating rink, turned club, halfway through the encore, ears ringing as the band, never tiring, sent blasts of noise pouring into the gritty desolate streets around me.

Boredoms finish up their U.S. tour tonight at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC.

NOTE: The picture accompanying this post is from Trent Wolbe, the band had asked not to be photographed during their show last night.

[MP3]: Boredoms  ”B For Boredoms”
Chocolate Synthesizer, WEA/Reprise/Very Friendly; 1994

Artefacts for Space Travel Gives Us Inspiration to “Recoop”

Artefacts For Space Travel are a young dystopian three piece from South London consisting of Joseph Walsh, Sam Walsh, and Alex Griffiths. The trio plays a loud and energy packed mix of punk and apocalyptic pop. Themes of the group’s songs are centered on death, childhood, the cosmos, romance, and a dystopian future. Songs bend from noisy and growling psychedelia to panic stricken punk packed full of modern and haunting melodies.

I’ve had “Recoop,” the b-side of the band’s single “Lucy” on repeat for the last week or so, sucked in by the catchy chorus line sung by guitarist Joe Walsh; “recoup because you’re so young”. It’s funny that I discovered the track (and band) around this time, because it’s perfectly fitting for my dad, who’s currently recouping from a busted up arm. The poor guy took a nasty fall about two weeks ago and not only broke his radius in half, but also dislocated his ulna from his wrist sending it tearing three-inches out of his skin. The image accompanying this post is the actual x-ray from his left arm about two hours after the accident took place. Awesome! Here’s to “recooping” dad and also providing some rad “exclusive” content for the site. Ha! Try not to bust yourself up any more and make sure to get your ass to physical therapy!

Artefacts For Space Travel embark on the “Stolen Tour” in the UK on April 8th followed by an appearance at the Great Escape Festival in Brighton and more local shows in June. “Lucy” is out now on Stolen Recordings and available for download. More info on the band’s MySpace page.

[MP3]: Artefacts For Space Travel  ”Recoop”
Lucy Single, Stolen Recordings; 2008

TONIGHT! FRICTION @ Mercury Lounge w/ Crystal Castles

GET HYPE! Crystal Castles, HEALTH, Team Robespierre, and Apache Beat are primed to mess with your ears tonight at the Mercury Lounge for our SOLD OUT installment of FRICTION. Crystal Castles bring their distorted electro all the way from Toronto, while HEALTH’s blasts of noise mess with your head, this of course, after locals Team Robespierre and Apache Beat freak you out with their spazzed-out pop-screamo and tropical psychedelia. Dayton Ohio’s, Ruckus Roboticus will be spinning his own tracks between sets. Afterparty to follow at The Annex.

Doors open @ 7:30PM. MP3′s, full details, and more. Here

Crystal Castles cover photo © Ren Rox 2007
Crystal Castles (above) © Patrick Parault 2007

Apse Prep New EP, Album, and Tour Europe

Avante-garde post-rock outfit Apse are gearing up for a busy 2008. The last time we checked in with the Cape Cod, MA six-piece was in 2006 on the heels of their elegant LP Spirit. Originally released on Spanish imprint Acuarela Discos, the record will be re-released in May this year (according to the band “60 days from March 5th”) via ATP Recordings.

In addition to the re-release of Spirit, the band will also be dropping a 45-minute EP titled Eras initially in a beautifully packaged vinyl-only format in April and eventually in CD/digital format by mid-summer. The extended EP “will feature new material, covering a range of different kinds of songwriting and experimentation. It has musical ties to Spirit, but is the most progressive, experimental and exploratory record the band as made to date.”

Following the EP, the sextet plans to unleash a brand new full-length in the autumn which is currently in the works with over 30 new tracks. Apse won’t just be busy in the studio though, they have lined up an aggressive European tour that kicks off on April 24th and continues well into May, including a stop at All Tomorrow’s Parties. Here’s to hoping for some U.S. dates (outside of New England would be nice).

The tracklisting for the EP along with some mp3′s to tie you over are below, including the grinding “Up In The Eaves” from the Eras EP.

[MP3]: Apse  ”Keep”
Apse, Acuarela Discos; 2005
[MP3]: Apse  ”Shade of the Moor”
Spirit, Acuarela Discos; 2006
[MP3]: Apse  ”Up in the Eaves”
Eras EP, Equation Records/Acuarela Discos/ATP; 2008

Eras Tracklisting:
Side A
01. “Cyd”
02. “Ark”
03. “Up In The Eaves”
04. “Gloom”
05. “The Letter”

Side B
01. “Deathless”
02. “Wishlist”
03. “The Tipping”
04. “Black Stars”
05. “Salt Of The Earth”