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experiments in music

Test Tone vol. 69

Test Tone 69 flyer

Sound Experiments

Test Tone 69: Counterpoints of Accelerated Springtime

May 10th, 2011 (Tuesday) 20:00 to 23:00 at Super Deluxe, Nishi Azabu, Tokyo.

Abarenbow Teng

Abarenbow TengWelcome to the resplendent solo guitar project of Abarenbow Teng, a masked musician from the Tokyo underground choosing to perform incognito.

Taking some cues from a select list of post-rock heroes, Abarenbow Teng weaves evocative themes into multi-layered aural tapestries, slowly composing a dreamy soundtrack to match any deep desert road trip.

Abarenbow Teng

Abarenbow Teng on Myspace

Sajjanu

SajjanuWith a 2009 release on John Zorn's Tzadik label, Sajjanu took their monolithic sound, amazingly conceived with only three members, to international ears. Composed of an all-star trio of prog-rock shredders hailing from groups like Green Milk From the Planet Orange, Massimo and Mahiruno, the lunacy in the music may seem par for the course, but this project is something altogether unique.

Their elaborate compositions apparently come from a game of rock-scissors-paper, which ultimately decides who will write the next section of music. What results is a mixture of highform metal weirdness and downright unfathomable fun.

Sajjanu

Sajjanu on Myspace

Hununhum

HununhumWith compositions that call to mind Hermeto Pascoal, Captain Beefheart and early Boredoms, Hununhum deliver twisted hardcore riffs with the same ease that they execute complex contrapuntal lines and syncopated vocal phrasing.

Made up of vocals, sax, bass, guitar, drums, keyboards, percussion and more, the group has obviously emerged from a number of musical explorations that have evolved into a multiform arrangement of influences. Bewilderingly complex, yet eminently listenable, Hununhum offers a wild and unique musical journey.

Hununhum

Hununhum on Myspace

dbqp (lighting)

dbqpRecently, following a wave of laptop-centric visual artists, there has been a move back towards the analog and lighting aspects in live performance. dbqp has been taking this approach for a couple of years now with his lighting unit OHPIA, using overhead projectors with fluid textures and cell lighting for an overall psychedelic experience.

With a completely DIY setup, he uses translucent liquids, holographic lighting, shadow pictures, psychedelic moving collage and video projection to create a world of alien-ghost sightings and other cosmic encounters.

dbqp on Myspace

Evil Penguin

Evil Penguin Master of disguises, Mexican top-hats, ambient rockabilly to minimal Hawaiian Kumulipo chants, the Evil Penguin poses the primordial question of evanescence against a backdrop of New Wave folk. Celebratory, subliminal, moment-to-moment. A Tasmanian treasure with a penchant for open spaces.