Our friend "Gore Tech" has
released a new album "Geist Fiber" from Ohm Resistance.
This album has the most cyberpunk sound and
worldview in the modern electronic music scene. The hybrid style is based on
Drum'n'Bass and mixed Punk, Techno and Doom. Of course, his basic Breakcore
mentality is also reflected.
In this article, Gore Tech wrote about the Japanese culture that influenced for "Geist Fiber".
In this article, Gore Tech wrote about the Japanese culture that influenced for "Geist Fiber".
1. Ikeuchi Product
I became aware of his work through various
online cyberpunk art communities a couple of years ago, then more recently you
posted a picture of one my postcards from my last album next to one of his
headsets in your shared studio. I knew then that I might have a chance of
getting in contact for some art for Geist Fibre. He emailed back and gave me
blessings to use some of his work from his 'Ready Made' collection. His work is
exquisite I love how imaginative and detailed his sets are given they're fully
functional. One day I can see me owning one of his units in a glass cabinet
here in my studio for inspiration. I also love his dioramas as well.
2. Katsuhiko Otomo
The undisputed godfather of science-fiction
manga. I read the original manga when I was in collage in England and fell in
love with the depth of the story, I've since been blessed to have seen the
original subtitled version of Akira in Manchester's Corner House for the 25th
Anniversary of the film. I still watch it once every two or three months. His
later work with 'Short Peace' is equally spellbinding.
3. Tsutomu Nihei
Tsutomu Nihei's work has got under my skin
in a way I never thought possible, I was sent some of his work by a friend in
the UK. BLAME! Is a perfect symbiosis of brutalist architecture, surrealism,
and cyber-gothic character design. It leaves you with more questions than
answers as a good story should. there's so little dialogue in the entire series
it leaves you filling in all the gaping blanks. It's a masterpiece. I went out
and immediately bought Abara, and Biomega too. Total Alice In Wonderland meets
H.R Giger, I look forward to the collaboration between Billain, 1000 toys and
TOA Heavy Industries. Exciting times ahead.
4. Ghost in The Shell
This film had a massive impact on me when I
first watched it. The original trans-humanist cyber-punk odyssey of discovery,
I loved the 1996 anime, it's still one of my all time favourite films and
Innocence as well. I really appreicate the time focused on the philosophical
elements of the series as in what it is to be human. The track 'Thermoptics'
was themed on the juxtaposition of feelings experienced by the Major,
specifically her coming to understand what it is to be a human. other notable
Masamune Shirow productions - Dominion Tank Police and Ninja Scroll
excellent story telling.
5. Japanese Breakcore(Ove-NaXx, Maruosa, DJ Scotch Egg, etc)
Where do I start!, I actually saw DJ Scotch
Egg on his Wrong Music Takeover at Bangface this last weekend, just as fresh as
when I first went to Belgium aged 19 and saw him play with Ove-NaXx at the Osaka
Invasion, I also have the Maruosa 10" on KRISS here in my collection too.
Breakcore was born out of the Internet, it's the only music scene that didn't
come from an area or City. As such the Japanese have been at the forefront of
Breakcore from it's very start. Thanks -in part- to labels like Murder Channel
for representing the international styles to the Japanese audiences and exporting
their acts across the world.
6. Murder Channel("From The Earth To The Skyscrapers")
Very proud of this album, it still seems to
do well, it was more of a compilation than a cohesive album as it's the only
work I've completed that wasn't based around some sort of concept but it has a
lot of energy, I would love to go back and re-build some of the tracks on the
album with what I know now about music production. But that's part of the charm
I suppose. Great ideas, not so well executed. Maybe if I cleaned them up they'd
lose the punk vibes. Massive artwork by the awesome Futurog / Shift. Arigato
Murder Channel!
7. Hideo Kojima
This one man supernatural cyber-naught is
something of a legend to me, I played Metal Gear Solid to death as a kid and then
later Metal Gear Solid Sons of Liberty with its stark warning of the future as
an ending (no spoilers) I was captivated. I've followed his work through Silent
Hill (though these were way too scary for me, I'm not afraid to admit :) ) But
his latest work 'Death Stranding' has me excited all over again the same way I
was excited for MGS. More supernatural existentialism, not a common theme in
most mainstream media but Kojima manages to keep coming at it from various
angles.
8. The Mad Capsule Markets
Gone but not forgotten, I have been
listening to them again recently, my only regret was not buying their merch and
vinyls as it's worth a bomb these days. Sadly I never got to see them play live
but [Mad Capsule Markets] had a massive impact on me, They really took the DHR
/ Punk vibe and ran with it. Favourite tracks, Restart! and Chaos Step. RIP MCM
9. Merzbow
No list of Japanese creative pioneers would
be complete without mentioning Merzbow. Pulse Demon was my first introduction
to his work when I was younger. I still like to use a lot of discordant noise
in my own production, I put this down to listening to Masami's music. I was
fortunate enough to be involved with the team at Cold Spring in bringing Merzbow
to Manchester to record a special live album with drummer Balazs at the
legendary FAC251 in 2016.
10. Pigma Pens
Japan has the best pens, I use Pigma pens
for all of my illustrations (Sponsorship welcome ;)
Gore Tech
Gore Tech
