Browse by Artist: BATOH, MASAKI

Artist:	BATOH, MASAKI
Title:	Collected Works 1995-1996
Label:	DRAG CITY
Format:	CD
Price:	$13.50
Catalog #:	DC 180CD

"The works that Collected Works collects are A Ghost From The Darkened Sea and Kikaokubeshi, two albums recorded and released in 1995 and 1996, during the final period of conceptualization for Ghost's Lama Rabi Rabi album. These two solo records allowed Batoh to explore musics and textures in an entirely free space from the already quite free (and rapidly morphing) Ghost. This is a solo record in a very complete sense: acoustic guitar, marimba, harmonium, voodoo drum, bells, hurdy gurdy, organ, drums, horns, duff, Moog synthesizer and the mysterious 'giri giri pee' are all played by Batoh. In addition, field recordings done by Batoh are in the mix -- birds, seashore, winds on a bluff, industrial noise, metro, mountains, etc. The two works are fundamentally different: A Ghost From The Darkened Sea being an earthy collection of folk-songs; Kikaokubeshi composed almost entirely of a dreamy ambience."

Artist:	BATOH, MASAKI
Title:	Brain Pulse Music
Label:	DRAG CITY
Format:	CD
Price:	$13.50
Catalog #:	DC 471CD

"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. All seven Brain Pulse Music tracks are a prayer/requiem. They are a 'tamashizume' (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--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."

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