KVR Audio

dystonia_ek · Post by **dystonia_ek** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 12:50 pm

It says something about Koji Tano's character and influence that, in just 23 days, 150 artists from 31 countries immediately responded to his death with this incredible requiem to an irreplaceable pillar of the international underground.

This tribute, in itself, is a testament to Koji's vision of a close-knit community that thrives without borders and that continues to grow without any need to adopt the tactics of the mainstream music industry.

While Koji's own incredible work as MSBR and Magmax pushed the boundaries of noise-as-music to, and beyond, their limits, his influence was felt beyond his own genre, and amongst the noise and power electronics artists here you will also find neo-folksters, industrialists, free-improvisers of all sorts, techno and electronica and some other things that there isn't a name for yet.

Even if this isn't your sort of thing, please take the time to read through the artists statements on the project page, just to get an idea of the impact this one man had on so many people worldwide, both personally and artistically.

I feel that there's no better way to introduce this than to quote Reinhard from Stahlwerk 9:

" "And silently the dead friend's hand is moving" was the title of my track for Koji's Denzatsu compilation. A great chance for me to participate in something greater than what I've known so far. And now his dead hand is moving us all. How to find suitable words for someone I have never known as a person,whose hand I've never touched, whose eye I've never looked into? A friend? Maybe, yes...and no, as we will never talk to each other anymore. But I can listen to all the soundscapes he created and feel at least a little bit the way he did, a bit closer to his inner self. So I dare say that we are friends in this special way and that his dead hand is moving me as well. This track is the least way to say that. But the main thing is that we must not forget him, and his work may help us not to do so. Behind each single sound we have got from him stood his decision, his thoughts, his feelings, his anger, his love. But apart from all this mourning, let us not forget that we all will follow him one day or the other, so let us use our time the best possible way we know and be friends here on earth. Don't wait until another dead friend's hand reminds us that we have wasted far too much time with ourselves again. I want to say "thank you" and "good bye" to a man who cannot hear me saying that any more. And yet I wish for us to think of all the living people outside before it's too late. - "Thank you, Koji""

The tribute is split into 10 .zip files, intended to be burned on individual CD's. The cover art is there as .jpeg files. Additionally, there are mp3's of two of Koji's last live performances on the page - for those unfamiliar with his work, the solo performance gives some indication of where he was heading these last days.

Please note that CD's 9 and 10 have not been fully transferred yet, so until the notice to that effect has been removed from the page, please do not attempt to download those two files.

Huge thanks are due to Max Presch for taking the huge initiative of organising this. Koji would be proud.

http://www.steinklang-records.at/koji-tano.html

dystonia_ek · Post by **dystonia_ek** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 1:21 pm

Just listening to CD1 - nice string etude + shakuhachi from A Challenge of Honour and moody dark ambient from Tardive Dyskinesia so far...

[edit] just on Seamus' track - total Basic Channel-style minimal ambient/house, even! This is much more diverse than I would have imagined...

shamann · Post by **shamann** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 3:44 pm

I've only had a chance to listen to one of the MSBR live tracks so far. Really fantastic stuff.

dystonia_ek · Post by **dystonia_ek** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 3:53 pm

Even better if you attended one of his shows - the amazing thing was that he was so focused and motionless, seated behind his little table, controlling feedback through his effects chains with microscopic, imperceptible movements, radiating this total serenity and calm, while churning out such ferocity. A marked contrast from Government Alpha's beer-swilling, table-jumping rock-and-roll-animal-who-can't-be-tamed approach the same night.
The only other artist I've seen who had that aura of utter calm was Merzbow.

shamann · Post by **shamann** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 4:23 pm

Not noise so much, but Labradford live were like that. Although ultimately a different effect as I wouldn't liken it to calm so much as being in a coma. The effect is probably different because it seems less like the eye of the storm and more like a few guys paralyzed behind their wall of gear.

dystonia_ek · Post by **dystonia_ek** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 4:26 pm

What I meant was that the overall effect was that he was doing it all with his mind, without moving. The effect was uncanny.
During his soundcheck he methodically tested some more gestural possibilities (including a contact miked toy duck with wheels) but none of this made it into his actual set.

shamann · Post by **shamann** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 4:39 pm

I got what you meant. I think the stillness would be most striking against a backdrop of chaotic noise. I wish I had had the chance to see him live.

The Labradford story was meant slightly humourously, as to this day I'm not sure they were even breathing. A similar event: a few years ago at the No Music Festival, I saw Jim O'Rourke do some laptop improv. Sadly they paired him with a local drummer (Jason Bellchamber I think), who wasn't awful, did a sort of rock guy's free jazz, all manic squirming. The effect was like watching Animal (Muppets) play along with a couch potato, slowly clicking away his life in front of a glowing screen. Very funny.

Sicklecell666 · Post by **Sicklecell666** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 4:43 pm

can't get anything downloaded at all..

lalo · Post by **lalo** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 4:45 pm

too bad he's gone

i've seen him something like 6 years ago in a multiple concert with MSBR (koji) Mr.Natural and another american guy living in rome (i don't remember his name)

oh..i think Chris Blazen

MSBR Blazen y Sharp was the concert...

too bad..and only 44 years old

rest in peace man

i'll remember your sounds forever

lalo

dystonia_ek · Post by **dystonia_ek** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 4:48 pm

Sicklecell666 wrote:can't get anything downloaded at all..

I think the traffic is pretty intense... parts 1-3 went pretty quickly but 4 is taking forever.

You could start with the MSBR live performances that are direct-linked maybe...

Katzenjammer · Post by **Katzenjammer** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 5:00 pm

Sad indeed. Remember when I first stumbled upon the news on Lasse Marhaugs website. Will be downloading this compilation for sure. Tragic. Rest in peace Koji.

dystonia_ek · Post by **dystonia_ek** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 5:30 pm

"ATTENTION! we are very sorry, but our server is totally overloaded from the huge amount of downloads.
we had to limit the download-rate, to avoid a total fallout, so the download might be slow now.
we are currently trying to split the data onto several servers, so a faster download will be possible in a few days."

tetraplan · Post by **tetraplan** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:57 pm

Hmm, maybe they should make it available as .torrents.
Hmm, maybe I should email this suggestion.

Groet, Erik

shamann · Post by **shamann** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 1:56 pm

I ws able toget them all last. I've listened to most of Disc 1 so far, some really excellent stuff. The breadth in styles is really a bit shocking on first listen.

As fitting a tribute as I've ever heard.

dystonia_ek · Post by **dystonia_ek** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 3:14 pm

I just have 9 and 10 to get now - I've listened to the first six parts - lots of excellent new discoveries... Seems the Menche track is AWOL though - not sure what happened.

Koji Tano tribute online and downloadable