If (or when) cyborg aliens ever crash land to earth, demanding to steal the pinnacle of human technology, I ‘m not going to show them NASA’s most advanced rocket or the creepy robot that can lie. I wouldn’t even show them the iPad. No, I would hand them the band BOOM BOOM SATELLITES, particularly fresh after their live on October 2 at Makuhari Event Hall in Chiba.
After witnessing one of the most intense, psychedelic electronic noisefests I’ve ever experienced, I think our future cyborg overlords will be quite pleased.
Electronic music is often written off as robotic and soulless, relying too heavily on computers to do most of the musical leg work. But that’s not the case for BBS, particularly live. There’s persistent electric warmth to BBS’ sound that translates into an ambient blanket, like the comforting glow of a sleeping motherboard. This is created through various synthesizers and to some extent Michiyuki Kawashima’s calm, semi-mumbling voice.
But that isn’t the most enticing aspect of a BBS live show. Underneath that protective layer lies a certain amount of caged chaos. For one split second, bassist Masayuki Nakano hit a single string, and the sound produced at that moment mimicked that of a fighter jet breaking the sound barrier. A few members of the audience clasped their hands over their ears, in pain but enjoying the jolt. There’s a cybernetic monster locked up deep inside their music and every innocent human being can hear it blasting at the walls of its synthesized prison. The audience is afraid to let it out, but oh-so-very curious as to what it will do when it gets its first taste of freedom.
The music alone could easily lull even the most sober listener into a trance, but BBS cleverly added striking lighting and visuals to this particular live. A translucent veil dropped in front of the band midway through the show during the song “STAY.” Images of an eternally magnifying world projected over their silhouettes like dreams within dreams within dreams. I wish I could tell you not a single face could look away from the stage, but I was so transfixed on what was happening before me, I can’t say for sure. All I know is that I didn’t blink for a good ten minutes.
BBS’ performance was all things the digital age lives for: electronic, curiously chaotic, and all around audio-visual stimulation. And with their upcoming U.S. tour, this is a small piece of music genius BBS will let us use to represent our generation. (more…)
Genre bending Japanese Rock-Electronic duo BOOM BOOM SATELLITES to release best-of album OVER AND OVER – Digital/Disc On Demand: Sept. 14th, In-stores: Oct. 19th, 2010 on Sony Independent Network (SIN) and announce upcoming US tour dates.
We’re very excited to announce that we’ll be presenting the Boom Boom Satellites at Santos Party House on November 24th. Ticket price? Free! RSVP at www.superglorious.com.