CLEAR AND REFRESHING

As a rule, I have a strict policy of not allowing C.A.R. to be used for the recycling of event and CD release propaganda, regardless of who it is for (for the record, I rarely even write special posts here about my own events or releases). Nevertheless, this is a case where I'll make an exception because the person responsible, a Canadian chap (and possibly a certifiable lunatic) Steven Tanaka, is putting himself out in a quite extraordinary way to not only promote, but also bring across the Pacific, a quintet of almost completely unknown Japanese underground bands, all of whom offer something quite different from the norm, and all of whom I believe will spread sweetness and light into the hearts of all who perceive them.

Steven is interviewed on Anusaya here, and his tour's web site, Next Music from Tokyo, is here. I strongly recommend following the link to check out the bands and tour dates. They will be in Canada, starting in Vancouver, from the 22nd until the 29th, with four shows in total, finishing on two (with one an all-ages show) in Toronto.

As someone who has tried booking Japanese bands abroad (in much less ambitious circumstances) and who knows a lot of the problems that can come up, I demand that anyone in a relevant part of Canada, with any interest in hearing something different, check these shows out and support this worthy enterprise.

In my capacity as the head honcho and sole staff member of Call And Response Records, I was interviewed back in May about Japanese music for an article on venerable UK news organ The Grauniad's web site. Fabulous publicity for the label, natch, so I can overlook the fact that the writer has just cut and pasted an (occasionally clumsily) edited version of my answers into his piece and then claimed for themself whatever pittance C.P. Scott's descendants pay for my work.

I nevertheless have a problem with the way the sentence "Shibuya-kei is the only scene anyone really speaks about here." is somehow put into my mouth. This is both patently wrong and makes me look foolish and ignorant. Anyone who has spent any meaningful length of time in the Tokyo music scene knows that there are numerous music scenes, all with their fans and cheerleaders here there and all over. Anyone who finds their way here as a result of out good friend Mr. Google (I note that the article links to both the term "Shibuya-kei" and the admittedly confusing to dolts term "Sisyphean", but not to any form of the actual C.A.R. web presence) may wish to see the actual questions I was asked and the actual answers I gave.

(Sorry this site doesn't allow comments; If anyone wants to agree/disagree/whatever with anything I've said, I've blogged this on the comments-enabled Call And Response page as well)

Update Oct 16th 00:08: Reading back over the above, I should add that despite the snarky tone, I'm very pleased that the article got published and I've had some great feedback from people today as a result of it. » C.A.R. Interviewed'">Read More