Hijokaidan - The Noise

CD1:

The oldest material in the box, and definitively a good start. It's harsh, intense and gets right to the point. This could very well have been a recent recording with the band, but you lack the vocals of Junko of course.

CD2:

More (or should I say less?) guitar presence here. It's more "melodic", and it's got the sound of some guitars played very “properly” to be Hijokaidan, some classic desperate vocals and cable-knotting. A disc to show Hijokaidan's variety and another reason for you to actually buy this box set. It shows that not all of the discs sound the same.

CD3:

The last of the discs recorded under "The Original Hijokaidan". It's a single live piece, lasting almost 40 minutes. Once again it's guitars, some effects and a lot of variety, but still quite static! If these three discs are almost all there is from "The Original Hijokaidan", then I must say I am impressed with what they managed to do! A short lifetime, but this is what rock music truly is!

CD4:

The first as Hijokaidan with a line-up I'm not a hundred per cent sure who consist of, but the first thing I noticed was the very rhythmical drums that I don't think I can remember hearing in my long career of Hijokaidan-listening before. And after a few seconds I wasn't even sure if I heard the voice of Junko or what, but she didn't join the group that early, did she? (No, it turned out to be a saxophone). This CD shows yet again that the band can be more than just the same stuff over and over.

...And oh, there's even piano pling-plong here!

CD5:

Doesn't take a genius to recognize an album with this opening track. The debut album from the band, and in my eyes also one of the strongest. Perhaps because of the legend around it, but still a really great album which I will play over and over 'till the day I die. If you still haven’t heard it, make sure you’ll get a copy of it in some way. This is a mandatory listen.

CD6:

Another live disc and another single long track lasting for almost 40 minutes. It's groovy actually, and makes me want to dance. The rhythms are in the back from the drums, and with guitar and saxophone noise put on top of it, it simply just makes me happy. Dance music for noise-heads is what it is, and at the end you hear the presence of the desperate vocals Hijokaidan are famous for.

CD7:

So far the longest disc in the box, with as much as almost 70 minutes of noise. Five tracks recorded live one day in February, 1985, and to be in the audience during this show must have been intense. It starts out with loads of feedback which just keeps on going, and is so far the most high-pitched record in the box. But hey, I love high frequencies, so don't take me wrong. If you like high frequencies and loads of feedback then this is the record you'll love the most! It's an exhausting listening, but very nice indeed!

CD8:

This one I listened to as a background record and it's probably what you would consider yet another high-freq. record, but compared to the static disc seven, this is nothing. Six more enjoyable live tracks which sounds like a bunch of instruments living their own life in chaos. Beautiful, but still chaos. It's actually, though it's another intense one, very good as background music, and you hear presence of the guitar more again. Some feeding which I guess is just a mic through some pedals or something, but you never know. One track is actually almost minimal when it comes to instruments. Guitar/guitar feedback + desperate vocals. Then again you have some more instrument-filled tracks that almost sound like they're taken from a rock concert, and the last track is even a noise-core track. Short sweet sessions with the good old "1,2,3,4" in front of 'em. Another well played disc!

CD9:

Probably no need to mention it anymore, but this is yet another live disc. And once again I envy the audience! Not much more to say about this disc other than its very classic Hijokaidan. Great amount of guitars, feedback and vocals. And if I'm not completely mistaken we have the saxophone once again, and (correct me if I'm wrong) Junko on vocals. Three tracks spanning a total time of just a little less than 1 hour, with the last track as the longest. This is more what you'd expect of Hijokaidan than what has been on some of the previous discs, but its music that never tires me. This disc could just go on and on, but that's why we have the repeat-button, isn't it?

CD10:

The first of the two tracks on this disc starts out with some synth sounds, before it slowly evolves into a more massive piece of music, and before you even know it, it's over... The second track is more straight on. Distant noise from the band with a good room-feeling to it. Both tracks are quite different from each other, but at the same time similar. Loads of distortion and messy sounds. And only 40 minutes, why is that? Well well, 20 discs to go, so it's ok. Would've turned out good as a LP this disc!

CD11:

Here we go again. A few days break since I heard the last disc, but now I'm back in the Hijokaidan mood. This disc starts off with an almost psychedelic track. Almost reminds me more of Boredoms actually in its sound. More rock than noise and also some quite moody music here. Some parts of it might be more intense than others, but all together it's a quite beautiful meditation-like sound to it. Hard to describe, but pleasing. Vocals with reverb are what make this track what it is I think. Natural room-reverb it sounds like, but still... Track 2 has got a rock style that slowly grows into huge chaos. What could've been the most intense set ever is actually quite pleasing due to its evolvement. Finally it ends up in some electronic drones which feels like a good back-rub. Track 3 is more Hijokaidan-ish, so I don't want to say too much about it as you probably already know their sound. Some nice electronics feed-sound-like stuff over guitar mayhem.

CD12:

Starts out with a short and "sweet" track. A little over 3 minutes of intense noise. The shortest so far in this box (with exception of the intro on CD5). The next almost sounds like a solo Junko-track with some very very distant guitar noise in the back. Beauty as always with this vocal-goddess screaming! The guitar sounds come in more in the second half of the track, and makes it rich and powerful! Track three is a distorted guitar-based track. Not much more to say about that I think!? And yeah, the fourth and the last track on this disc is a 10 minute piece of dark noise, like it was taken from a horror movie.

CD13:

For those who maybe know the works of Incapacitants might understand what I mean when I say the first track is similar to the Incapacitants-noise. It's a long track with loads of electronics, and the most distinct difference between this and classic Incapacitants are the guitar. It's maybe not that strange both Mikawa and Kosakai (the two members of Incapacitants) has been/are members of Hijokaidan too, but still, this is the first time I really thought they were similar. The second track is more classic Hijokaidan again. Desperate screams, guitar-noise and also some electronics. It's good, quite lo-fi and with enough variation to make it interesting. Two tracks with a lot to offer on this disc...

CD14:

Another disc with two live tracks here. The first a bit longer than the second, and also somewhat more brutal. It's got lots of vocals, guitars and distortion put together the way only Hijokaidan knows how. The second track is kind of the same, just without the vocals. Also more distorted and "lo-fi" (without being lo-fi) than the first. All in all, another well played noise-disc.

CD15:

This sounds to be the most distorted disc so far in this box. Loads and loads of layers of chaotic sound. Some sounds you know, and some you can't figure out where comes from. Noise at least! And this disc is almost 70 minutes. Just takes the breath out of you. It's stunning how intense they manage to keep it, and such even insensitivity rate all the way through. Probably not a good choice to play it at 5AM on a Monday morning, but still... Even I got a little exhausted after listening to this disc!

CD16:

Another two-track disc with more (yes, believe it or not) live material. The first track has more vocals in front than any of the previous discs has had. It sounds like very very distorted lo-fi background noise, most likely coming from more electronics than guitars, and some vocals less high-pitched than Junko's usual voice. The second track is more blended instrumentally. It's got vocals presence as well, but more mixed into the track than the previous. Equally distorted and chaotic, and yet another fine track.

CD17:

With 11 discs of previously unreleased live recordings since the last pre-released disc, its back again to another re-release in this box, but it's not what you might would've expected; it's the third CD in the 4CD-box (The Neverending Story Of The King Of Noise) which goes for blood money once in a while on eBay. And it's a tight disc indeed and deserves to be revived from its death (or as it's called for records "sold out"). Harsh + Intense = Hijokaidan.

CD18:

You may have thought you'd only get one quarter of the four discs in the "Neverending Story..."-box, but you were wrong. The last disc is also here, with two more tracks of pure noise bliss. So you unlucky bastards who have yet to own the previous box-set, get this while you can! You'll get a lot for your money I can assure you!

CD19:

Back on the line of live-recordings and here we go with some more electronics, guitars and vocals played together in a controlled chaos that no other noise band can do it. It's hard to find new ways to describe it, and it's not that it's the same over and over; it's just that it's Hijokaidan. It's all chaotic, noisy and intense. One thing can be said, and that is that this disc kind of reminds me of the noise of Pain Jerk at some times. More clean electronics underneath the distortion, something that makes it sound very pure in a way. Feedback, screams and electronics are what makes the first track what it is. The second track is way more rock-orientated than the first. Drums, trashy vocals, some guitars and electronics slowly coming into the piece. Most "jazzy" tune I've heard from the band, and of course not being jazz at all. In noise we trust!

CD20:

Disc 20 already. Finished with 2/3 of the box, and I'm not tired of it at all. Well, it's always possible to re-listen to it... This disc starts out with a high pitch noise which turns into a mess of electronics, soon to be added are guitars and vocals. The usual style, but in a new twist. Evolving and evolving into harsher and harsher noise. This applies to the whole disc, though it's variations amongst the tracks. It's during the first 5-10 minutes evolving into a huge noise mess and then it's kept that way for the rest of the disc. Loads of long nice feedback-sounds here.

CD21:

Junko and guitar-noise, can it get any better than this? If it does, let me know. It sounds like only Junko and Jojo is playing without anyone else on the first track. A good 20 minutes of screams and guitar noise. The second track has more to it. Drums once again, and some electronics there too. Rock concert gone bad!

CD22:

This disc starts out with a track lasting over half an hour. Static harsh noise with Junko screaming all the way through, and at the end you can hear Jojo contribute with vocals too. This recording feels sort of like a mantra, with its long ongoing static feel. The second track is both shorter and less static. Still static though, and it's without vocals. Only electronics and guitar. The last and also the shortest track on this disc are more static again, and Junko is back. More electronics to hear than usual, and the whole thing have a nice flow to it.

CD23:

Who would've thought? This disc starts out with a great surprise; Junko singing Janis Joplin's classic "Mercedes Benz", and then it goes over into some Japanese pop rock which just sounds really good. The pop slowly evolves into more noisy stuff, and before you know it you're way into a piece of rhythmical noise rock which yet again shows a new side of Hijokaidan. I was about to say; "this is not Hijokaidan, but a popish side-project", but it proved me wrong. And it works (again)! The second track goes the other way. Starts out with pure noise and at the end almost turns into a piece of "classic" rock'n'roll. It's brutal and intense, and becomes more and more danceable. A popish record, but with many elements that get you aware it's still Hijokaidan you're listening too!

CD24:

We're back on full total noise. The first track has the classic Hijokaidan style, which I'll try not to mention once more what is, but the second track on this disc is more interesting to say something about. The feedback that comes in from the beginning is much clearer and present than usual, and quickly changes into more distorted feeding. It's basically just Junko screaming and some feeding, soon changing into the sound of a synth. Maybe it was a synth from the beginning as well? It's at least interesting sounds, and it's got another feel to it than previous Hijokaidan. Seems like they've taken a trip into space to record this, and it's groovy. Evolving and evolving, until it fades away with some more organic instruments again and Junko's voice of course.

CD25:

I've already come through 4/5 of the box set, and the journey is soon to be over. Two live tracks here, one from 2005 and one from 2006. Not long ago in other words (at least not in written time). It's another classical Hijokaidan disc with the style we know. I've come to realize there are more drums in this band than I had noticed before. Maybe time to go through my previous archive again when I'm done with this box-set? Never change style, Hijokaidan! Variation, yes! Changing of style, no!

CD26:

Two more recent live tracks, here from 2007 and 2008, and they're both quite standard, heavy Hijokaidan-noise with loads of action all the way through. I just notice I more and more want to go see them live, or take up a guitar and make some noise myself. It's dynamic and chaotic all over, and very energetic.

CD27:

It's quite sad to say, but I've actually gone through the last disc in the box-set with live recordings of Hijokaidan under the name of Hijokaidan, and all three tracks here were recorded in 2009, and I can say that Hijokaidan stayed Hijokaidan all the way through. King of Noise that is! Still three more discs of miscellaneous music from side-projects of the band, but more on that in the next three sections. All in all another great disc, and I hope it's not the last we hear from this magnificent band!

CD28:

This disc contains solo stuff from Hijokaidan-members. An exclusive track from Mr. Mikawa which is an intense electronic noise-piece. Jojo with an instrumental rock ballad(ish) track, that is quite beautiful. Fumio Kosakai delivers no less than two previously unreleased tracks, that both are something quite different from what I thought. One track is something like a spooky theme-song from an experimental horror movie. Beautiful, and the best way to describe it are to use Keiji Haino as a reference. And last but not least, Junko has the A-side of the legendary "Sleeping Beauty" LP as her track on this disc. Vocals without anything more, and it's very pleasing to hear this once again, and digitally this time! A nice collection of solo stuff!

CD29:

Another disc with other Hijokaidan-related stuff, and here we get side-projects. To open we have Genbakukaidan with a punk-noise-rock song that is quite catchy. Makes me want to nod my head a little. The next track is from S.O.B.Kaidan and has a lot in common with the first track. Same genre, but sounds more like black metal in the approach than Genbakukaidan's track. Over to Subvert Kaidan, that can be described as a psychedelic rock track on the line with some of the best psychedelic bands there is. A little more noise elements than I'm used to in this genre, but it's more an element than distortion, and makes a good dynamic to the track. Next band out is Tomei Kaidan. Rock with noisy elements, and for those who knows Jojo's solo works, this can be mentioned to be the most similar in the whole box with the exception of his actual solo-track on the previous disc of course! Becoming more and more desperate in its sound. Acid Mothers Kaidan is the next band out, and this sounds more or less like a dirty version of Pink Floyd with Junko on top, gone total improv. It even starts out with a classic Pink Floyd riff, which I'll let remain "untitled" as a gem for you who still have yet to listen to this. And to end the disc, Fabricated Hijokaidan shows up, with C.C.C.C. collaborating with Hijokaidan to make a fine intense noise track. It sounds like Hijokaidan, but it's got a slight diversity to the rest of the discs with the band in this box. Hard to hear if you didn't know, but the main difference is, as mentioned in the booklet, a substitution/parody of Junko's voice. Pleased once again after going through this disc! I can't say whether or not some of these tracks have been released before as they are all untitled on this box-set, but I believe they are all exclusive.

CD30:

I have no idea who the rest of the members are here, but how important is it? It's good, and that's what counts. Star Kaidan is the name of the band, and it's a good last disc to have in this box set. More rock'n'roll with a distorted, "trashy" sound to it. Trash rock if I may... Hard to describe with other words than those above, but it's not because it's so diffuse that it's hard to recognize. It's a live recording, but it doesn't say anything on where or when it was recorded or who's on it. It's a mystery who the "stars" are, but how can a band ending with the word "kaidan" be bad? Still have yet to prove me wrong!

CONCLUSION:

This box-set has shitloads of variation. Mainly noise, but touching into other genres as well. Distortion and purity goes hand in hand on these 30 discs. It's strange to say it, but it's not too much music put into one box. It's just the right amount actually.

If you want to get into noise and don't know where to start, and you're ready to put some money into a good investment, buy this box. It's a good introduction to the harsh noise scene and you'll get to know why Japanese noise has become the king amongst noise-nations, and of course, why Hijokaidan has become the "king of noise"! High-pitch and low-pitch, complicated and simple, trashy and beautiful, you'll get it all! It's inspiring, and sometimes just makes you want to get up and noise along with the band. I even managed to enjoy some discs at a low volume (wouldn't like to wake up the neighbours at 4AM) which always is a quality-proof in noise records. A very physical release, both in sounds and presentation. Comes in a very good looking box with a booklet stuffed with pictures and a very interesting story of the band written by the man himself, Jojo Hiroshige. I can't say enough good things about it, so I just stop here. My hat goes off for the one and only.... Hijokaidan.