Tokyo. The mere mention of the word brings to mind thousands of images: Lights, crowds, technology, metropolis. For some reason, rarely does the though of “sound” arise. Which is curious. Given the fact that the population of this one city is larger than the entire population of Australia, the sheer amount of audio emitted from such an epicentre of activity would be too incomprehensible to fathom. Yet this is exactly what Masahiro Hiramoto has attempted on his debut LP of sorts, Tokyo Nude.
It’s a difficult task reviewing such a piece. Containing “frequency analysed acoustic essences extracted via a computer program, using massive amounts of sounds, field recorded at more than 100 positions throughout the metropolis and amassing to a total of over 2000 minutes”. Heavy. Given that a vast majority of works of this ilk are used for installations or exhibitions, critiquing them as a stand-alone article is an interesting experience. The album is split into 2 parts, one entitled “Moment”, the other “Movement”. The tracks in the “Moment” half are said to be based on various cycles of the city, strangely resulting, for the most part, with clicking, glitch like beats, moving at an urgent pace, sometimes splitting and sliding into brief reprises of glowing chordal refrain, before hastily picking up again. It’s a A.D.D experience, an much like the city itself, full of vibrant urgency, different things occurring at different times at each end of the spectrum.
The second half, “Movement”, is entirely different. Many sounds have been layered over one another, their acoustic properties amplified, to form booming, rolling atmospheric stacks of hazy frequencies which flow and blossom, underpinned by crackling clicks and micro distortions. Essentially a drone workout, each piece builds and builds before cutting abruptly and moving to the next piece, much like changing locations in an instant.
Imagine if the city was a rapidly flowing, urgent, almost angry river. The “Moment” half would be looking at the surface and seeing all it’s ripples, splashes and movements. The “Movement” half would be plunging your head into the water itself and listening, full volume, to everything occurring at once, all maximised in your ears. Fans of sound art will be rewarded here. A fascinating experience.
Nick Giles
