Melt-Banana

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Melt-Banana
Left to Right: Rika, Yasuko, Agata
Background information
Origin	Japan
Genre(s)	Noise rock, Punk rock
Years active	1992 – Present

Melt-Banana is a Japanese noise rock (sometimes referred to as noisecore) band that was founded in 1992 by friends attending Tokyo University for Foreign Language. These friends were Onuki Yasuko (also known as Yasuko O. or just Yako), Agata Ichirou, Rika mm' and later on Toshiaki Sudoh (more widely known as simply Sudoh).

1 History
2 Line-Up
- 2.1 Former members
3 Style
4 Live Performances
5 Discography
- 5.1 Albums
- 5.2 EPs
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] History

Melt-Banana has released 8 full-length CD albums, (Including a re-release of a very early improvised and studio tracks, and a compilation of ep's) and 23 EPs (a number of which are splits with other bands). In 1997 they created their own recording company, A-Zap, and re-issued all of their previously released albums, except Scratch or Stitch, which can be found on the noise rock record label Skin Graft Records. One month later Sudoh quit, and the band has had different drummers helping for tours and recordings since. They do massive U.S. tours yearly, do frequent European tours, and do smaller Japanese tours (the reason for this, according to them, is that traveling in Japan is quite expensive). Steve Albini has engineered two of Melt-Banana's earlier albums, and is a notable music figure in the experimental world and popular music world, as he has worked on albums for bands such as Nirvana. Most recently, Melt-Banana recorded a song for Perfect Hair Forever on Cartoon Network's adult swim line up.

[edit] Line-Up

Yasuko Onuki - Vocals, Writing
Ichirou Agata - Guitars, Effects
Rika mm' - Bass
After Sudoh left the band, many drummers have been in a steady rotation, including Dave Witte of Discordance Axis, Municipal Waste, and Burnt by the Sun)

[edit] Former members

Toshiaki Sudoh - Drums
Oshima Watchma - Satanic Hell Slaughter's drummer Oshima Watchma was the replacement for Sudoh.

[edit] Style

Melt-Banana live in Frankfurt, Germany (2005)

Melt-Banana's music falls under what many call "noise rock" or "noisecore." Both terms refer to music that blends rock, noise music, and other genres. Agata overlaps two different guitar riffs most of the time, and also belts out a seemingly spontaneously chosen selection of sound effects(or selected randomly by a computer program or even selecting snippets of tape from a black bag, but this is unlikley), almost all made through his guitar and large amount of effects pedals (this link is current as of 1999; Here is a more recent picture from their 2005 "13 Hedgehogs" tour). Yasuko O. belts out high-pitched screams and raps, and her delivery has been described as a rabid poodle on speed. Rika mm's bass lines aren't subdued like in most bands, but are given as much overt influence as Agata's guitar work. The sounds from the bass provide a distinct dimension to the music not found in many other bands. The drums are usually quite straightforward (however, in their recent albums, they have become more complex), especially on the faster songs, where they beat almost straight through with set cymbal crashes, providing an insane amount of energy to the songs. The band describes their recent music (especially Teeny Shiny and Cell-Scape) as pop, but it is far from it, except more accessible, perhaps. Essentially, it could be argued that Melt Banana's output, (with special attention brought to their more recent songs) are more reminiscent of quirkier indie pop bands, with definite melodies hiding beneath the distortion, effects and sheer speed. Yasuko even sings, as opposed to barks parts of one of the tracks called 'If it is the Deep Sea, I can See You There' on their most recent studio album 'Cell Scape'. Also of note, most of their albums (except the two just mentioned) are intentionally lo-fi, as that is Agata's feeling for the music; however, group members disliked how these recordings sounded on the radio, so they aimed to make their last two albums more hi-fi.

[edit] Live Performances

Live performances are where Melt Banana wins many of their devotees. While many critics perceive Melt Banana's recordings to be inaccessible, their sound translates much better live. Yasuko starts every show by yelling "We are Melt Banana from Tokyo, Japan!" Her rapid-fire delivery and Agata's frenetic guitar riffs infuse crowds with energy. Attendees often mosh or otherwise move in a frenzy during performances. Many diehard fans leave shows dripping of sweat. Yasuko O. often wears colorful and/or metallic costumes, while Rika mm' often wears just black. Both wear very high platform boots, on which Rika mm' often bounces, a la Krist Novoselic. Agata usually wears a surgical mask affixed to his face, sometimes with duct tape.

[edit] Discography

Melt-Banana has produced a large number of full-length albums and EPs throughout their 11-year history. They also appear on a large number of compilation albums (over 40). A list of which can be found at their official site, listed at the bottom.

[edit] Albums

September 1994 - Speak Squeak Creak (first released by NUX Organization, re-issued by A-Zap in April, 2001)
September 1994 - Cactuses Come In Flocks (first released by Chocolate Monk, re-issued by A-Zap in September, 1999)
November 1995 - Scratch or Stitch (Japan edition, released by meldac)
May, 1996 - Scratch or Stitch (U.S. edition, released by Skin Graft)
November 1998 - Charlie (released by A-Zap, guest drummer Natsume of Multiplex)
February 1999 - MxBx 1998/13,000 Miles at Light Velocity (released by Tzadik in the U.S.A., produced by John Zorn and, while said to be a live album, it is actually a re-recording of previous songs, many sounding much, much different from their previous releases)
October 2000 - Teeny Shiny (released by A-Zap)
June 2003 - Cell-Scape (released by A-Zap)
May 2005 - 13 Hedgehogs (released by A-Zap, collection of singles/EPs)

[edit] EPs

September 1994 - Hedgehog (7", released by Charnel Music)
October 1994 - Split 7" with God Is My Co-Pilot (released by HG Fact)
July 1995 - It's in the Pillcase (7", released by Skin Graft)
October 1995 - Split 7" with Discordance Axis (released by HG Fact)
October 1995 - Split 7" with Pencilneck (released by Anti-Music)
September 1996 - Split 7" with Target Shoppers (released by Destroy All Music and Betley Welcome Careful Driver)
October 1996 - Split 10" with Stilluppsteypa (released by Fire inc./Something Weird)
November 1996 - Untitled (Piano One) (7", special guest Onotetsu on piano, released by GENTLE GIANT)
September 1997 - Split 7" with Plainfield (released by Smelly Records)
October 1997 - Eleventh (7", cover art by FLY!, released by Slap A Ham Records)
March 1998 - Split 5" with Xerobot (released by Coat-Tail Records)
April 1998 - Split 7" with Killout Trash (released by Kool Pop Recordings/Rodel Records)
October 1998 - Dead Spex (7", released by HG Fact)
August 2001 - Split 8" with Three Studies for a Crucifixion (released by Passacaglia Records)
November 2001 - Split 7" with Dynamite Anna and the Bone Machine (released by Valium Records)
November 2001 - Split 7" with Damien Frost (released by Alpharelish)
January 2002 - Split 7" with The Locust (released by GSL)
October 2002 - Split 7" with Big D & the Kids Table (released by Fork in Hand)
October 2002 - 666 (6", released by Level Plane, according to ManateeBound.com (http://manateebound.com): "666, contrary to general belief, holds no biblical significance. Simply put, 'Because we put three songs on a six-inch record.'")
November 2004 - Split 7" with Narcosis (released by SuperFi Records and Speedowax Records)
July 2005 - Split 10" with Chung (released by Sounds of Subterrania)
August 2005 - Split 5" record/3" CD with Fantômas (released by Unhip Records)
February 2006 - アイノウタ (Ai No Uta) (5", released by HG Fact)