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Biography
During her studies at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, vocalist Yasuko Onuki formed the band Mizu in 1991 and later enlisted the services of guitarist Ichirou Agata. The two began honing their skills as a duo before the arrival of drummer Sudoh Toshiaki. Three years later with the name changed to Melt-Banana, the band signed with the British label Chocolate Monk and issued their debut cassette album “Cactuses Come in Flocks”. Due to the success of the release, Melt-Banana subsequently signed with Skin Graft on which the band released the albums “Speak Squeak Creak” and “Scratch or Stitch”. The records proved popular in the U.S. and the UK despite performing poorly in Japan, aided by the mysterious noise-rock, almost cult aesthetic of Melt-Banana.
The band’s full-length “Charlie” arrived in October 1998, originally released on their own label A-Zap. Live recorded in the studio, Melt-Banana’s subsequent album “MxBx 1998/13,000 Miles at Light Velocity” was recorded for John Zorn’s label Tzadik Records. Following the release, the band toured in support of the Melvins, having previously toured alongside Jim O’Rourke and Zeni Geva in 1994 and Mr. Bungle in 1995. The studio album “Teeny Shiny” appeared in 2000 following in a similar vein to “Charlie” and is still marked by the group’s lo-fi affiliation.
Three years later, with the departure of drummer Sudoh, Melt-Banana issued the studio album “Cell-Scape”, another shuddering release. A compilation of EPs and split releases arrived in 2005 entitled “13 Hedgehogs”, featuring a whopping 56 tracks. Following which, Melt-Banana returned to the studio to record and subsequently released “Bambi’s Dilemma” marked by its unusually hi-fi sound. At various times in their career Melt-Banana would perform as Melt-Banana Lite, which would see the group swap fuzzy guitars for samplers and synths. In November 2009 the band released the live album “Melt-Banana Lite Live Ver 0.0” which was their first to be release with the alternative setup. The full-length “Fetch” was released in 2013, a highly-charged and impassioned punk-rock record, followed by the anthological compilation “Return of 13 Hedgehogs” in 2015.
Live reviews
OMG! Firstly, this was the first time I had been to DINGWALLS in Camden, and what a great venue. I *LOVE* these smaller places. Secondly, it was the second time I had seen MELT-BANANA, the first time was at ORAN MOR in Glasgow in 2006 (I think it was in 2006) when they were a four piece.
MELT-BANANA are (now) a two piece noise band from Tokyo, Japan. However, although they are now a two piece, don't think for a nano second they have quietened down. Far from it. They were still as loud last night (16 Oct 2019) as they were when I first saw them. Still frigging awesome.
The support band, a three piece from Brazil, called DEAF KIDS, were frigging amazing. There is a guitarist/'vocalist', bassist, and drummer. I put the word vocalist in inverted commas because he doesn't really sing. There is a reverb on the microphone and most of the sound comes from the instruments. It reminded me of CAN's 'Tago Mago' album. I absolutely loved it, and it's the first support band I've come across who were treated like the main act with shouts of 'ENCORE'.
The venue was packed, and I was told by someone it had sold out. I think there were some door tickets available. The atmosphere was awesome, with guys crowd surfing throughout the night and lots of pogo-ing.
Overall it was a great night out - 100%. And I'm back at DINGWALLS on 10 November to see PART CHIMP and HEY COLOSSUS - two of favourite bands playing together.
WICKED.
ceejay235
I'd been a fan of Melt-Banana ever since I heard them on John Peel's show in the mid-1990s. I'd always regarded them as a sort of joke band, so I'm so glad I finally decided to go and see them in 2005 (partly because it was the year after John's death and I wanted to keep his legacy alive by going to see as many of his favourite bands as possible. Yes, he really did mean that much to me).
Simply put, they utterly blew me away and now, every time they tour the UK, I will go and see them. Without fail. And because they tour every three or four years, I will try and go and see them two or three times. Why? Because the noise they produce is breathtaking. They're super-heavy but not in a durgey, grindy way. They're playful and fun. They're also super-fast.
Going to see Melt-Banana is like being on a musical rollercoaster - you come out feeling elated, wearing a mesmerised expression on your face and with your hair standing on end. If you're into this sort of thing the band is also supremely innovative. Yasuko and Agata (an incredible guitarist with just about the most complicated effects set-up I've ever seen) use and 'play' pedals and 'chaos balls' (I can't remember what these things are actually called) and flashing consoles that look like they're from a Nintendo games machine. They're just incredible.
thesaddler
Stepping into a Melt-Banana show is like stepping into no other tour as it is completely and utterly mind blowing and completely bonkers all at once. The Japanese noise rock outfit are so unassuming to look at, two small Japanese musicians yet they are able to unleash a world of hell through their instruments on an unsuspecting room of fans.
They are known for playing grindcore styled music and noise music mixed with experimental and electronica at blistering speeds and this bizarre combination paired with the intenseness of the live show has taken them around the globe numerous times. They have played hundreds of times yet still manage to muster the energy to unleash a tirade for the night of rock and vocal and synth and guitar and drum and anything else they can throw into their mix. Twenty tracks and absolute no upheaval throughout the show, the band throw absolutely everything into it and they are rewarded by sound boundary breaking applause as they exit the stage for what I can only imagine is a deserved lie down.
sean-ward
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