Sokushinbutsu Project - The Yokai Codex
Finally! A new full-length album from the Italian-2man-act Sokushinbutso Project. This one is called The Yokai Codex, and it´s out on Industrial Ölocaust Recordings, out on pro-CD-R and cassette, limited offcourse. I have received the pro-CD-R version. A first glance reveals a simple jewel case with a white inner sleeve. Still, upon closer examination, you will notice the thick and beautifully textured paper of the inner sleeve and back cover as well. The album titled The Yokai Codex, once again revolves around a specific religious and spiritual concept. Let me copy-paste the information from the booklet itself:
The word yõkai is composed of two characters, of which the first, yõ, refers to something that attracts, enchants, and can bewitch. White the second, kai, has the meaning of apparition, mystery. The original meaning of Yõkai conveys a sense of mystery combined with fear, something that both attracts and terrifies.
In this case, we are talking about the million sorts of gods and spirits in Japan. Living in both nature, objects, and even residing in your own home. Supernatural beings both attract and terrify and the presence of this being (has to this day) been interpreted differently in every period of Japanese history. In our modern times, we only need to look at the world of Pokemon or the world of Hayao Miyazaki (My Friend Totoro, Spirited Away, etc). 6 tracks, and is about 60 minutes in total length.
Another note worth mentioning is that each track represents locations where these entities live.
The first track is called Wilds. This is where you´ll find the wild and undomesticated kind of spirits. A flanged and grinding radio static with some subtle ritualistic dark-ambient soundscapes in the background. Occasionally the sound of a thundering death-industrial drum marks its presence here and there, and is there a sort of low-fi synth in there? At times...heavily distorted sounds burst through the "empty" vacuum. A lovely sort of ghostly presence in the recordings sounds like something is pushing itself out of the speakers. Sort of reminds me of some of the early recordings with Cluster.
The second track is called Water, and yes...Japan is surrounded by water and islands. So offcourse a lot of spirits are linked with water. A distant metallic ritualistic drum, the rising sound of gentle white noise, and a cool low sound of a looped bassline. Further on there are some high-pitched psychedelic sounds which enhance the mood further. A kind of gentle track in the beginning, but becomes slightly more intense in the process. Water is basically everything, it can give life and it can take life. It attracts and terrifies at the same time.
The third track Countryside goes completely into another style of sound. A sort of slow and looped drone/desert-rock kind of guitar play starts the track. Lots of distorted industrial sounds pop mysteriously in and out of focus, while a frightening soundscape builds up in the background. I kind of think of the gnomes of Northern Europe, supernatural beings in the countryside. If you respect and help them, then they will help you to keep your farm running. And if u fxxx with them, then you are truly fxxxxx! I think it's the same with the Yõkai in the countryside. They can be the good guys or the bad guys.
The fourth track Village And City starts with some monotone distorted machine sounds. More of a cold-sounding beginning than the former tracks, but I guess that is the intention when we are in the cities made by man. A high-pitched sort of metallic sound is there, which might represent the constant screaming sound/noise of the traffic. Later on, a bussing sound of grasshoppers is there, while a computerized robot-sound bleep eternally into the night. The extra factory sounds add up to the presence of the human city as well. Love the track, perfectly illustrates the conceptual idea.
The fifth track Home, is where things get a bit frightening. Why? Because at the place where we feel safe and at home, there is the sort of intimate Yõkai. In other words, we are never alone and never completely in control. A funny and strange humming sound with an Asian instrument playing traditional Asian folk music. Im not sure what the name of the instrument is, but I do think that that is a sort of violin-based instrument. On top of that, some really cool and highly evocative and psychedelic melodic soundscapes dominate the background. Highly comfortable and eerie at the same time. I get a kind of TG-feel here, reminds me of their track Persuasion (In a good way). Almost works like a homage to the track or just the best cover version/tribute to the track? Nevertheless, one of my favorite tracks on the album!
The last track EPILOGUE - Yõkai Street might just be the strangest and most challenging piece on the album. It´s a street called Kyoto Street, a sort of Twin Peaks kind of place. Not where you are in the spirit world or the other. Manic acid-jazz drumming, intense bussing insect sounds, otherworldly paranormal moods shamanistic aesthetics. The real trippy album, Are there any fans of early Nurse With Wound? Really great trippy track!.
Another great album from Sokushinbutso Project. Not as dark and challenging as their first album, but certainly a more... trippy sort of album. You really shouldn't compare the two albums, since both albums share the same sort of curious and highly adventurous spirit and deliver conceptual ideas perfectly to the listener. As a reviewer, I love reviewing this act. The first thing is to research their idea, second is to listen. And I usually find out that what they do... actually matches the stuff I have researched about their chosen idea/theme. Stuff that makes u wonder, and opens your mind to other realities. And yes, we do need that in this computerized society in which we live. Do go out and buy this one, it's essential!
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