Melt-Banana

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Melt-Banana

L-R: Rika, Yasuko, Agata
Background information
Origin Tokyo, Japan
Genres Punk rock
Noise rock
Japanoise
Years active 1992 - present
Labels A-Zap, Gold Standard Labs
Website ParkCity.ne.jp/MltBanan
Members
Yasuko Onuki
Ichirou Agata
Rika Hamamoto
Former members
Toshiaki Sudoh
Oshima Watchma

Melt-Banana is a Japanese noise rock band that is known for playing extremely fast and noisy music mixed with experimental electronica that might be described as new-wave grindcore. They have worked with artists as diverse as Merzbow, John Zorn, Mike Patton, and Discordance Axis. They have released nine albums and toured worldwide extensively.

Contents

[edit] History

In 1991, while attending Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Yasuko Onuki started a band called Mizu and, after a short period rehearsing with another guitarist, recruited Ichirou Agata to play guitar in the band.[1] Mizu's original drummer and bass player quit six months after Agata joined, leaving Yasuko to handle the bass and vocal duties until she found bassist Rika[2]. They briefly performed shows around Tokyo without a drummer, then Toshiaki Sudoh joined on the drums in November 1992, and they changed their name to Melt-Banana.[3]

In May 1993, Melt-Banana played a show opening for K.K.NULL of Zeni Geva fame, who was impressed enough to immediately offer them a recording on his label, and later introduce them to Mark Fischer of Skin Graft Records and Steve Albini.[4][5]

Melt-Banana have released ten full-length albums and 23 EPs (primarily split releases with other bands, most of which were compiled onto one disc in 2005). In 1997, they created their own recording company, A-Zap (formerly Iguana Coax), and re-issued most of all their early albums. During this time, drummer Toshiaki Sudoh quit. Since then, the band has had different drummers helping for tours and recordings. They do massive U.S. and U.K. tours yearly and do smaller Japanese tours (the reason for this, according to them, is that travelling in Japan is quite expensive). Most recently, Melt-Banana recorded the song "Hair-Cat (Cause the Wolf Is a Cat!)" for Perfect Hair Forever on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup. The latest studio album, Bambi's Dilemma, was released on April 24, 2007. A new live album called "MELT-BANANA Lite LIVE:ver.0.0" came out on the 3rd of November 2009.[6] [7]

[edit] Line-Up

[edit] Drummers[8][9][10]

Melt-Banana does not currently have an official drummer. There have been two drummers who were official members, and a number of guest drummers, for studio recording as well as live performances.

  • Kikuchi - Guest live drummer, one show, early 1998. Formerly in Assfort.
  • Dave Witte - Guest touring drummer, US and Europe only, 2001 to 2005. (Although Witte hasn't toured with Melt-Banana since 2005, he could still be considered an available touring drummer.) Formerly in Discordance Axis and many others. Currently in Municipal Waste and many others.
  • Obokata - Guest live drummer, Japan only.
  • Takiya Terada - Guest live drummer, Japan plus 2004 US tour and 2005 Europe tour.

[edit] Mystery Members

Regarding the full length recording "Cell Scape", it has often been stated that Melt-Banana used a drum machine for the recording of this album. However, it has been debated greatly by fans of the album, some of whom argue that they in fact used a live drummer in the studio. In an interview just after the release of "Cell Scape," the band was asked who played drums on the album. They alluded to the presence of a Japanese drum machine. This answer has been by and large unchallenged. Nevertheless, many agree that a close listening to the album reveals that the percussion is provided by a live musician. The stylistic choices of the rhythm section suggest that the drummer may be Dave Witte, though live he has played some of the beats differently than they are played on the album.

[edit] Style

Yako

Melt-Banana's music falls under what many call "noise rock." Agata plays highly unorthodox guitar with extended techniques. For instance, he overlaps two different guitar riffs, simulates lasers and sirens, and has an impressive arsenal of effects, 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 very quickly.[citation needed] Rika Hamamoto'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, adding a large 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 when compared to their earlier albums, perhaps.[original research?] Essentially, it could be argued that Melt Banana's output, (with special attention brought to their more recent songs) is more reminiscent of quirkier indie pop bands, with definite melodies hiding beneath the distortion, effects and sheer speed.[original research?] 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 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] Cover Songs

Melt-Banana is known for doing an eclectic selection of cover songs.

  • Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair (Nina Simone/traditional) - Studio - (comp)
  • Faint Heart (The Birthday Party) - Studio - Release the Bats (comp)
  • Fun House (The Stooges) - Live, with (Mike Watt)
  • Government Flu (Dead Kennedys) - Live, with (Jello Biafra)
  • GST 483 (The Dogs) - Studio - Doggy Style: The Dogs Tribute (Comp)
  • Heart of Glass (Blondie) - Live - 2007. There were two different versions performed, one faster and upbeat, the other significantly slower.
  • Love Song (The Damned) - Studio - アイノウタ EP - 2006
  • Monkey Man (Toots & the Maytals) - Studio - split 7" and Live - 2008.
  • My Generation (The Who) - Live - 2002
  • Neat Neat Neat (The Damned) - Studio - Charlie
  • Paint It Black (The Rolling Stones) - Live and allegedly recorded but not used for a compilation.
  • Showroom Dummies (Kraftwerk) - Studio - Musique Non-Stop: A Tribute to Kraftwerk (comp)
  • Surfin' USA/You're Welcome (The Beach Boys) - Studio - MxBx 1998/13,000 Miles at Light Velocity. Surfin' USA has also been played live, often with an intro of Lenny Kravitz's "Are You Gonna Go My Way"
  • Tintarella di Luna (Mina) - Studio - split 7" and Live
  • Uncontrollable Urge (Devo) - Live - 2005. A studio version was released on a split CD.
  • We Will Rock You (Queen) - Studio - Dynamite With a Laser Beam (comp)
  • White Christmas (Bing Crosby) - Studio - The Christmas Album (comp) The song "Here Comes Santa Claus" on the same CD is often attributed to Melt Banana, but is actually performed by (Screaming Seagull Kiss Her Kiss Her), a somewhat similar band from Japan.
  • Wordy Rappinghood (Tom Tom Club) - Studio - (comp)

[edit] Live Performances

Melt-Banana live in 2007

Live performances are where Melt-Banana win many of their devotees. While many critics perceive Melt-Banana's recordings to be inaccessible, their sound translates much better live. Their live performance is not unlike that of a punk band in terms of energy, volume, and speed.

Yasuko's rapid-fire delivery and Agata's frenetic, unconventional playing style infuse crowds with energy. Attendees often mosh or otherwise move in a frenzy during performances. Yasuko often wears colorful and/or metallic costumes, while Rika often wears just black. Agata usually wears a surgical mask affixed to his face, sometimes with duct tape.

Melt Banana occasionally perform in the middle of their set a selection of their quirky, shorter songs, some lasting only a few seconds.

[edit] As an Opening Act

Melt-Banana has toured as an opening act with many high-profile bands.

[edit] Discography

Main article: Melt-Banana discography

Main albums:

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.skingraftrecords.com/bandhtmlpages/meltban.html
  2. ^ http://www.skingraftrecords.com/bandhtmlpages/meltban.html
  3. ^ http://www.nme.com/artists/melt-banana
  4. ^ 2001 archive of Melt-Banana official site: http://web.archive.org/web/20010306014858/www.parkcity.ne.jp/~mltbanan/his_f_eng.htm
  5. ^ a b http://www.skingraftrecords.com/bandhtmlpages/meltban.html
  6. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jbfwxzqaldke
  7. ^ http://www1.parkcity.ne.jp/mltbanan/
  8. ^ http://www.jame-world.com/us/database-artist.php?id=504
  9. ^ http://kzsu.stanford.edu/~hannah/m/meltbanana.html
  10. ^ http://everything2.com/e2node/Melt-Banana
  11. ^ JaME USA Interview - http://www.jame-world.com/us/article.php?id=22
  12. ^ http://www.ram.org/music/reviews/banana_bungle.html
  13. ^ http://www.themelvins.net/wiki/index.php?title=Melvins_Tour_Dates_1999
  14. ^ http://www.karaterice.com/Interviews/Melt-Banana.html
  15. ^ http://www.drawerb.com/2007/05/11/melt-banana-prepares-for-massive-tour-supporting-tool-in-arenas/
  16. ^ http://outside.in/Durham_NC/tags/melt%20banana

[edit] External links

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Melt-Banana

Yasuko Onuki · Ichirou Agata · Rika Hamamoto

Toshiaki Sudoh · Oshima Watchma · Dave Witte
Discography-Studio Albums
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