I didn’t know much about the Fuck Buttons prior to seeing them open up for Caribou and the little I did know was mostly centered around the sudden rush of acclaim (read: hype). Any concerns were quickly put aside with a quick glance on the stage however. Equipment check: laptop, 80s era Casio keyboards, suitcase w/ more electrical things and wires spilling out, effect pedals, and Fischer Price recorder w/ Mic laid scattered haphazardly across a single table.

Photo courtesy of http://www.fuckbuttons.co.uk

What sets Fuck Buttons apart from other electronic acts is that their sound revolves less around the noises typically one associates with the electronic circuitry of a keyboard and laptop; instead they prefer pulsating washes of electronic feedback and tribal rhythms that escalate to a blissful peak. I can’t help but wonder who held a greater influence: Slint/Mono/GSYBE or Kraftwerk/Fennesz/BOC? However you want to classify it they bridge a perfect gap between the past and the future that fits perfectly in the present.

[Video] Bright Tomorrow by Fuck Buttons:

They are currently on tour in North America with Caribou check the sites below for dates:

ATP Recordings:
http://www.atpfestival.com/atp-recordings/fuck-buttons/

Band Page:
http://www.fuckbuttons.co.uk/

ロンドンの音楽プロデューサー＆エンジニア＆ミュージシャンのベン・ミッチェルとクリス・フィッツジェラルドによるユニット。その他いろいろ大勢参加！サンタナの曲をブラジル風にカバーした1曲目のFree As The Morning Sunがすごくいいです。本当に涼しげで爽快。2001年に発売されたセカンド・アルバムで、全体的にブラジル+ジャズで気持ちよく聴けました。さり気ないけど熱っぽいって感じ。何かこれ聴いてると、未来世紀ブラジルって言葉が頭の中ぐるぐるします・・全然関係ないけど。しかもこの映画、爽やかでもないし。

このビデオは私がテレビで見たのと違います。他にステージで女の人が歌ってるフェスティバルか何かの様子みたいなビデオがあるはず。 それがすごい素敵でした！見つけたらまた載せます・・
Mr. Bongo（レーベル　オフィシャル？）

Dance In Bedroom Records

After releasing a series of collaboration albums last year it seems appropriate that the new Tujiko Noriko album be titled Solo.

From the recent Shift Interview: “I made 4 collaboration albums last year, and realized that there were also lots of things which cannot be done without being alone. Like playing alone in childhood was fun, like dancing or singing intently in my room or in a field of grass when I noticed nobody was around, even though there are some things that would make you laugh, I seriously wanted to do such things again…”

Solo is possibly the closest thing to a traditional pop album Tujiko Noriko has released to date, and while she has always enjoyed a strong fan base among the electronic/experimental-pop minded world, this might be the album that breaks out to a larger audience. Solo is out now on Editions Mego.

Tujiko Noriko - “Ending Kisses“
From Solo on Editions Mego
Listen to “Ending Kisses”

Tujiko Noriko - “Saigo No Chikyu“
From Solo on Editions Mego
Listen to “Saigo No Chikyu”

Word has it Tujiko Noriko is also working on some experimental short movies (anyone have any info on this?) and also a contributing member of the Toyko based magazine OK FRED which she launched a couple years back. Be sure to check out the SHIFT Interview with Tujiko Noriko.