Test ToneTest Tone

Test Tone vol. 43

A Guided Evening: Step-by-Step to Music Enjoy!

Featuring: Henna Dress, Neohachi, OreWaKonnaMonJanai, Shantell Martin (Live Drawing) and DJ Evil Penguin



Test Tone Homepage

Cal Lyall and Yasufumi Suzuki Special Interview!! (JP only)

Artist Information:

Henna Dress

A self-described 'gadget player', Henna Dress has been making music using her Nintendo Gameboy since 1998. Hardly describable, Henna Dress comes out of nowhere with a marvelous mixture of live electronics, all crafted into a cataclysmic bounce with charming dance sensibility.
Apparently led into her musical world by a stuffed cat (the band leader), Henna Dress remains influenced by 'someone's humming song', 'sound to which an flying insect hits an electric bulb', 'sound in which the empty stomach sounds', 'sound which the fish without an ear may hear', and more.
If you don't get your fill (and it's very likely you won't), check out her magical event Lab Bit Room, held somewhat regularly at nearby Nishiazabu Bul-let's.

Neohachi

Forming as a duo back in 2005, Lily (vocals) and Elly (synthesizers) of neohachi have driven their unique take on traditional Japanese poetry ever forward, recently adding a drummer to the mix under the name neohachi 3.
With a minimal approach to melody (employing a poem recitation technique known as 'shigin') and a sense of form that seems to have sprouted from high exposures of head-bobbing Krautrock, the sound seems to come across as startlingly fresh and deeply familiar all at once.
Check out their 2008 album 'Sense of Wonder' (with drummer Atsu) for a lovely listening experience. On this evening, we'll be treated to the unit at their stripped-down, minimal best. Wonderful stuff.
MySpace
YouTube: neohachi in FANTASIA

OWKMJ (OreWaKonnaMonJanai)

After a number of line-up changes since their last appearance at Test Tone a couple of years back, OWKMJ are back and better than ever. Always moving in new directions, we see the latest incarnation of the band moving towards more cyclic patterns in their compositions, but still retaining the punk deconstruction that seemed to sit on the edges of the band's sound since the beginning.
Much of this is captured on the band's new album, titled simply 'OWKMJ' and scheduled for release on the 28th of this month. If we're in luck, there may be some copies available for sale if the postal service doesn't encounter a rare snag. Fingers crossed.
MySpace

Shantell Martin (Live Drawing)

Our very special friend Shantell Martin will be down for her last Test Tone before a prolonged stay in New York. As we have said before, Shantell's work is absolutely amazing, and we'll miss her very much. For those of you (gasp!) unfamiliar with her work, read our description of her collaboration work from a long ways back: "Shantell will create a spontaneous artwork during the course of the set, which may grow across the walls and into your hair and/or lamb's wool coat if you don't pay attention. Recently joining a number of international events as a visual artist, this is a perfect chance to see why Shantell's work is gaining ground both here in Japan and abroad."


About Test Tone....
Test Tone is a free monthly event that promotes varied and, we hope, interesting live music to a wider audience in Tokyo. We wanted to create an event that highlights the diversity of great music and visual art being made here and give more people an opportunity to see and hear it.

To make Test Tone as accessible as possible we wanted a central Tokyo space with a good sound system; a place where people would want to come and hang out, eat, drink and meet people. And listen to some live music that they may not otherwise get exposed to. As a further encouragement, we wanted to make the event free—not only for the audience, but for the performers too.

All this could easily have been an order too tall were it not for the exceptional people at Super Deluxe that made it all possible. Their enthusiasm for live music and visuals and faith in the event, allowing us complete creative freedom in booking artists, has allowed Test Tone to grow into something even broader in scope than we could have hoped for back in February 2005 when we proudly presented volume 1.

Our aim is to create a wider community. To further that, please get in touch if you are interested in playing, or want to be kept up to date with Test Tone events.

Finally, we'd like to say thanks to everyone that has been involved with Test Tone, especially all the artists that have made the events such a continuing success.