Yamantaka Eye
Encyclopedia
, real name , born February 13, 1964 in Kobe
, is a Japanese
vocalist and visual artist, best known as a member of Boredoms. He has changed his name three times, from Yamatsuka Eye, to Yamantaka Eye, to Yamataka Eye, and sometimes calls himself eYe or EYヨ. He also DJs under the name DJ 光光光 or "DJ pica pica pica" ("pica" means "bright" or "shiny"), and has used numerous other pseudonym
s.
band, Boredoms, whose first major label release came out in the early '90s. They were signed to Warner Bros. (Chocolate Synthesizer era) by David Katznelson, then A&R VP of Warner Bros. The closest thing Boredoms have to a frontman, Eye offers a variety of vocal techniques: gurgles, screams, grunts and occasionally, relatively conventional singing
. In the later days of Boredoms and in today's V∞redoms he plays electronics and open reel tapes
.
, UFO or Die, Puzzle Punks, Noise Ramones and Destroy 2
. He is notorious for his vast, confusing discography and countless guest appearances. In 1993, he recorded an EP with Sonic Youth
called TV Shit
for Thurston Moore
's label, Ecstatic Peace
. He also collaborated with Yamamoto Seiichi & Yamazaki Maso
in the project "(Triple) Yama's" which was titled for their shared namesake. He released two albums, Live! and Live!!, with Japanese turntablist/improviser Yoshihide Otomo
, under the moniker "MC Hellshit & DJ Carhouse
".
Other notable collaborations include his work with Bill Laswell
's Praxis
, his work with top sound experimenter Otomo Yoshihide, and with John Zorn
's groups Naked City
and Painkiller
. Eye and Zorn also recorded the album Zohar as the "Mystic Fugu Orchestra." This latter compilation, which both commemorates and satirizes Jewish culture, also draws strength from Eye's earlier influence from the Oomoto
religion in Japan, a sect claiming to possess visions of an emerging world order
. Several generations of Eye's family belonged to Oomoto
, which was at times brutally suppressed by the Japanese government. Yamantaka participated in the Boredoms 77 Boadrum
performance which occurred on July 7, 2007 at 7:07 PM at the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park
in Brooklyn
, New York
, and the 88 Boadrum
performance which occurred on August 8, 2008 at 8:08 PM at the La Brea Tar Pits
in Los Angeles
, California
.
influenced mixed-media style of art that utilises airbrush
, marker pen
and collage
, amongst other materials. This work has adorned a number of records, including the majority of Boredoms releases and, perhaps more famously, Beck's
Midnite Vultures
. Similar to the Boredoms' musical direction, Eye started incorporating a much more psychedelic, calmer approach into his work, evident on the covers of many of the later Boredoms albums. Drawing as much from Japanese mythology as it does from his musical influence, such as early punk imagery, his work aims to complement the music as well as to provide another dimension to the sound.
When discussing Eye's unique art style, Stylus Magazine
writer Mike Powell commented:
Eye also designed the cover art of the solo album Infinite Love of Dustin Wong of the band Ponytail
.
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
, is a Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
vocalist and visual artist, best known as a member of Boredoms. He has changed his name three times, from Yamatsuka Eye, to Yamantaka Eye, to Yamataka Eye, and sometimes calls himself eYe or EYヨ. He also DJs under the name DJ 光光光 or "DJ pica pica pica" ("pica" means "bright" or "shiny"), and has used numerous other pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
s.
Boredoms
Eye is a founder of the influential rock musicRock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band, Boredoms, whose first major label release came out in the early '90s. They were signed to Warner Bros. (Chocolate Synthesizer era) by David Katznelson, then A&R VP of Warner Bros. The closest thing Boredoms have to a frontman, Eye offers a variety of vocal techniques: gurgles, screams, grunts and occasionally, relatively conventional singing
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
. In the later days of Boredoms and in today's V∞redoms he plays electronics and open reel tapes
Reel to Reel
* For the audio technology, see "Reel-to-reel audio tape recording"Reel to Reel is the debut album by Grand Puba. It was Puba's first solo venture, following group projects with the likes of the short lived group Masters of Ceremony and Brand Nubian. Both of the group’s albums were critically...
.
Other
Yamantaka Eye is also a member of the bands HanatarashHanatarash
Hanatarashi , meaning "sniveler" or "snot-nosed" in Japanese, was a noise band created by later Boredoms frontman Yamantaka Eye and featured Zeni Geva guitarist Mitsuru Tabata. The outfit was formed in Osaka, Japan in 1984 after Eye and Tabata met as stage hands at an Einstürzende Neubauten show...
, UFO or Die, Puzzle Punks, Noise Ramones and Destroy 2
Destroy 2
Destroy 2 was a short-lived Japanese noise rock band. Consisting of only two members, Yamantaka Eye of Boredoms and Chew Hasegawa of Corrupted , they released one infamous recording in 1996 called We Are Voice and Rhythm Only...
. He is notorious for his vast, confusing discography and countless guest appearances. In 1993, he recorded an EP with Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
called TV Shit
TV Shit
TV Shit is an EP by Sonic Youth and Japanese vocalist Yamatsuka Eye. It was released in 1993 on Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace label. It is referred to as a cover version of the DC Youth Brigade song "No II", the original version of which was a one-second song consisting of the yelled word...
for Thurston Moore
Thurston Moore
Thurston Joseph Moore is an American musician best known as a singer, songwriter and guitarist of Sonic Youth. He has also participated in many solo and group collaborations outside of Sonic Youth, as well as running the Ecstatic Peace! record label...
's label, Ecstatic Peace
Ecstatic Peace
Ecstatic Peace! is a record label based in Easthampton, Massachusetts, founded in 1981 by Sonic Youth member Thurston Moore. The premiere release was a split cassette featuring spoken word performances from Michael Gira of Swans and Lydia Lunch...
. He also collaborated with Yamamoto Seiichi & Yamazaki Maso
Yamazaki Maso
Yamazaki "Maso" Takushi is the birthname of Japanese noise musician and performer known most widely for his solo project Masonna.Born in Kyōto, 1966...
in the project "(Triple) Yama's" which was titled for their shared namesake. He released two albums, Live! and Live!!, with Japanese turntablist/improviser Yoshihide Otomo
Yoshihide Otomo
is a Japanese composer and multi-instrumentalist.He first came to international prominence in the 1990s as the leader of the noise rock group Ground Zero, and has since worked in a variety of contexts, ranging from free improvisation to noise, jazz, avant-garde and contemporary classical...
, under the moniker "MC Hellshit & DJ Carhouse
MC Hellshit & DJ Carhouse
MC Hellshit & DJ Carhouse is a collaboration project between Japanese artists Yamantaka Eye , best known as a member of Boredoms, and experimental composer Yoshihide Otomo . The duo released two live albums in 1995 and have no current plans for further releases together.-Discography:*Live! *Live!!...
".
Other notable collaborations include his work with Bill Laswell
Bill Laswell
Bill Laswell is an American bassist, producer and record label owner....
's Praxis
Praxis (band)
Praxis was the name of an ever-changing musical project, led by prolific producer Bill Laswell. Praxis combine elements of different musical genres such as funk, jazz, hip-hop and heavy metal into highly improvised music...
, his work with top sound experimenter Otomo Yoshihide, and with John Zorn
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
's groups Naked City
Naked City (band)
Naked City was an avant-garde music group led by saxophonist and composer John Zorn. Active primarily in New York City from 1988 to 1993, Naked City was initiated by Zorn as a "composition workshop" to test the limits of composition in a traditional rock band lineup...
and Painkiller
Painkiller (band)
Painkiller is a band originally formed in 1991. Their style can be described as a mix of avant-garde jazz and grindcore; later albums also incorporated elements of ambient and dub....
. Eye and Zorn also recorded the album Zohar as the "Mystic Fugu Orchestra." This latter compilation, which both commemorates and satirizes Jewish culture, also draws strength from Eye's earlier influence from the Oomoto
Oomoto
Oomoto also known as Oomoto-kyo , is a sect, often categorised as a new Japanese religion originated from Shinto; it was founded in 1892 by Deguchi Nao...
religion in Japan, a sect claiming to possess visions of an emerging world order
World order
- International relations :* The international system, which includes:** International relations , or International studies , the study of foreign affairs and global issues among states within the international system...
. Several generations of Eye's family belonged to Oomoto
Oomoto
Oomoto also known as Oomoto-kyo , is a sect, often categorised as a new Japanese religion originated from Shinto; it was founded in 1892 by Deguchi Nao...
, which was at times brutally suppressed by the Japanese government. Yamantaka participated in the Boredoms 77 Boadrum
77 Boadrum
77 Boa Drum was a concert held on July 7, 2007 at 7:07 PM consisting of 77 drummers. The concert was organized by Boredoms. The title of the concert was a portmanteau of "Boredoms", "boa", "drum", and "77"...
performance which occurred on July 7, 2007 at 7:07 PM at the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park
Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park
Empire–Fulton Ferry Park, formerly Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park, is a park in Brooklyn, New York, United States. The park is located next to the East River, extending north and south of the Brooklyn Bridge...
in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and the 88 Boadrum
88 Boadrum
88 Boadrum was a duo of free concerts following 2007's 77 Boadrum, hosted by Japanese noise rock band Boredoms. The concerts took place at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, California and the Williamsburg waterfront in Brooklyn, New York and featured a new 88-minute composition.Each concert...
performance which occurred on August 8, 2008 at 8:08 PM at the La Brea Tar Pits
La Brea Tar Pits
The La Brea Tar Pits are a cluster of tar pits around which Hancock Park was formed, in the urban heart of Los Angeles. Asphaltum or tar has seeped up from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years. The tar is often covered with water...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Art
As well as his music, Eye is famous for his DadaDada
Dada or Dadaism is a cultural movement that began in Zurich, Switzerland, during World War I and peaked from 1916 to 1922. The movement primarily involved visual arts, literature—poetry, art manifestoes, art theory—theatre, and graphic design, and concentrated its anti-war politics through a...
influenced mixed-media style of art that utilises airbrush
Airbrush
An airbrush is a small, air-operated tool that sprays various media including ink and dye, but most often paint by a process of nebulization. Spray guns developed from the airbrush and are still considered a type of airbrush.-History:...
, marker pen
Marker pen
thumb|MarkerA marker pen, marking pen, felt-tip pen, flow or marker, is a pen which has its own ink-source, and usually a tip made of a porous, pressed fibres; such as felt or nylon.-Permanent marker:...
and collage
Collage
A collage is a work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole....
, amongst other materials. This work has adorned a number of records, including the majority of Boredoms releases and, perhaps more famously, Beck's
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
Midnite Vultures
Midnite Vultures
Midnite Vultures is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock artist Beck, released in November 1999 by Geffen Records...
. Similar to the Boredoms' musical direction, Eye started incorporating a much more psychedelic, calmer approach into his work, evident on the covers of many of the later Boredoms albums. Drawing as much from Japanese mythology as it does from his musical influence, such as early punk imagery, his work aims to complement the music as well as to provide another dimension to the sound.
When discussing Eye's unique art style, Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine was an online music and film magazine launched in 2002. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, a number of different podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog....
writer Mike Powell commented:
- See also: Stylus Magazine feature about his art
Eye also designed the cover art of the solo album Infinite Love of Dustin Wong of the band Ponytail
Ponytail
A ponytail is a hairstyle in which most or all of the hair on the head is pulled away from the face, gathered and secured at the back of the head with a hair tie, clip or similar device, and allowed to hang freely from that point. It gets its name from its resemblance to the undocked tail of a...
.
Audio Sports
- 3-6-9 (Bron Records) (EP) (1991)
- Eat+Buy+Eat (All Access) (EP/CD) (1992)
- Era of Glittering Gas (All Access) (CD) (1992)
Boredoms
- For a full list of Boredoms releases, see Boredoms discographyBoredoms discographyThis is a discography of Boredoms, a Japanese experimental noise rock band. To date, Boredoms have released seven full-length studio albums, eleven EPs , three singles, one live album, three videos, a cassette series, and five remix albums, in addition to their members' various side...
.- Osorezan no Stooges KyoOsorezan no Stooges KyoOsorezan no Stooges Kyo is an album by Boredoms, released in 1988 on Selfish Records. The title translates to "The Stooges' Craze in Osorezan".-Track listing:#"Wipe Out Shock Shoppers" – 0:21#"Boredom, Vs, Sdi" – 3:23#"We Never Sleep" – 2:10...
(1988) - Soul DischargeSoul DischargeSoul Discharge is a 1989 album by experimental noise rock band Boredoms. It was named the 89th greatest album of the 1980s by Pitchfork Media.-Soul Discharge:Original Selfish Records LP release -Soul Discharge '99:...
(1989) - Pop TatariPop TatariPop Tatari is the third full-length album by Boredoms, released in 1992 by Warner Music Japan, in 1993 by Reprise Records, and in the United Kingdom in 2004 by Very Friendly Records....
(1992) - Chocolate SynthesizerChocolate SynthesizerChocolate Synthesizer is the fourth full-length album by Japanese noise rock band Boredoms, released in 1994 by WEA Japan and Reprise Records and in 2004 on Very Friendly Records....
(1994) - Super æ (1998)
- Vision Creation NewsunVision Creation Newsun-Limited edition:The album was originally released with alternative artwork, a second disc, a T-shirt, a sticker, and an electronic device that played sampled frog noises when the box was opened. The second disc contains a 30+ minute live track consisting of an unreleased song and the opening track...
(2000) - Seadrum/House of SunSeadrum/House of SunSeadrum/House of Sun is an album by Boredoms, released in 2004 by Warner Music Japan and in 2005 on Vice Records in the United States. It consisted of just two extended 20 minute tracks, with the tribal drumming now generally equated with modern-day Boredoms and elements of drone music, trance...
(2005)
- Osorezan no Stooges Kyo
Hanatarashi
- Hanazumari (1984)
- Take Back Your Penis!! (1984)
- Live Axtion 84.4.20 & 1.29 (1984)
- Noisexa (1984)
- Bombraining (1984)
- The Hit Parade 1 (1984)
- The Hit Parade 2 (1984)
- Hane Go Go (1984)
- Man Of Noise Noise Kyojin (1984)
- Live! 1984 3.24 (1984)
- 8448-412 (1984)
- Live Action 84.1.29 (1984)
- Live Act 16.Dec.1984 at Zabo Kyoto (1984)
- Merzbow & Hanatarashi (1985) (with MerzbowMerzbowis the main recording name of the Japanese noise musician , born in 1956. Since 1979 he has released in excess of 350 recordings.The name "Merzbow" comes from German artist Kurt Schwitters' artwork, "Merzbau”. This was chosen to reflect Akita's dada influence and junk art aesthetic...
) - Worst Selektion (1985)
- Worst Selektion (1985)
- Hanatarashi 1 (1985)
- Hanatarashi 2 (1987)
Hanatarash
- 3: William Bennet Has No Dick (1990)
- The Hanatarash and His Eye (1992)
- Live!! 1984 Dec. 16: Zabo-Kyoto (1993)
- Total Retardation (1995)
- 4: Aids-a-delic (1995)
- 5: We are 0:00 (1996)
MC Hellshit & DJ Carhouse
- Live!Live! (MC Hellshit & DJ Carhouse album)Live! is the first of two live albums by MC Hellshit & DJ Carhouse, a collaboration project between Japanese artists Yamantaka Eye and Yoshihide Otomo . Recorded live at the Disobey Festival and later released on Blast First in 1995, the album was packaged in a 3" cardboard sleeve and limited to...
- Live!!
Puzzle Punks
- Pipeline - 24 Smash Hits by 24 Puzzle Punk Bands (1996)
- Budub (1996)
- Puzzoo (2006)
with John Zorn
- Nani NaniNani NaniNani Nani is an album of improvised music by American composer and saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist John Zorn and Yamataka Eye...
(1995) - ZoharZohar (album)-Track listing:# "Alef" – 0:40# "Book Of Splendors" – 3:48# "Frog Doina" – 2:02# "The Dybbuk" – 2:28# "2000 Years" – 0:59# "Goniff Dance" – 2:17# "Rav Nova" – 7:44# "Zayin" – 3:37...
(as Mystic Fugu Orchestra) (1995) - Naninani IINaninani II- Track listing :# "Fuckxotica" - 4:18# "Hilo Himo" - 3:14# "Shiso Baba" - 8:24# "UFOFF" - 7:34# "Bar Time with Eno" - 3:44# "Kiri Taki" - 3:44# "4AB" - 1:54# "Fat Anarchy on Airtube" - 9:37# "Espimo" - 2:12# "Macabro Delicato" - 2:13...
(2004) - 50th Birthday Celebration Volume 1050th Birthday Celebration Volume 1050th Birthday Celebration Volume 10 is a live album of improvised music by Yamataka Eye and John Zorn documenting their performance at Tonic in September, 2003 as part of John Zorn's month-long 50th Birthday Celebration concert series.-Track listing:...
(2005)
with Naked City
- Naked CityNaked City (album)Naked City is an album released on Nonesuch Records in 1990 by John Zorn, featuring the band of the same name. The album was also released as part of Naked City: The Complete Studio Recordings on Tzadik Records in 2005....
(1989) - Torture GardenTorture Garden (album)Torture Garden is an album by John Zorn's band Naked City featuring Yamatsuka Eye on vocals. The album is a compilation of the "hardcore miniatures" that were also released on Naked City and Grand Guignol. Unlike other Naked City albums, there are no breaks between the screaming, the seemingly...
(1990) - Grand GuignolGrand Guignol (album)Grand Guignol is the second full-length studio album released by John Zorn's band Naked City in 1992 on the Japanese Avant label. The album followed Torture Garden, which was a compilation of "hardcore miniatures" from Naked City and Grand Guignol...
(1992) - HereticHeretic (Naked City album)Heretic is the third studio album by the band Naked City, used as a soundtrack for the underground S/M film Jeux des Dames Cruelles. The album utilises different combinations of band members in duos and trios with the entire band performing together on only one track "Fire and Ice".According to...
(1992) - Leng Tch'eLeng Tch'e (album)Leng Tch'e is the fourth release from John Zorn's band Naked City. It consists of a single track, running at just over half an hour. It was first released on the Japanese Toys Factory label in 1992...
(1992) - RadioRadio (Naked City album)Radio is the fourth studio album by the band Naked City, and their first to be composed entirely by bandleader John Zorn. The album was also released as part of Naked City: The Complete Studio Recordings on Tzadik Records in 2005....
(1993)