Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Yoshio Machida - Hypernatural #3 [Baskaru - 2008]

Machida believes that oblivion has a postive aspect in nature. This is because it is a part of the natural world, which over time creates changes in the world. Having said all of that, the artist certainly must feel a deep spiritual connection to the pieces archived on Hypernatural #3. Yet without the liner notes to guide one down the path, it would be in the least very difficult for one to surmise the theme. These pieces include multiltudes of interesting sounds, and on their own are entertaining, lively, and seamlessly assembled. Yet it's not always easy to detect the naturalist aspect. " />
Yoshio Machida's Hypernatural series is, in his own words, "a sound collage of sound parts used as meanings and symbols, and an endeavor to express the whole theme of 'nature' through correlations between image and title, between pieces. The self-released first volume in the series had to do with "memory in Eastern Asia", while the second volume was meant to relate to "transparent existence". This third volume in the series is about "oblivian". Machida believes that oblivion has a postive aspect in nature. This is because it is a part of the natural world, which over time creates changes in the world. Having said all of that, the artist certainly must feel a deep spiritual connection to the pieces archived on Hypernatural #3. Yet without the liner notes to guide one down the path, it would be in the least very difficult for one to surmise the theme. These pieces include multiltudes of interesting sounds, and on their own are entertaining, lively, and seamlessly assembled. Yet it's not always easy to detect the naturalist aspect.

The album does include some sounds obviously sourced from nature, whether it be birdsong, insects or water, which under the circumstances is very fitting. Other pieces sound sourced from musical instruments, and appear to be heavily manipulated via computer. It's a mystery as to how these pieces connect to the theme; perhaps the idea is to reflect the randomness of nature by assembling the album in a purposefully fitful manner.

Whatever the reasoning, the music stands for itself as high quality ambience in the very least. It's not ambient in the sense that it works only as background music. Active listening is required to pick up on the various sound sources. The pieces which include outside recordings are especially involving; recordings of Buddhist Nuns are blended beautifully into more difficult to identify field recordings. Scene 27; Symphony takes a sparkling recording of breaking waves, and slowly transforms itself into a glitchy keyboard piece.

The Hypernatural series is obviously a labor of love for Yoshio Machida. Though he treads several paths well rutted by others, he does so with enough care and enthusiasm to separate himself from the pack. In the long haul, it's worthy of the time you may need to dissect it.  

Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5

Erwin Michelfelder
Latest Reviews

Yoshio Machida - Hypernatural #3
Yoshio Machida's Hypernatural series is, in his own words, "a sound collage of sound parts used as meanings and symbols, and an endeavor to express the whole...
270324   Jerzy Skolimowski Collection ...
260324   Latex Choker - Sealed
260324   Occlusion - 59: No Input Wall
260324   Nihil Impvlse - Anabasis
260324   Marta Forsberg - Sjunger För...
260324   The New Boy - The New Boy( Th...
250324   The Stargazer’s Assistant - ...
250324   Liza Lim - Annunciation Trip...
220324   Patrick - Patrick( UHD/ Blu Ray)
220324   Dadawah - Peace And Love
Latest Articles

Sutcliffe No More - Normal Everyd...
Sutcliffe No More are a British two-piece bringing together Kevin Tomkins & Paul Taylor. Formed in 2021, it’s the spin-off project/ next sonic step...
290224   Sutcliffe No More - Normal Ev...
100124   Occlusion - The Operation Is...
181223   Best Of 2023 - Music, Sound &...
051223   Powerhouse Films - Of Magic, ...
181023   IO - Of Sound, Of Art, Of Exp...
210923   Lucky Cerruti - Of Not so Fri...
290823   The Residents - The Trouble W...
110723   Yotzeret Sheydim Interview - ...
250523   TenHornedBeast - Into The Dee...
050523   Bill Morroni - The Trials & ...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2023. Twenty two years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom