13 Japanese Birds
Encyclopedia
13 Japanese Birds is a 15 album series by the Japan
ese noise musician Merzbow
. It was inspired by Olivier Messiaen
's Catalogue d'oiseaux (Catalog of birds), but has no direct musical relationship.
The original series consisted of 13 albums recorded one-a-month and released from January 2009 – January 2010. Masami Akita frequently revisited older recordings and it was part of his recent return to live drums. Jenny Akita's cover art depicts illustrated birds on top of photographs. Each CD is limited to 1,000 copies.
This version was also available by subscription; as just the CDs, or with a custom-made bamboo box. Also available only with purchase of the box was an acrylic-on-bamboo painting by Akita himself.
In March 2010, Important released Ecobag/13 Birds in a Bag +1, this set included the original 13 CDs, a bonus CDR of additional material from the sessions, and a piece of original xerox art made by Akita in the mid-90s. All packaged in a tote bag
, and limited to 200 copies.
In 2009, Important announced that an LP
called Jigokuhen
would be released to celebrate the completion of the series. Originally scheduled for the first anniversary of the completion of the original series (January 2011), but it was delayed until March. The album is the 15th and final volume of the Japanese Birds series, but released by itself.
"Tori Uta" was previously released on Zoundtrack by Ukawanimation!.
The song titles refer to a March 2009 cull after the bird flu virus was found.
.
The first track is a protest against the wild-bird cull instituted by Tokyo Governor Shintarō Ishihara
. Akasaka
is a district in Minato, Tokyo
.
The album was delayed until the first week of August. The bird design on the cover was previously used on Fantail
.
"Ushiwaka 2" is a reworking of a track from Yoshinotsune
.
The album was delayed until the first week of November due to printing errors.
.
The album title transliterates
to "Tengajū no tori" and means "Bird velvet", while the track titles translate to "1st song" and "2nd song".
Fukurou lists additional instrument credits:
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese noise musician Merzbow
Merzbow
is 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...
. It was inspired by Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex ; harmonically and melodically it is based on modes of limited transposition, which he abstracted from his early compositions and improvisations...
's Catalogue d'oiseaux (Catalog of birds), but has no direct musical relationship.
The original series consisted of 13 albums recorded one-a-month and released from January 2009 – January 2010. Masami Akita frequently revisited older recordings and it was part of his recent return to live drums. Jenny Akita's cover art depicts illustrated birds on top of photographs. Each CD is limited to 1,000 copies.
This version was also available by subscription; as just the CDs, or with a custom-made bamboo box. Also available only with purchase of the box was an acrylic-on-bamboo painting by Akita himself.
In March 2010, Important released Ecobag/13 Birds in a Bag +1, this set included the original 13 CDs, a bonus CDR of additional material from the sessions, and a piece of original xerox art made by Akita in the mid-90s. All packaged in a tote bag
Tote bag
A tote bag is large and open bag, with a handle centered atop each side. In the classic cloth version, arched straps form both handles. Straps' ends run down both sides, ending under the second fabric layer there, which shields the lower surfaces...
, and limited to 200 copies.
In 2009, Important announced that an LP
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
called Jigokuhen
Jigokuhen (album)
Jigokuhen is an LP by the Japanese noise musician Merzbow.The title means "Hell hen", and is a pun on the title of the book and film Jigokuhen .The LP was first announced on the label's Twitter in December 2009...
would be released to celebrate the completion of the series. Originally scheduled for the first anniversary of the completion of the original series (January 2011), but it was delayed until March. The album is the 15th and final volume of the Japanese Birds series, but released by itself.
Suzume: 13 Japanese Birds Pt. 1
The title refers to the ."Tori Uta" was previously released on Zoundtrack by Ukawanimation!.
Track listing
Fukurou: 13 Japanese Birds Pt. 2
The title refers to the .Track listing
Yurikamome: 13 Japanese Birds Pt. 3
The title refers to the , literally "Lily seagull".Track listing
Karasu: 13 Japanese Birds Pt. 4
The title refers to the .Track listing
Uzura: 13 Japanese Birds Pt. 5
The title refers to the .The song titles refer to a March 2009 cull after the bird flu virus was found.
Track listing
Kamo: 13 Japanese Birds Pt. 6
The title refers to the . The cover depicts the Tufted DuckTufted Duck
The Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula, is a medium-sized diving duck with a population of close to one million birds.- Description :The adult male is all black except for white flanks and a blue-grey bill. It has an obvious head tuft that gives the species its name.The adult female is brown with paler...
.
The first track is a protest against the wild-bird cull instituted by Tokyo Governor Shintarō Ishihara
Shintaro Ishihara
is a Japanese author, actor, politician and the governor of Tokyo since 1999.- Early life and artistic career :Shintarō was born in Suma-ku, Kobe. His father Kiyoshi was an employee, later a general manager, of a shipping company. Shintarō grew up in Zushi...
. Akasaka
Akasaka, Tokyo
is a residential and commercial district of Minato, Tokyo, located west of the government center in Nagatachō and north of the Roppongi nightlife district....
is a district in Minato, Tokyo
Minato, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 1 March 2008, it had an official population of 217,335 and a population density of 10,865 persons per km². The total area is 20.34 km².Minato hosts 49 embassies...
.
Track listing
Kujakubato: 13 Japanese Birds Pt. 7
The title refers to the , literally "Peacock pigeon".The album was delayed until the first week of August. The bird design on the cover was previously used on Fantail
Fantail (album)
-Track listing:All music by Masami Akita....
.
Track listing
Kokuchou: 13 Japanese Birds Pt. 8
The title refers to the ."Ushiwaka 2" is a reworking of a track from Yoshinotsune
Yoshinotsune
Yoshinotsune is a studio album by the Japanese noise musician, Merzbow. It was released in a limited edition of 500 copies.-Track listing:All music by Masami Akita....
.
Track listing
Hiyodori: 13 Japanese Birds Pt. 9
The title refers to the .Track listing
Niwatori: 13 Japanese Birds Pt. 10
The title refers to the .The album was delayed until the first week of November due to printing errors.
Track listing
Shirasagi: 13 Japanese Birds Pt. 11
The title refers to the . The cover depicts the Asahi Beer HallAsahi Beer Hall
The Asahi Beer Hall is one of the buildings of the Asahi Breweries headquarters located on the east bank of the Sumida River in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. It was designed by French designer Philippe Starck and was completed in 1989...
.
Track listing
Tsubame: 13 Japanese Birds Pt. 12
The title refers to the .Track listing
Chabo: 13 Japanese Birds Pt. 13
The title refers to the .Track listing
天鵞絨の鳥
This is the bonus CDR that was included exclusively with the Ecobag, only 200 copies were made. Its also considered to be the 14th album of the series. Subscribers of the original series were able to download it from the label for free.The album title transliterates
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
to "Tengajū no tori" and means "Bird velvet", while the track titles translate to "1st song" and "2nd song".
Track listing
Jigokuhen
Jigokuhen is an album released to commemorate the first anniversary of the completion of the original series (January 2011), but it was delayed until March. The album is the 15th and final volume of the Japanese Birds series, but released by itself.Personnel
- Masami Akita – performer, bamboo paintings, xerox art
- Jenny Akita – artwork, photography
Fukurou lists additional instrument credits:
- MA plays EMS Synthi 'A'EMS Synthi AThe EMS Synthi A was a portable analog synthesizer made by Electronic Music Studios Ltd in 1971....
, EMS VCS3 IIEMS VCS 3The VCS 3 is a portable analog synthesiser with a flexible semi-modular voice architecture, by Electronic Music Studios Limited in 1969....
, computers, handmade instruments, various effects