Dead Kennedies

Melt-Banana

Melt-Banana is a Japanese noise rock band that is known for playing extremely fast and noisy music mixed with experimental electronica that might be described as new-wave grindcore. They have worked with artists as diverse as Merzbow, John Zorn, Mike Patton, and Discordance Axis. They have released nine albums and toured worldwide extensively.

History

In 1991, while attending Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Yasuko Onuki started a band called Mizu, which played shows at the University and recorded a demo tape. After several lineup changes, Yasuko recruited fellow students Agata Ichiro on guitar, and Rika on bass. After losing their drummer, only those three remained. They briefly performing shows around Tokyo without a drummer, then Sudoh joined on the drums, and they changed their name to Melt-Banana. In May of 1993, Melt-Banana played a show opening for K.K.NULL of Zeni Geva fame, who was impressed enough to immediately offer them a recording on his label, and later introduce them to Mark Fischer of Skin Graft Records and Steve Albini.

Melt-Banana have released eight full-length albums and 23 EPs (primarily split releases with other bands, most of which were compiled onto one disc in 2005). In 1997, they created their own recording company, A-Zap (formerly Iguana Coax), and re-issued most of all their early albums. During this time, drummer Toshiaki Sudoh quit. Since then, the band has had different drummers helping for tours and recordings. They do massive U.S. and U.K. tours yearly and do smaller Japanese tours (the reason for this, according to them, is that travelling in Japan is quite expensive). Most recently, Melt-Banana recorded the song "Hair-Cat (Cause the Wolf Is a Cat!)" for Perfect Hair Forever on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup. The latest album, Bambi's Dilemma, was released on April 24, 2007.

Line-Up

Drummers

Melt-Banana does not currently have an official drummer. There have been two drummers who were official members, and a number of guest drummers, for studio recording as well as live performances.

Sudoh Toshiaki - Official drummer from 1992 to December 1997. Appears on Speak Squeak Creak, Cactuses Come in Flocks, and Scratch or Stitch. Currently in Machine and the Synergetic Nuts.

Kikuchi - Guest live drummer, one show, early 1998. Formerly in Assfort.

Youichiro Natsume - Guest studio drummer, early 1998. Appears on Charlie. Formerly in Multiplex and Force.

Oshima Watchma - Official drummer from February 1998 to 2000. Toured, and appears on MxBx 1998/13,000 Miles at Light Velocity and Teeny Shiny. Formerly in Satanic Hell Slaughter.

Dave Witte - Guest touring drummer, US and Europe only, 2001 to 2005. (Although Witte hasn't toured with Melt-Banana since 2005, he could still be considered an available touring drummer.) Formerly in Discordance Axis and many others. Currently in Municipal Waste and many others.

Obokata - Guest live drummer, Japan only.

Masashi Sakata - Guest live drummer, Japan plus ATP UK 2002. Currently in 324.

Takiya Terada - Guest live drummer, Japan plus 2004 US tour and 2005 Europe tour.

Uki Eiji - Guest live drummer, 2006 - current. Formerly in Acid Mothers Temple.

References

Mystery Members

Regarding the full length recording "Cell Scape", it has often been stated that Melt-Banana used a drum machine for the recording of this album. However, it has been debated greatly by fans of the album, some of whom argue that they in fact used a live drummer in the studio. In an interview just after the release of "Cell Scape," the band was asked who played drums on the album. They alluded to the presence of a Japanese drum machine. This answer has been by and large unchallenged. Nevertheless, many agree that a close listening to the album reveals that the percussion is provided by a live musician. The stylistic choices of the rhythm section suggest that the drummer may be Dave Witte, though live he has played some of the beats differently than they are played on the album.

Style

Melt-Banana's music falls under what many call "noise rock." Agata plays highly unorthodox guitar with extended techniques. For instance, he overlaps two different guitar riffs, simulates lasers and sirens, and has an impressive arsenal of effects, almost all made through his guitar and large amount of effects pedals (this link is current as of 1999; Here is a more recent picture from their 2005 "13 Hedgehogs" tour). Yasuko O. belts out high-pitched screams and raps very quickly. Rika mm's bass lines aren't subdued like in most bands, but are given as much overt influence as Agata's guitar work. The sounds from the bass provide a distinct dimension to the music not found in many other bands. The drums are usually quite straightforward (however, in their recent albums, they have become more complex), especially on the faster songs, where they beat almost straight through with set cymbal crashes, adding a large amount of energy to the songs. The band describes their recent music (especially Teeny Shiny and Cell-Scape) as pop, but it is far from it, except more accessible when compared to their earlier albums, perhaps. Essentially, it could be argued that Melt Banana's output, (with special attention brought to their more recent songs) is more reminiscent of quirkier indie pop bands, with definite melodies hiding beneath the distortion, effects and sheer speed. Yasuko even sings, as opposed to barks parts of one of the tracks called 'If it is the Deep Sea, I can See You There' on their studio album 'Cell Scape'. Also of note, most of their albums (except the two just mentioned) are intentionally lo-fi, as that is Agata's feeling for the music; however, group members disliked how these recordings sounded on the radio, so they aimed to make their last two albums more hi-fi.

Cover Songs

Melt-Banana are known for doing very strange and entertaining cover songs.

Faint Heart (The Birthday Party) - Studio - Release the Bats (comp)
Government Flu (Dead Kennedies) - Live
Heart of Glass (Blondie) - Live - 2007
Here Comes Santa Claus (Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman) - Studio - The Christmas Album (comp) (Incorrectly credited as White Christmas by Bing Crosby.)
Monkey Man (Toots & The Maytals) - Studio - split 7" and Live - 2008.
My Generation (The Who) - Live - 2002
Neat Neat Neat (The Damned) - Studio - Charlie
Showroom Dummies (Kraftwerk) - Studio - Musique Non-Stop: A Tribute to Kraftwerk (comp)
Surfin' USA (The Beach Boys) - Studio - MxBx 1998/13,000 Miles at Light Velocity
Tintarella di Luna (Mina) - Studio - split 7" and Live
Uncontrollable Urge (DEVO) - Live - 2005
We Will Rock You (Queen) - Studio - Dynamite With a Laser Beam (comp)

Live Performances

Live performances are where Melt-Banana win many of their devotees. While many critics perceive Melt-Banana's recordings to be inaccessible, their sound translates much better live. Yasuko starts every show by yelling "We are Melt-Banana from Tokyo, Japan!" Her rapid-fire delivery and Agata's frenetic guitar riffs infuse crowds with energy. Attendees often mosh or otherwise move in a frenzy during performances. Yasuko O. often wears colorful and/or metallic costumes, while Rika mm' often wears just black. Both wear very high platform boots, on which Rika mm' often bounces, à la Krist Novoselic. Agata usually wears a surgical mask affixed to his face, sometimes with duct tape.