Noiseconcrete x 3CHI5 – Trip For Mystery And Pursuing / With Our Own Words (Single – Ant-Zen)

Genre/Influences: Glitch, IDM.
Format: Digital, Vinyl (7”).
Background/Info: This work is a collaboration between Japanese artists; there’s the music created by Junji Ono aka Noiseconcrete while female singer 3CHI5 is doing the vocals. Both artists have already released a few previous works on the Japanese label SSSM (run by Hiroshi Hashimoto aka Contagious Orgasm).
Content: This work features 3 compositions. Especially both debut cuts are catching the attention for the mix of influences and ideas. It makes me think of a sonic hybrid between Glitch and IDM driven by slow rhythms and featuring female vocals in Japanese. The rhythm has something sensual, which is accentuated by the vocals while the music is hard to catch. The last track is a very short one, kind of outro.
+ + + : The sound is hard to grasp, but it has something original. The Japanese vocals by the mysterious 3CHI5 are fitting to the music. I especially like the sensual aspect of the work created by the slow cadence. It’s a dark and sexy production, both main songs being a cool discovery.
– – – : It’s just a pity we only get 3 songs from this project and the last one is just a forgettable outro.
Conclusion: I’m used to discovering complex and less accessible Noise projects from Japan, but this new production is definitely something different; original and refreshing!
Best songs: “With Our Own Words”.
Rate: (7½).
Artist: www.facebook.com/NOISECONCRETEx3CHI5-110963780515370
Label: www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official
About Noiseconcrete x 3CHI5
Noiseconcrete x 3CHI5 pairs Nagoya-based electronics artist Noiseconcrete (also known as Noise Guy) with singer 3CHI5, whose lyrics move between whispered and screamed Japanese vocal improvisation. The duo’s first two albums were released on the Nagoya label SSSM, run by Hiroshi Hashimoto, better known as Contagious Orgasm.
“Trip For Mystery And Pursuing / With Our Own Words” was released on Ant-Zen on 9 September 2020 and gathers three tracks built from noise, industrial textures and trip hop rhythm, with 3CHI5’s voice moving between blues-inflected singing and shattered screams over Noiseconcrete’s slower, minimal beats. Further Noiseconcrete x 3CHI5 releases, including “Sandglass” and “BLUEKUBABA”, followed on the duo’s own Bandcamp page and on SSSM. No prior Side-Line coverage of the duo has been found.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

