Artist

Hijokaidan

1979-present·Tokyo

Formed in Tokyo in 1979, Hijokaidan built a reputation on confrontational live performances that followed no script: walls of feedback, metal percussion, and screaming electronics assembled in the moment rather than planned in advance. Working parallel to Merzbow through the 1980s and beyond, the group offered a different model for what Japanoise could be, noise as collective improvisatory assault rather than a solo studio project.

The full story is in Japanoise: The Extreme Edge of Sound.

At a glance

Active
1979–present
From
Tokyo, Japan
Listening guide track
“ヒステリヤ”

Listen

In the Japanoise: The Extreme Edge of Sound listening guide: “ヒステリヤ”

Spotify

In the issues

  • Japanoise: The Extreme Edge of Sound
    Supporting cast · 1960-2000 · Members

    Japanoise: The Extreme Edge of Sound is a music scene from Tokyo & Osaka, Japan, 1960–2000. Its principal artists include Merzbow, Boredoms and Hanatarash. This issue covers 10 essential albums and 14 dated events.

Terms

Noise music
An experimental genre built from non-musical or non-traditional sound sources, including feedback, distortion, and found objects, that avoids melody and conventional structure in favor of texture and extremity.