In order to describe my experience listening to Himuro for the first time, I find it convenient to compare myself to Marty McFly in Back to the Future. Not that I feel the need to save my parents' relationship in order to secure my own existence, but rather in the sense that I'm revisiting something in the past with knowledge gained from a later date. To be specific, Himuro takes me back to the early 1980s -- a time of innocence for me -- but with the musical affinities I've developed over the past few years in tow; call it the period of my fall from grace.
On Mild Fantasy Violence, armed with video game sounds and ancient synth modules, Himuro creates what might best be described as musical mini-trips that embrace the myriad electronic music styles of the past 20 years. Rather than simply acting as a portal to my youth, like actually playing an Atari, Commodore 64, or Intellivision game might do, Himuro incorporates these old sounds into a contemporary context of hip hop, drum n' bass, and straight up techno, creating an oddly familiar yet entirely new experience. More intense tracks, like "2MCs from Thailand" and "Button of Reset," with their cut-up beats almost make me feel that I'm having some type of psychedelic flashback hitting me with multiple moments of my favorite video games simultaneously. The effect can almost be overwhelming. On the other hand, the almost pastoral atmospherics of the title track are soothing in a very unique way, close to the effect of Plone or Boards of Canada.
Trying to separate my childhood memories from the experience is what I find hardest with this stuff. I want to be able to say that this is great music regardless of one's connection with ancient video game consoles, but realistically, there is no way for me to remove myself from my own fascination with the sounds. Luckily, I think that most folks who will come into contact with Himuro's compositions will likely have had experiences akin to my own, and nostalgia will factor high in their consumption as well. So, if you feel like taking a little trip back in time, procure Mild Fantasy Violence, pour yourself a tall glass of chocolate milk, close your eyes, and let those hours spent in front of a glaring monitor all those years ago flood back through your consciousness.
In order to describe my experience listening to Himuro for the first time, I find it convenient to compare myself to Marty McFly in Back to the Future. Not that I feel the need to save my parents' relationship in order to secure my own existence, but rather in the sense that I'm revisiting something in the past with knowledge gained from a later date. To be specific, Himuro takes me back to the early 1980s -- a time of innocence for me -- but with the musical affinities I've developed over the past few years in tow; call it the period of my fall from grace.
On Mild Fantasy Violence, armed with video game sounds and ancient synth modules, Himuro creates what might best be described as musical mini-trips that embrace the myriad electronic music styles of the past 20 years. Rather than simply acting as a portal to my youth, like actually playing an Atari, Commodore 64, or Intellivision game might do, Himuro incorporates these old sounds into a contemporary context of hip hop, drum n' bass, and straight up techno, creating an oddly familiar yet entirely new experience. More intense tracks, like "2MCs from Thailand" and "Button of Reset," with their cut-up beats almost make me feel that I'm having some type of psychedelic flashback hitting me with multiple moments of my favorite video games simultaneously. The effect can almost be overwhelming. On the other hand, the almost pastoral atmospherics of the title track are soothing in a very unique way, close to the effect of Plone or Boards of Canada.
Trying to separate my childhood memories from the experience is what I find hardest with this stuff. I want to be able to say that this is great music regardless of one's connection with ancient video game consoles, but realistically, there is no way for me to remove myself from my own fascination with the sounds. Luckily, I think that most folks who will come into contact with Himuro's compositions will likely have had experiences akin to my own, and nostalgia will factor high in their consumption as well. So, if you feel like taking a little trip back in time, procure Mild Fantasy Violence, pour yourself a tall glass of chocolate milk, close your eyes, and let those hours spent in front of a glaring monitor all those years ago flood back through your consciousness.
1. My Beats Your Beats
2. 2MCs from Thailand
3. Mild Fantasy Violence
4. Eat All
5. Button of Reset
6. The Cracks in Your Mouth
7. One Day of the Beetle
8. Organs Go Out
9. Sunrise Sunset