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MNE (Mikawa / Numata / Escalante): MNE Is Not NME (Love Earth Music)

The trio of Toshiji Mikawa on electronics, Jun Numata (Doubtmusic) on guitar & electronics and Martin Escalante on saxophone for a superbly noisy and chaotic attack captured in Tokyo at Bar Isshee in 2023, two all-out assaults of clear electronic mayhem that would sit shoulder-to-shoulder with Borbetomagus and their kind; terrifyingly awesome!
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Toshiji Mikawa-electronics

Jun Numata-guitar, electronics

Martin Escalante-saxophone


Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.




Label: Love Earth Music
Catalog ID: LEM-367
Squidco Product Code: 35896

Format: CDR
Condition: New
Released: 2024
Country: USA
Packaging: Digipack
Recorded at Bar Isshee, in Sendagi Tokyo, Japan on December 3rd, 2023, by

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"It's the best cover I have seen in some time. The musicians are T. Mikawa (electronics), Jun Numata (guitar and electronics) and Martin Escalante (saxophone), so it spells MNE, which sounds like NME, the New Musical Express, one of the leading British musical magazines from a long time ago. The cover is a perfect spoof of an old cove and also very much up to date with the slogan: "Goodbye brat summer! Hello noise fall!').

This trio recorded their music in December last year in Tokyo. I don't know Numata and Escalante, but Mikawa has a long history in Japanese noise, including Hijokaidan and Incapacitants. Here, he operates in a more traditional noise improvisation role, even when all three are loud. This is the kind of noise and chaos rather than the static noise. The three scratch, peep like there is no tomorrow and have a great freak out.

Maybe this is too much noise-free jazz for the more conservative-minded noise lovers, which include me, even when I am not much conservative-minded noise lover anyway. I like how the saxophone is buried inside the music, with all three players on equal levels and not one player being too dominant. Coupled with the excellent energy of the music, this is something to play very loud and your best attempt to drive out any unsolicited Christmas songs from your neighbours."-Frans de Waard, Vital Weekly


Get additional information at Vital Weekly

Artist Biographies

Toshiji Mikawa, born in 1960, in a "noisician", performing solo, in various collaborations, and most notably, as the founder of the Japanese noise group Incapacitants, originally a solo project and then a duo with Fumio Kosakai. He is also known for his work with the groups Abe Kaii, Acid Mothers Kaidan, Annon, Atsuta Jingu, BiS Kaidan, E.G.KAIDAN, Fumio Tommikawa, Gomikawa, Gomikawa Fumio, Great Muda, Hankyu Brainticket, Hatsune Kaidan, Heian Jingu, Hijokaidan, Incapacitants, Jazz Hijokaidan, Mikamikaidan, MikaTen, mn, MNK, S.O.B.階段, Shen x Mikawa Duo, Soundings, Two Assistant Deputy Mikawa, Under-T, 彩階段.

Influenced as a young ma by improvisers like Derek Bailey, in college he met JOJO Hiroshige, with whom he started 'Fushoku No Marie', later know as Hijokaidan. Incapacitants followed as a solo project, and then expanded as a duo.

-Squidco 9/10/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

Jun Numata (沼田順) runs the Japanese Doubtmusic label. He is also an improviser, recording with Toshimaru Nakamuraand in groups mn and MNK.

-Squidco 9/10/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

Born in Lakewood in the US, Martín Escalante is a photographer, film maker and self taught musician. In 2012 he founded Sploosh Records, publishing various solo and collaborative works. Escalante is associated with Lasse Marhaug's Best Studio in Oslo, where he recorded the soundtrack for his brother Amat Escalante's film The Untamed.

-Squidco 9/10/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Aniridia 26:52

2. Moab Ignition With Tone 18:27

Related Categories of Interest:


Electro-Acoustic
Sound, Noise, &c.
Electro-Acoustic
Electro-Acoustic Improv
Improvised Music
Asian Improvisation & Jazz
Trio Recordings
New in Experimental & Electronic Music
Recent Releases and Best Sellers
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Love Earth Music.


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