BORIS - feedbacker

(CD/PicLp, Conspiracy)

It was about time these three Japanese noisers came up in these pages, but you know how things are. But right now, while sitting down and listening to “feedbacker” while cutting my finger nails (no less), I realised how great this record is. And by the time I reached my toe nails I knew I would sit down to write about them, even though this record has been released some time ago already, but you know that we don’t care about such trite stuff, don’t you. Moreover, when this record was released in early 2006 the recordings on were still done in 2003. So what does that tell you?

Now Boris can be very different in their approach and impact from time to time and from record to record, nevertheless this is a rather outstanding recording of theirs by any means - and a great opportunity to get on the fan-wagon, if you haven’t been initiated to the magic of Takeshi, Wata and Atsuo. “Feedbacker” is one long and complex construction – cut into six parts on CD for easier digestion. The sytles range from late seventies prog rock to droned out and fuzzed guitars, from slow moving college rock to quirky trio-pop, from far out space rock to pure sonic noise, weaving a tangled and contorted net of sounds that make you realize two things: the title “feedbacker” has a right to its meaning, especially during part 4 of this CD, and noise is a damned thing to live through. Though not as prolific as Acid Mothers Temple in all its varieties and personifications, Boris have nevertheless worked themselves up to a rank that is par with the so-called new generation of Japan Noise bands.

What sets Boris apart from the rest is an intricate feeling for form, dynamics and evolution of sounds. Where Acid Mothers Temple at times wander off into some outer space of aimless drifting noodling or Masami Akita overwhelms the listener with pure force and might, these three are working together almost like a jazz trio of old[1]. Listening to each other, working on the flow of things together, embracing the gift that is sound and music in its most encompassing form, which is power. When rhythm, sound and volume come together as a single force, it doesn’t matter if we are talking about a well-oiled million dollar metal-machine such as Metallica or the underground friendship of Boris or the avantgarde orchestra compositions of Godspeed! You Black Emperor, the effect is one of elevation, illumination and enlightement. And on “feedbacker” the way things work together, how they change from one modular part of their composition to the next and interchange sounds and dynamics, force and tones is amazing. And, if you are so inclined, it will wipe you away with it.