Dada - 1981 - Dada

Dada

1981

Dada

01. Perpetual Motion
02. Stainless Mama
03. America
04. Flying Ship (Part 3)
05. A. T. B.
06. Jiro's Birthday Party
07. Le Soleil D'Arles

Synthesizer, Guitar, Noises – 小西健司 Kenji Konishi
Synthesizer, Guitar, Violin, Noises – 泉 陸奥彦 Mutsuhiko Izumi

Recorded November to December 1980 at Dada Studio, Takarazuka
Manufactured by King Records CO. LTD Japan.

Dada were Mutsuhiko Izumi (guitar, keys) and Kenji Konishi (keys). Sometime at the beginning of the second half of the 70s of the last century, the duo apparently got together (as is usually the case with somewhat obscure bands from Japan, it is somewhat difficult to find legible information about the band's history). In 1978 the two presented their debut album " Jyo ", which was dedicated to Brian Eno. In 1981 a second, self-titled album was released, which this review will be about. Sometime later in the 1980s, Izumi and Koinshi split. After that, Izumi was mainly active in his band Kennedy (see " Twinkling NASA " and " Kennedy! ").

With the music of Eno, not even that recorded in a duo with Robert Fripp, "Dada" by Dada actually has nothing in common, despite the comparable line-up. What is offered is more reminiscent of the electronics produced in Berlin in the mid to late 1970s. A colorful mix of electronic sound, electric guitar, keyboards, synthesizers and electrically amplified violin comes out of the speakers here, all in all a bit more powerful (rockier ) progresses than the already mentioned productions from Germany and also has a slightly more modern sound that does not deny its origin in the early 80s. All kinds of tape recordings and sounds also provide acoustic decorations.

Epic and symphonic, sometimes also lyrically dreamy, but without becoming kitschy, the sounds glide or bustle ahead, dense and colorful, sometimes provided with subtle rhythm patterns from the sequencer. Some expansive, spacey-rock guitar excursions can also be reported (you can hear, for example, "Flying Ship (part 3)" - which was also to be found in Kennedy's live repertoire). The whole thing has that typical Japanese prog atmosphere of the early 80s, a slightly synthetic, but definitely sympathetic neoprog plastic sound, a hymn-heroic sound that gives the music a certain soundtrack character that the reviewers of Japanese cartoons such as Captain Future or Goldrak remembers.

Other things are almost experimental, especially "ATB", which offers a confused mixture of electronic sound and all kinds of scraps of tape. After the somewhat silly "Jiro's Birthday Party" prancing ahead, serene sound paintings determine the music and the album ends with the sweeping "Le soleil d'Arles" symphonic-hymnically, but maybe also a little tough and calm. "Dada" is a nice little album with electronic instrumental prog from Japan, which electronics adepts without aversions to the more melodic-lyrical soundscapes and fans of the Japanese scene of the early 80s can get. The rare album was re-released on CD in 2013 by Nexus in Japan in the pretty mini-LP cover and is currently quite easy (if not cheap) to get.

Dada's self-titled second album is a smorgasbord of progressive electronic styles. Mostly made up of high energy synthesizers, with guitar accompaniment and some inventive arrangements. This is the first appearance of guitarist Izumi's 'Flying Ship' composition, one that he actually improved upon with his next venture Kennedy. It remains the best song both bands ever performed. Side 1 is very good considering the strong closer that is 'Flying Ship'. I'm also quite fond of the energetic opener 'Perpetual Motion' and A3 'America'. Side 2 is a bit more languid, and 'Jiro's Birthday Party' is plain stupid. Final dramatic closer possesses a hypnotic quality. Ostensibly this album is often listed with the German and French classics, and certainly 1980s era Tangerine Dream is in the discussion. While there are stacks of electronic albums better than this, the album is not without its charms.

A Japanese duo of guitarist/synthesists who had their fingers in a few pies (Ain Soph, Kennedy) aside from this project. I’ve heard this album compared to Fripp & Eno, probably on account of the instrumentation. It much more closely suggests the usual EM suspects to my ears; i.e.: Jean Michel Jarre and contemporaneous Tangerine Dream. Maybe Synergy (plus guitar) or some Ashra might also be comparable.

It’s a good album with few standouts; the highlights probably being the energetic “Perpetual Motion” and the soaring epic album-closer “Le soleil d’Arles.” Briefly ventures into “comedy music” territory with the cartoonish “Jiro’s Birthday Party” but mostly consists of softly pulsing synths and the odd simmering guitar lead. It will satisfy those who like what I just described.

Gorgeous cover art is suitable for framing. It makes me wish I owned this on vinyl, but even on the 5-inch CD format it sure is pretty.