This instalment of The Maker presents silentwave: the ambient and minimalist solo project of Yoshinori Noguchi from Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan. Yoshinori has been on the RTR radar since the beginning, and we’re thrilled to be releasing his latest album, ‘The Scenery That Was Forgotten’ (RTR015). Here’s an interesting bit of RTR trivia: Yoshinori was the first person to purchase a cassette from the label, Spheruleus (Harry Towell) – ‘Glimmers’ (RTR001)!
Yoshinori discusses his introduction to ambient music through Haruomi Hosono, experiencing Hakobune in a live context, and how listening to tapes from start to finish can be like watching a film for the first time.
Following on from
How did you first get introduced to ambient/drone/experimental music?
The reason I came to listen to ambient music was through Haruomi Hosono’s ‘Naga’ (FAO Records, FRCA-1001). I was drawn to the liberation of ambient music from a kind of music theory. It was Hakobune’s ‘Trace’ (Tobira Records, tbr-11) that introduced me to drone music. I was shocked by listening to that sound and went to experience Hakobune’s live music soon after, and I strongly wanted to do music with this method as a result.
What inspires you to create a new body of work?
When feeling nature, music ideas often come up.
How do you approach working on a new release?
I think I want make a new work, I ring the first sound. I will then consider the meaning of the sound that is ringing. That is the new world. This action is very thrilling and exciting. For me, music may be. It becomes life itself.
Can you tell us about your favourite new release from the last 12 months?
Gang Gang Dance – ‘Kazuashita’ (4AD, 4AD880).
As RTR is a tape label, we have to ask: What attracts you to the cassette medium?
Listening to a cassette tape is like watching a movie. You can imagine a story you have never experienced before. There is a beginning, a middle, and an end within the music. There is a feeling of the author. There are stories that you cannot understand until you see all the scenes in order.
silentwave – ‘The Scenery That Was Forgotten’ (RTR015) is available to pre-order now, and will be released in full on Monday 25th March.
Rusted Tone Recordings 