Nagamatzu

Nagamatzu

Above This Noise

Dark Entries

***NAGAMATZU were the British duo of ANDREW LAGOWSKI (SETI, LEGiON, TERROR AGAINST TERROR) on synths, guitar, and programming and STEPHEN JARVIS (PURE MOTORISED INSTINCT, TERRAFORM) on synths and bass. Formed in 1982 after messing around with old tape machines and drum boxes, making numerous contributions to international compilations and erratically releasing their own cassettes. Their name comes from a character in JG Ballard‘s Atrocity Exhibition and their music reflects his influence. Nagamatzu self-released their debut cassette Shatter Days in 1983 after messing around with old tape machines, drum boxes and effects. Above This Noise is a compilation of nine songs recorded in the period between the release of Sacred Islands of the Mad in 1986 and Igniting the Corpse in 1991. It gathers tracks which surfaced on some of the international compilation cassette releases that the band were invited to contribute to in the 1980s as well as some previously unreleased songs. The band’s working method was for Andrew to first record a backing track, usually rhythm, sequence, samples. Then both members would layer more electronics, samples, guitar and bass over the top, recording the whole piece in one take. These instrumentals combine stuttering bass, guitar bursts and funeral keyboards draped over a dragging drum machine beat, calling to mind Clock DVA, early New Order or Cocteau Twins. Their sound is full of complex rhythm patterns and dark electronics. All songs have been remastered from the original tapes for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The vinyl...

Nagamatzu

Igniting The Corpse

Motorcade

***1991; a heady year. The Zero issue of Music From The Empty Quarter hit doormats as a resurgence of interest in the grey areas of Electronics, Industrial and general weirdness gained some momentum AND NAGAMATZU released what was to be their swansong, the seven-track Igniting The Corpse cassette. Though sadly, soon after the creative pairing of STEPHEN JARVIS and ANDREW LAGOWSKI parted ways, with the latter half since establishing himself as a staple for all that is quality in the field of electronica and stellar soundwork.  Rewind further though. To 1981. Our two like-minds decided it was high-time to feed a love of post punk industrial noise into a cross-breeding of machines, organics in the form of guitar and bass and mould responses into driven, ever-revolving soundtracks of their own. A forging partnership was born and for ten years they garnered a following. Sadly never reaching that 'breakthrough' moment, the reason purely being that not enough people bothered to listen. Thankfully we all get another opportunity to hear this important set of UK electronic compositions through this hunky slab of red vinyl on the band's own resurrected Motorcade imprint…  First to note is the crystalline production and through the aid of a top-notch pressing they've upped the bass for a positive tremor-pleasure-ride. From the opening 'Malaria' the listener is on a journey brimming with rhythmic forward motion, richly dark precision synthetics aided-and-abetted by effected voice phrases and cut-ups. Trace histories of Cabaret Voltaire and Clock DVA could be...

Nagamatzu

Sacred Island Of The Mad

Dark Entries

***REPRESSED!!! Dark Entries is honored to present the highly limited second cassette by British duo NAGAMATZU for the first time ever on vinyl. Sacred Islands of the Mad is a collection of eleven tracks recorded between December 1984 and March 1986 in London by ANDREW LAGOWSKI (SETI, LEGION, TERROR AGAINST TERROR) on synths, guitar, and drum machines and STEPHEN JARVIS (PURE MOTORISED INSTINCT, TERRAFORM) on synths, bass and programming. Nagamatzu began in 1982 after messing around with old tape machines and drum boxes, making numerous contributions to international compilations and erratically releasing their own cassettes. Their name comes from a character in JG Ballard‘s Atrocity Exhibition and their music reflects his influence and incorporates samples from the Challenger shuttle disaster, Gregorian chants and films including Dawn of the Dead and The Omen. All the songs were recorded onto a Ferrograph reel to reel in a small room at their parent’s house and some of the backing rhythms and sequencers were recorded first onto cassette and then the band played along live. Nagamatzu’s instrumentals combine stuttering bass, guitar bursts and funeral keyboards draped over a dragging drum machine beat, calling to mind Clock DVA, Cabaret Voltaire and early New Order or Cocteau Twins. Sacred Islands of the Mad is a complex, textured tapestry of sound full of dark electronics, fresh harmonies and danceable rhythms.  All songs have been remastered especially for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley from the original cassette masters. Each LP is housed in...