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In 2019, a seminal trip to the infamous NYEGE NYEGE villa bore potent fruit. 3 months of intensive collaboration with musicians from all over the African continent brought a multi-dimensionality to Ishihara’s production, a subtle touch to underscore his playful and confrontational sides. Western influences of breakcore, gabber and bass music meld with a riotous fresh palette. ‘TEWARI’ (Hakuna Kulala, 2020) was released to much critical acclaim under his new SCOTCH ROLEX alias.
This transfiguration led to a string of collaborations. Mind-boggling alternate universes with bass music legend, SHACKLETON, on ‘DEATH BY TICKLING’ (Silver Triplet, 2023), and ‘THE 3 HANDS OF DOOM’ (Nyege Nyege, 2024). A feral sonic storm with RAJA KIRIK´s J. MO’ONG SANTOSO PRIBADI on the self titled ‘TAKKAK TAKKAK’ (Nyege Nyege, 2024). And beat-making for Nyege Nyege’s MC YALLAH, LORD SPIKEHEART (DUMA), AUNTY RAZOR and RATIGAN.
Ishihara displays a mastery of melding and transforming traditional musical influences beyond their tight stereotypical presentations. He avoids the trap of crass ‘reinterpretation’, managing to build on his inescapably catchy signature sound with new depth and excitement as he discovers new people and places. Upcoming material builds on Ishihara’s own Japanese heritage, subverting taiko rhythms, traditional Japanese instrumentation, and Buddhist and Shinto rituals into a future-time twisted cyberpunk context. A deja-vu illusion infects tracks whose sources are as solemn as they are nuanced.
Expect heavy heavy bass, polyrhythmic swirling electronics, and beats as infectious as they are perplexing.
(Hakuna Kulala, Nyege Nyege Tapes, Silver Triplet)
