CD Showcase - junk.test SUN by mplayers RECORD (1996)

A large part of chasing after the fleeting history of doujin music is simply collecting older CDs before all available and functioning copies disappear. This means regularly searching for them, wherever they might appear. With CDs concerning the founding of doujin music, it's critical - so when a new result for junk.test appeared, I knew I had to hunt it down.

This album, as its name may suggest, is the third in the "junk.test" line of albums. They feature both vocal and instrumental tracks, but unlike other artists of the period, their sound feels less influenced by game music nor electronic music in general. However, we must not forget that as with all early doujin music, there is always a degree of involvement in otaku culture. The circle mplayers RECORD (music players) was formed from the music writing sig (special interest group, akin to a forum) of BBS ASCII-NET. Although the circle was only formed in 1994, it seems the core members were around as early as 1989. To what extent their activities were at this point in time, I cannot tell. Founder Bukkon put up several of the circle's works in a YouTube playlist, including one peculiar song - "SOMEDAY" from 1988 performed by DECO軽音楽部. Perhaps we'll learn in the future of them. For now, we have "junk.test".

Lyrics - 機械の王国 (Kikai no Oukoku) by まにきゅあ団 (1993)

I've recently been captured by the sound of this Manikyua-Dan song, and wondered what sort of meaning laid behind the words. Now that the lyrics are translated, you too can enjoy this heartbreaking tale from the kingdom of machines - 機械の王国 (Kikai no Oukoku) by まにきゅあ団, released in December 1993. It was performed several times live and rerecorded in 1997. More than a decade later, it would receive a vocaloid cover by none other than Masaki Sahara, a doujin musician of the mid-late 90s who a member of mplayers RECORD.

まにきゅあ団  (1993)

わたしはこんなに気持ちいいの　コンピュータは (コンピュータは)
やりたいことは何でもできる　ドラッグ・セックス・バイオゲーム
わたしはこんなに気持ちいいの　コンピュータは (コンピュータは)
やりたいことは何でもできる　機械の王国

機械の国へようこそ　ようこそ
あなたも今日からロボット人間
超合金なのわたしの体は　思わず触って
機械の国へようこそ　ようこそ
あなたも今日からロボット人間
超合金なのわたしの体は　思わず触って
セラミックス

ボクハ　キミノ　カラダガ　ウンダ　パワーデ
ボクハ　キミヲ　アイシツヅケテルヨ······

機会に支配された体でも　愛は変わらず持ち続けてる
わたしの行動 SAVEされない部分はあるのよ
背中のネジが外れて自由になったら空を飛び
愛する地球を守るために　戦うあなたを愛し続ける


わたしはこんなに気持ちいいの　コンピュータは (コンピュータは)
やりたいことは何でもできる　ドラッグ・セックス・バイオゲーム
わたしはこんなに気持ちいいの　コンピュータは (コンピュータは)
やりたいことは何でもできる　機械の王国

生身の体に　BYE BYE しちゃおう
あなたもこれからロボット人間
潜在能力100%　機能充実
生身の体にさよなら　BYE BYE
あなたはすでにロボット人間
サイバーティックなあなたの体は とっても素敵な
セラミックス

ボクハ　キミノ　カラダガ　ウンダ　パワーデ
ボクハ　キミヲ　アイシツヅケテルヨ······

機会に支配された体でも　夢は必ずかなえてみせる
ハートの回路はショート寸前　準備はOK?
背中のネジが外れて自由になったら空を飛び
愛する地球を守るために　戦うあなたを愛し続ける

(機会に支配された体でも　愛は変わらず持ち続けてる)  受け止めて
(わたしの行動 SAVEされない部分はあるのよ)  あふれるこの思い
(背中のネジが外れて自由になったら空を飛び)  鼓動がきしんでる
愛する地球を守るために　戦うあなたを愛し続ける






I'm feeling so good, the computer is (the computer is)
You can do anything you want - drugs, sex, biogame
I'm feeling so good, the computer is (the computer is)
You can do anything you want - it's the kingdom of machines

Welcome to the country of machines, welcome
You too from today will be a robotic human
My superalloy cast body I unconsciously touch
Welcome to the country of machines, welcome
You too from today will be a robotic human
My superalloy cast body I unconsciously touch
Ceramics

I by, the power bestowed, by your body
I, will be, keeping on loving you...!

Even though my body is machine-controlled, the love I hold for you hasn't changed
There are parts of my behavior that won't be saved at all!
If the screw on my back is removed and I'm set free, I'll soar the skies
To protect the cherished Earth, I'll fight! I'll keep loving you!

I'm feeling so good, the computer is (the computer is)
You can do anything you want - drugs, sex, biogame
I'm feeling so good, the computer is (the computer is)
You can do anything you want - it's the kingdom of machines

My flesh and blood body I part with a BYE BYE
You too from today will be a robotic human
Capacity is at 100%, all functions complete
So long flesh and blood body, BYE BYE
Too late, you're already a robotic human
That cybertic body of yours is truly fantastic
Ceramics

I by, the power bestowed, by your body
I, will be, keeping on loving you...!

Even though my body is machine-controlled, I'll show you that the dream will definitely come true
Heart's circuits on the verge of shorting out, are all preparations OK?
If the screw on my back is removed and I'm set free, I'll soar the skies
To protect the cherished Earth, I'll fight! I'll keep on loving you!

(Even though my body is machine-controlled, the love I hold for you hasn't changed) I'll fully accept
(There are parts of my behavior that won't be saved at all!) These overflowing emotions
(If the screw on my back is removed and I'm set free, I'll soar the skies) Heartbeat is grating
To protect the cherished Earth, I'll fight! I'll keep on loving you!

CD Showcase - P・S・G Music collection Vol. 1 by PARSEC SOUND GROUP (1992)

I recently received a tip about the existence of a previously unheard of doujin music circle operating in the early 1990s. The information was embedded within a list in a personal website from the early 2000s, of "doujin CDs, etc. out of circulation" - music albums that were no longer sold through firsthand channels. Fortunately, almost thirty years after it was originally released, a single copy was still changing hands and sold on the Internet, and I was in the right time and place to purchase it..

It is provided as a YouTube video, in full, with tracklist embedded within the video description.

This album is the work of four people: ものえ (monoe), gwn, DEN and Napo.sun. Each provided several of their own tracks, and DEN was in charge of designing the album cover and booklet (or "manual", in his own language). The booklet mainly includes artist comments about the production of each track (detailing the theming and methods of production). The album is dated 1992 on its exterior, but the booklet dates 1993, so I assume this particular copy was not the first production. Music collection Vol. 2 was released in 1994, as per the list mentioned above. Napo.sun later participated in SYNERGY MUSIC NETWORK's SYNERGY4 GENERATE.

I think gwn's use of sampling in "Sure Smile" and "Image Unit" is very impressive. "Image Unit", in particular, felt to me like a much more modern hip-hop track (A blend of Kendrick Lamar and FOREST, perhaps?). When I asked a friend about it, though, he told me it was more like late 80s disco. It's definitely not your run-of-the-mill DTM, so I wonder where gwm got the inspiration from.
What do you think about this album?

The Formation of Manikyua-Dan

The works explored in the previous posts were indications of developing styles of music that would later become a symbol of otaku culture - in particular, the denpa-moe music that would dominate otaku culture the next decade. In this post, I will expand on the events behind the formation of the band Manikyua-Dan, but before we begin, I have one comment to give. The production of SYNERGY MUSIC NETWORK compilation albums MCMLXC, MCMXCI and MYSTERY CASE IN HI! SCHOOL!! provided the opportunity for amateur and professional composers, arrangers and lyricists to interact with one another and work together. From MCMLXCI, they would include comments on their experience within the circle. With any BBS they may have used no longer being maintained in this day of age, these comments are invaluable. Despite this, there is an even better source of information - the websites put up since the advent of the Internet in Japan, somewhere around 1995. My work is nothing compared to the documentation these people put on the Internet more than twenty years back, so my thanks goes out to them.

Artist comments from within the MYSTERY CASE IN HI! SCHOOL!! booklet

Shinji Hosoe (細江慎治) and Takayuki Aihara (相原隆行), game composers from Namco, joined together to form TROUBADOUR RECORD in 1991. One year later, in Winter Comiket C43, TROUBADOUR RECORD released their first compilation album Be filled with feeling. Design wise, it was similar to the previously released SYNERGY MUSIC NETWORK compilation CDs. Note the flavor text and bizarre graphs. I think there is also likeness in the sound, with elements of amateur DTM and professional game composition combining together into one.

From SYNERGY's MCMXCI

From TROUBADOUR RECORD's Be filled with feeling

Following their success , TROUBADOUR RECORD would go on to record two albums for the next Summer Comiket C44: GREAT WALL, an album imaged around outer space, and KAKI-IN 1993・夏, a compilation album in the same style as the first. The likeness to SYNERGY in design was to the extent of the latter being mistaken for a new SYNERGY release, as described in the album information page.  Shinji Hosoe and Ikuko Ebata (江幡育子), both of which previously participated in SYNERGY albums (Hosoe as たま "tama" and in name, Ebata as Nekoyo and under alias 谷川むつみ "Mutsumi Tanikawa"), encountered one another in one cherry blossom viewing in April 1993. They conversed about the past Nekoya (猫屋) works and if perhaps Hosoe had listened to them before, and then decided to collaborate for the release of KAKI-IN. Together with lyricst Shinji Makino (牧野進司) they created "マニキュア団のテーマ" (Theme of Manikyua-Dan)

Manikyua-Dan website logo (February 1997)

The success of the theme of Manikyua-Dan prompted the first live appearance, which took place in November within venue Shin-Yokohama Space Alter (新横浜スペースオルタ). For the live event, Hosoe and Ebata enlisted the help of three more to liven up the stage: Ayako Saso (佐宗綾子), Nobuyoshi Sano (佐野信義) and Hiroto Sasaki (佐々木宏人). The three were associates of Hosoe and Aihara, working together under Namco on the game Ridge Racer. Saso was placed behind an electronic keyboard, with Sano and Sasaki as dancers at the front of the stage. The three would later become Manikyua-Dan members.

(Below are member portraits from the official website. In top to bottom, left to right order: Ebata, Hosoe, Saso, Sano and Sasaki)

Despite their success, TROUBADOUR RECORD could not yet afford to dedicate an album towards Manikyua-Dan, and so a four-track 8mm CD single was released in Winter Comiket C45, December 1993. Their song from KAKI-IN was rerecorded as an extended single version alongside new songs, like "ぷあぷあ" (Pua Pua). The singles planned to be serial numbered 1~2000, with numbers 1~5 belonging to the five unit members. That is not to say, however, that 2000 CDs were actually printed, or otherwise if they were all sold. Live appearances resumed alongside CD sales, with number of guests coming to the event increases. Their appearances included both original songs and comedy skits. Up until then, they operated under the name of Shinji Hosoe's band 劇団しょうが (Gekidan Shouga), but following their popular live appearances, they decided in favor of naming themselves after their first song "まにきゅあ団のテーマ" (Theme of Manikyua-Dan). It was then that the band name was officially made into Manikyua-Dan.
In December 1994, they released their first full album, ラジヲまにきゅあ1374Khz (Radio Manikyua 1374Khz), featuring new original songs as well as versions from their live events.

Over 1995, Manikyua-Dan saw its most immense period of activity yet. Besides three live events across the year, they also recorded two new songs for the TROUBADOUR RECORD compilation album TROUBADOUR to be released in August. Then in September, they released their second full album, らじまに2号 (Radi Mani #2), which contained まにまにステ～ション (Mani-mani Station) original comedy skits as well as recorded songs from live appearances. Manikyua-Dan members participated in the TROUBADOUR compilation album ZUKI-iN 1995・冬 to be released in December, and released a full album of their own the same month, みんなのまにきゅあ (Minna no Manikyua).

Right at the beginning of 1996, they conducted their 8th live appearance. This live appearance was recorded by tape, and later converted into RealMedia video and uploaded on the newly created Manikyua-Dan website somewhere around 1997 (Before then they operated under TROUBADOUR NET, which I believe to have been a BBS). Other RealMedia clips were put on the website as well. After TROUBADOUR RECORDS migrated their website, the section was closed off, but fortunately the files could still be salvaged. For the time being, one clip from the live appearance has been uploaded onto YouTube. The song is "パラ・レ・モーション" from the previous year's TROUBADOUR. Note the position of each member on stage. Please excuse the low quality recording, as that's the extent of what could be shared at the time.

So the first half of the 1990s was sealed for Manikyua-Dan. In the next post we will continue to watch the growth of Manikyua-Dan in the latter half, alongside separate ventures in doujin music within units and bands such as Manikyua-Dan Sepia, O.M.Y., Sound Terror-Rhythm, ANAKREON and the aforementioned Nekoya.

Lyrics - 言えなくて (Ienakute) by ANAKREON (1996)

 From circle ANAKREON's 1996 album 告白 (Kokuhaku). My translation is not enough to fully deliver the maidenly heart that shines through the words of this song. Composed and arranged by Aki Hata, written and performed by Ikuko Ebata.

告白 (1996)

あなたのその思い
邪魔したくないから
なんとなく避けていた
ふたりのことなんか
見ていたくないから
目をそらしていたの
そうしてできた深い溝に
はまってしまって抜けられない

「平気なフリももう限界　つらいよ」

好きなのに好きなのに好きなのに
離れてく　離れてく　離れてく
好きなのに好きなのに好きなのに
離れてく　離れてく　離れてく

「もっと仲良くしたい
言いたいけど言えなくなった
それは······いつから？」

ぎこちないねどこか
よそよそしいねなぜ？ (なぜ？)
わからない原因　空気が違うみたい
通じない読めない
かみ合わないふたり
いつしかそこの深い溝が
埋めてしまいたい埋められない

「元気なフリはから元気　焦るよ」

行かないで行かないで行かないで
言えなくて言えなくて言えなくて
行かないで行かないで行かないで
言えなくて言えなくて言えなくて
「前はどうしていたの？
わかんないよ　思い出せない
たぶん······あのとき？」

好きなのに好きなのに好きなのに
離れてく　離れてく　離れてく
好きなのに好きなのに好きなのに
離れてく　離れてく　離れてく

あなたのその思い
邪魔したくないから
平気なフリをしたふたりのことなど
見ていたくないから
見ていたくないから······



Your very thoughts
I didn't want to disturb, so
I sort of avoided us
being together, or something like that
I didn't want to see you, so
I was looking away
In the deep ditch made this way
I got stuck and I can't get out

"I can't stay calm, it's too cruel!"

Though I like you, though I like you, though I like you -
we're far apart, we're far apart, we're far apart
Though I like you, though I like you, though I like you -
we're far apart, we're far apart, we're far apart

"I want to get to know you more -
is what I wanted to say, but I couldn't
That sort of thing... since when?"

In what way am I awkward?
You're so cold, why...? (why...?)
For a reason I don't understand, the mood seems to have changed
I don't get what's going on
The two of us who do not cross paths
Before one knows there's a deep ditch
I want to cover it all but I can't at all

"I'm only pretending to be fine, I can't stay calm!"

"Don't go away", "don't go away", "don't go away" -
I can't say, I can't say, I can't say
"Don't go away", "don't go away", "don't go away" -
I can't say, I can't say, I can't say

"What is it I've done before?
I don't understand! I can't remember
Maybe... that time?"

Though I like you, though I like you, though I like you -
we're far apart, we're far apart, we're far apart
Though I like you, though I like you, though I like you -
we're far apart, we're far apart, we're far apart

Your very thoughts
I didn't want to disturb, so
The two of us who pretended to be okay
Because I didn't want to see you
Because I didn't want to see you

Lyrics - マニキュア団のテーマ (Theme of Manikyua-Dan) by まにきゅあ団 (1993)

I thought to share the lyrics of the song that signaled the beginning of circle Manikyua-Dan before I write in length of the role of Manikyua-Dan in the history of denpa music. See for yourself the elements that manifest in this song, the first track of TROUBADOUR album KAKI-IN 1993・夏. 

The song also received a single version later the same year (video uploaded by vocalist Ikuko Ebata herself). The mixing in that version emphasized Ikuko Ebata over the background sounds, and the vocals were rerecorded in such a way that they give an amateurish, maidenlike vibe. This results in a different, cute flavor, especially within the bridge in the middle of the song. The song later received an instrumental arrangement by Takayuki Aihara in 1995 album ZUKI-iN 1995・冬.

KAKI-IN 1993・夏  (1993)

3, 2, 1, GO!

最新鋭の宇宙服まとって
ひとりでスターダストに飛び立つロケット
噴射の音が 船の汽笛になる
宇宙の男に女はいらない
いらない いらない いらない～!?
自分勝手な理屈言ってると
キザな火星人になってしまう

ぼくはいつか きっとひとりでマニキュア団
ぼくはいつか きっとひとりでマニキュア団

(マニキュア)
(マニキュア)

金星のバーで月からきた女のコをくどく
宇宙についてのブ厚い知識も
こんなときには役立たず
宇宙の男に女はいらない
いらない いらない いらない～!?
自分勝手な理屈言ってると
キザな火星人になってしまう

ぼくはいつか きっとひとりでマニキュア団
ぼくはいつか きっとひとりでマニキュア団

(マニキュア)
(マニキュア)

マニキュア団さまあ～～～～～～っ
いったいどこに行けば会えるんですか!?
月? それとも金星?　それとも···どこぉーーっ
ぼくもぼくもマニキュア団になりたいんです
Take me with you! まにきゅああぁぁぁぁ

ぼくはいつか きっとひとりでマニキュア団
ぼくはいつか きっとひとりでマニキュア団
Yah!

ぼくはいつか きっとひとりでマニキュア団
ぼくはいつかままままままマニキュア団
まにきゅあ！ ダダッ だだだマニキュア団
ぼくはいつか まま マニキュ マニキュア団!
マニキュア

(ぼくはいつか きっとひとりでマニキュア団)
(ぼくはいつか きっとひとりでマニキュア団)
(ぼくはいつか きっとひとりでマニキュア団)
(ぼくはいつか きっとひとりでマニキュア団)
(ぼくはいつか...)



3, 2, 1, GO!

Clad in state-of-the-art spacesuit
A lone rocket taking off into the stardust
With jet sounding like a ship's steam whistle
Men in space have no need for women
No need, no need, no need...!?
If you selfishly spout your ideas,
you'll become a pretentious martian.

Surely one day on my own, I'll become a Manikyua-Dan
Surely one day on my own, I'll become a Manikyua-Dan

(Manikyua)
(Manikyua)

In a bar on Venus, hitting on a girl that came from the moon
As well as a wealth of knowledge about outer space
I'm completely useless at times like these
Men in space have no need for women
No need, no need, no need...!?
If you selfishly spout your ideas,
you'll become a pretentious martian.

Surely one day on my own, I'll become a Manikyua-Dan
Surely one day on my own, I'll become a Manikyua-Dan

(Manikyua)
(Manikyua)

O great Manikyua-Dan...!
Where in the world must I go to meet you!?
The moon? Or is it Venus? Or else, where...?
I too, I too want to become a Manikyua-Dan
Take me with you! Manikyua...!

Surely one day on my own, I'll become a Manikyua-Dan
Surely one day on my own, I'll become a Manikyua-Dan
Yah!

Surely one day on my own, I'll become a Manikyua-Dan
One day I'll become a Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Manikyua-Dan
Manikyua! Da-Da Da-Da-Da Manikyua-Dan
One day I'll become a Ma-Ma Manikyu Manikyua-Dan!
Manikyua

(Surely one day on my own, I'll become a Manikyua-Dan)
(Surely one day on my own, I'll become a Manikyua-Dan)
(Surely one day on my own, I'll become a Manikyua-Dan)
(Surely one day on my own, I'll become a Manikyua-Dan)
(One day I'll become...)