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In creating his debut single for Cantaloupe Music, artist and producer Rohan Chander drew early inspiration from a documentary about young shut-ins in Japan. The Tragedy of Hikikomori Loveless, recorded under his BAKUDI SCREAM alias with Bang on a Can All-Stars pianist Vicky Chow, expands on themes of isolation into a robust science fiction narrative, contemplating the composer's experiences of body dysmorphia, synthetic identity, and fascination with biotechnology.
Part of a larger work entitled FINAL SKIN, the single merges hyperspeed MIDI sequences and sampled elements with electronic keyboard washes and textures, fully engaging Chow’s performative physicality to create a sound environment with roots in hyperpop, classical, avant-garde improvisation and video game scores, all with references to artists ranging from John Cage to Space Afrika.
The fusion of fantasy and the autobiographical at the heart of BAKUDI SCREAM's vision gives life to a sprawling lore, with this opening chapter characterizing the “Architect Prince” as a reclusive youth who comes to possess an ancient artifact (in the form of a keyboard) imbued with collective memory and the promise to bionically augment his body. Chow, taking on the role of the Architect Prince, performs gesturally as a kind of archaeological act; she moves to the sides of the keyboard as if trying to rip it open, to uncover “some deeper truth within the relic.”
“Vicky is the Architect Prince trying to build a bio-suit. When she sits down to play, she’s in her castle, playing as this character, this synthesized virtual identity,” Chander clarifies. “There is a lot of self confidence derived from being able to synthesize my own kind of body in a way where I was in control of what I could be, and what I could look like.”
in this life, he dies in your arms
THE TRAGEDY OF HIKIKOMORI LOVELESS was commissioned by Bang on A Can for Vicky Chow with support from Maria & Robert A. Skirnick.
Composed, produced, and mixed by BAKUDI SCREAM
Performed by Vicky Chow (keyboard)
supported by 224 fans who also own “The Tragedy of Hikikomori Loveless”
Anyone experiencing this live must've been the luckiest people on the planet that day. This is simply phenomenal. And hope to see more some day. Thanks Michael and COA for this crazy good production. DancingPlant
Charged-up, glitched-out electronic music from Montreal's Amselysen that noisily breaks down the tropes of subgenres like hardcore and IDM. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 8, 2020
The origin behind this delightfully brutal glitch/noise record is wild: a program that plays any application as if it’s an audio file. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 10, 2022
supported by 220 fans who also own “The Tragedy of Hikikomori Loveless”
One of the catchiest compilations ever. I love most of the pieces here and it served to introduce me to many new composers. Thanks, Bang On A Can! clementkent