Mission to Mars - Mouse on Mars returns to Japan by Rob Schwartz Listening to a Mouse on Mars (MoM) record can be a little like watching a whole movie made by an MTV video director. A plethora of ideas, images, cuts, textures and techniques are compressed to a uranium-like density. All kinds of distorted scrapes, whistles, fractured rumbles and filtered squeaks generated by the interaction of men and machines that seem to be on the verge of malfunction and breakdown at any moment fight for attention. Yet, as their name suggests, there's also something whimsical and cartoon-like about the cracked and fragile melodies that float to the surface of MoM's music. Cologne-based Jan St. Werner and Andi Toma, who make up Mouse on Mars, have become probably the best known of the bands working in and around the A-Musik (a German breakbeat label, and one of the better record shops in Cologne) scene there since their debut album, Vulvaland, in 1994. The duo's latest release, the very satisfying Niun Niggung, covers ground ranging from drum'n'bass and digital rock to dub and the soundtrack-style developed on their previous Glam release. Mouse on Mars will play two shows in Tokyo in April. The Quattro show on April 8th should be a good introduction to MoM if you haven't caught up with them yet. Long-time collaborator and PowerBook mafia member F.X. Randomiz supports. The real treat though should be the gig titled "Sonig Night" (Sonig is the label run by MoM) on the 14th at Star Pines Cafe (0422-23-2251) in Kichijoji. An all-night event will serve up an improvisation set from Mouse on Mars, as well as music from St. Werner's and Toma's respective solo projects, special guests Suppa Micro Pamchopp, Computersoup and Suzukisuki (from Soup Disk), and DJ sets by the renowned Jim O'Rourke and Kevin Drumm, among others. Mouse on Mars play Club Quattro April 8 at 7 pm, and do Sonig Night at Star Pine's Cafe on April 14 (starts at 9 pm but is an all-night gig). Call Headz at 3770-5721 for more info.
BACK TO APRIL '00 CONTENTS