Brain Damage - Oïde Oïde

The encounter between Brain Damage and Japanese artist Emiko Ota marks the beginning of a fascinating, multi-layered project, where narratives and unusual musical propositions are juxtaposed, intertwined, and clash.

Together, they explore the mystical world of Japanese yōkai, supernatural creatures that populate Japanese folklore. Emiko Ota draws inspiration from five of these emblematic chimeras: Katsura Otoko, Tenome, Isogashi, Azuki Arai, and Baku, each representing a mysterious facet of the Japanese imagination, from deceptive charm to fear, frenzy, and devoured dreams. In turn seductive, unsettling, agitated, or soothing, Emiko navigates between registers and emotions, bringing these legendary creatures to life through a rich and nuanced vocal palette.

Brain Damage's music, meanwhile, has undergone a radical transformation. Each piece is precisely sculpted, sometimes playful and energetic, sometimes contemplative and mysterious, capturing the unpredictable nature of the yōkai and perfectly adapting to the mythological narratives conveyed by the Japanese singer.

In a resolutely experimental approach, Martin Nathan enlisted Mad Professor, one of the last living legends of international dub, to remix this new creation. Playfully embracing the challenge, the legendary producer, more energetic than ever, offers incredibly airy yet apocalyptic versions here. Together, they propose a certain vision of dub, reinventing the unexpected: post-dub. While the sound processing techniques inherent to the style remain—evolving mixes, echoes, reverberations, and almost palpable low frequencies—the Anglo-Jamaican sources of the genre have indeed been replaced, re-conceptualized, re-composed, and rewritten.

A true artistic rebirth, using post-dub as a pretext to once again explore, captivate, and surprise. A singular, immersive work, where the audacity and inventiveness of the musical proposition align with the allegorical narration carried by Emiko Ota. A true exploration of shadows and lights, an auditory and spiritual journey through Japanese legends.

Between the sweetness of dreams and the bite of nightmares…