Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo, Blonde Redhead, Shannon Wright, Mice Parade, The Album Leaf, 65daysofstaic, Muse, Breeders, Pavement, Nirvana, The Knife, Broken Social Scene, Animal Collective, Velvet Underground, Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Metallica, Television, Brokeback, Rachel's, Devendra Banhart, Swans, Angels of God, Windsor for the Derby, Deerhoof, Slint, The Walkmen, Sonna, Tapes 'N Tapes, Wilco, Explosions in the SKy, Phelan Sheppard, Tussle, Wolf Parade, Modest Mouse, Envy, Mogwai,
Reborn From Nipples
Formed in the late 90’s, Nipples is one of the well-established bands in Taiwan’s indie rock scene. Leading by its core couple Yi-Jyun Wu (Guitar) and KK (Bass), Nipples is well known for its provocative sound and aggressive social attitude.
Combined with the other brilliant guitarist Su, the two-guitar setup creates huge feedbacks and distortions, and its intertwined structure builds up angular soundscapes and rough textures; that’s the reason why Nipples is sometimes compared to Sonic Youth and other guitar-heavy bands. And indeed, Sonic Youth is one of the most influential bands to the band itself.
After releasing two full-length studio albums, Nipples decided to go on a subsequent path. By changing the name to Aphasia, they turned their career to a new chapter.
The New Line-Up
Apart from their musicianship, three founding members of Aphasia are all involve in other music-related vocations. Yi-Jyun Wu is a professional producer, who is also the owner of NOIZ Studio, which creates some of the best indie albums from the last couple years. Wu is also the editor in chief and founder of Big Sound zine, which focuses on subcultures and other intriguing issues disregarded by mainstream media.
KK began her own White Wabbit Records from the early 2000’s. Initially a tiny record shop located in a basement selling import CDs to a small group of hardcore music lovers, after several years of expanding and joined by local music community, White Wabbit Records is now a must-visit record shop and a good hangout for music fans around the world; most importantly, it is also a well-run indie lable releasing, distributing and promoting both local and foreign bands, such as Broken Social Scene and Explosions In The Sky.
On the other hand, Su is a veteran PA technician working in esteemed Taipei venue The Wall. Such vast experiences absorbed from different fields make Aphasia carry a unique view and a wild range of working philosophies. Disparate ideas offered by three members nurture the band, and let its music become more distinguished.
In 2007, Aphasia recruited a new drummer Yonker. Although still a college student, he is already a very skillful musician and teaches drumming in some music institutes. This is a smart and pivotal move for the band. Not only does Yonker bring his youth and freshness to the band, he also makes Aphasia a stable four-piece ensemble. And again, maybe just happened by coincidence, the look and drumming style of Yonker is similar to Steve Shelley, the drummer of Sonic Youth.
Everything is all set; it’s time for Aphasia to make some splashes and noises.
The Summer’s Tail Soundtrack
Asked by the prestigious director Wun-Tang Jheng, Aphasia made their music debut by composing the soundtrack for the film Summer’s Tail. Collaborated with a cellist, Aphasia recorded a bunch of sweet songs, most of them are instrumental, to accompany the storyline and enhance viewer’s moods.
Though it works great with the film, released by White Wabbit Records, the soundtrack of Summer’s Tail can also be an accomplished independent project. It can stand on its own rights, not just the background music for the film, but also let people discover the hidden potential from the band, which means, the more quiet and introversive facets.
Besides Summer’s Tail, Aphasia also did an interactive performance at this year’s Taipei Film Festival, to create a live set for the classic black-white film The Morning Of Taipei, directed by the master Ching-Jui Pai, who passed away in 1997.
The Crocodile Society of Aphasia
Step on the success of Summer’s Tail soundtrack, Aphasia finally completes their long-awaited studio album Aphasic Crocodile Society, which will be released by White Wabbit Records on September 12th.
This time they work with some big names in the industry. As the good working relationship established during the Summer’s Tail project, director Wun-Tang Jheng is making the music video for the first single Deep Spring. Furthermore, two indie veterans Andy Baker and JJ Golden also join the producing team, which leads by Aphasia’s own Yi-Jyun Wu.
As Yi-Jyun Wu taking producer’s chair, Andy Baker, who is a well-respected studio engineer and works very often with Athens post-rock band Japancakes, brings his recording and mixing skills to the table. JJ Golden, on the other hand, whose splendid resume includes cooperation with Sonic Youth, Rachel’s and Calexico, does the mastering part for the album.
The result is a satisfying piece of work. The main theme of Aphasic Crocodile Society is the everyday life of Taipei, where all members are long time residents. They re-create the city by their own aesthetics: blending layers and humors, compounding disorders and collapses. Its post-modern vibe is partially because Aphasia’s edgy stance, but still, the music plays the most eminent role.
Never being a traditional rock band, the music in Aphasic Crocodile Society is highly organic. While Wu and Su talk to each other by using their hooks and oceans of feedbacks, KK bring her usual quirkiness and female character to the composing process; in the mean time, Yonker’s uplifting poundings push the sound to a brighter and more transparent territory, where is rarely visited by the band before.
Bravely play through different genres, from post-rock, punk to metal, Aphasic Crocodile Society is an album which defies to be defined rather than to be understood. It exists in its own world, where the magic and reality can be appreciated simultaneously, and the music speaks by itself.
Hi there aphasia, thanks for being friends, really appreciate it! really love your site and what you stand for...good luck here on myspace and whatever you have set your sights on in the future!:-)
Maybe you want a quick peek at what I do...take a look at my video, which I've filmed in China, and the music I wrote too, please tell me if you like it...
Hey Aphasia! Really admire the sound and interweaving complexities in your songs. They feel like sporadic recollections of life emphasised through sound! I notice also you guys don't use any keyboards or much programming-am I right to say! Pure guitar and FX with bass and subtle yet dramatic drumming! I enjoyed the MV too! I heard only a bit of Metal Tank, it didn't play entirely but what I heard..it was just building up with an amazing guitar riff! I heard your music in A Summer's Tale. I really was impressed with one track in particular, in the scene when the boy is talking with his teacher, but husband is coming, girl saves him by taking him away! i know, not the best description! i was paying more attention to the music as you can see! anyway Taiwan seems to have a very unique underground music scene! more expressionate and less emphasis on commercialism i think! anyway keep rockin and I hope one day to catch a LIVE show! oh and where can i buy your album?
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