+ IFO x Rinpa

+ Video

+ Video

In this video, HRP-4C sings a rendition of Hitoto Yo’s “Hanamizuki.”

Moonbell is an automated music generator that plays musical scores based on lunar topographical data obtained by Japan’s Kaguya (SELENE) explorer during its orbit around the moon from late 2007 to June 2009.

[Launch Moonbell in a new window]

Moonbell, which was developed in cooperation with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), has two playback modes: “Orbit Play” and “Free Scratch.” Click the buttons on the bottom right of the screen to switch modes.

In Orbit Play mode, Kaguya traverses the moon in a circular orbit and music is generated based on the topography below. This screen displays Kaguya’s orbital path, an altitude graph of the topography, and the corresponding musical notation map. Use your mouse to change Kaguya’s location and orbit.

In Free Scratch mode, you can use your mouse to chart a path across the moon’s surface. The corresponding music plays in a loop, regardless of how long the path is. The notes are visualized as different colors and patterns on the screen.

To tweak the audio output, click the “Preference” button on the bottom left of the screen. This opens the settings panel, where you can choose from 128 musical instruments for each track, change the playback speed, set the volume for each instrument, and more.

See the “About” page for a complete description of all of Moonbell’s functions and controls.

[Link: Moonbell]

[Via: @Mulboyne]

+ We love music, we love peace: Epic food label battle in the kitchen. Directed by K?ki Tange (Yellow Brain).

+ Guitar: Snapshot of family time in a curious household. Directed by Koichiro Tsujikawa.

Here is some awesome turn-of-the-century footage of “Robo Alpha” (noise artist Government Alpha in robot disguise) rocking Detroit. (Best enjoyed at maximum volume.)

[Via: Awesome Tag]

+ Video

The new trio — named “Robo-Sh?chishin” — performed “Sh?chishin,” the original group’s self-titled hit single. Although the robot replacements sang off-key and sounded rather robotic, one of the little guys pulled off a surprise by taking its pre-show “break a leg” instructions literally (skip 1:20 into the video).

The Open Reel Ensemble adds a unique twist to the old-school art of reel-to-reel tape scratching, with USB controllers that manipulate the switches inside the tape decks and with solenoids that create vibrato effects by tweaking the speed of the tape as it passes over the heads.

+ Video

[Via: Daito Manabe - YouTube]

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- Tucker

DJ/keyboardist Tucker shows off his mad cooking skills by whipping up a spicy blend of rhythmic kitchen noise topped with crunchy guitar. >>> Video

+ More Tucker: Clocks, toys & turntable // Oil drum, thumb piano, bass & keyboards // Guitar, bass & keyboards // Misc. items in aquarium

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- Fuyuki Yamakawa

- Video

Armed with a bone conduction microphone and electric artificial larynx, performance artist/body musician Fuyuki Yamakawa drops a flurry of skull-thumping, mouth-tweaking beats.

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- Tomo Yamaguchi

- Video

Wearing an assortment of tin containers, junk percussionist Tomo Yamaguchi crashes and bangs his way through quiet residential backstreets.

+ More: Studio solo // Collaboration with Tucker

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- Goma da Didgeridoo

- Video

Goma da Didgeridoo plays the aboriginal wind instrument with a twist of techno.

+ More: Collaboration with chef Tucker

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- Atsuhiro Ito

- Video

Atsuhiro Ito gets down with the Optron, a miked-up fluorescent light tube run through an array of effects pedals.

+ More: Collaboration with drummer Yoichiro Shin

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- Taeji Sawai

- Video

Interactive media designer Taeji Sawai shows off his scintillating light-controlled sound generator.

+ More: Ito’s Optron vs. Sawai’s light-controlled sound generator

+ Video