Before they became the modern day Can, Japan’s Boredoms were the créme de la créme of abrasive, in your face noise & experimental Rock. Most noise & experimental music being made at the time which felt stuffy and stunk of the need to explain why what they were doing was interesting, compelling and artistic. Not the Boredoms however. They were vast and expansive, something that would play in greatly to their current sound. Instead of taking a stuffy academic route to creating their music, they approached it the way a Punk band would and ended up making some of the most challenging and interesting music possible. They were pure emotion rather than rigid calculation, audio chaos!

I have to be honest I’m still amazed that this album (and a few other Boredom’s albums) came out on a major label. I have no clue who at Reprise/Time Warner saw the commercial potential but he was out of his mind! I know that the early to mid 90s saw the Majors gobble up as many cult and indie artists as possible in the hopes that a few would blow-up, but this signing never made any sense, then and now.

I’ve spent years with Chocolate Synthesizer on repeat, so much so that it’s hardly challenging or weird to me anymore. But this is by no means an album everyone can enjoy. Those of you who have never heard the Boredoms and are willing to embark on the journey should know that a good lot of you will probably turn this off after a few minutes. But I’m certain that those of you who find this album interesting will not only have trouble turning it off, but find yourself listening to it over and over again. This is a trip through the mouth of madness, which may be scary to some and enjoyable to others. At least take the chance and see where you stand and download it!

Boredoms – Chocolate Synthesizer