10
The super experimental duo '10' is 'Marqido' from Japan who is a laptop artist, and 'itta' from Korea who plays real voice, toys, melodica, accordion and miniature traditional instruments of some nations. Simple and of many of layers, noise and lyrical music, electronic and acoustic music.
"10s music began from that irony"
10's 'one' and 'zero' cannot meet, but they can include each other. 10's music started from that irony. 10 started from the relationships of irony, and 10 can make ironic sound. Their very names are ironic in that Itta is the Korean word for 'exist (1)' while for Marqido, 'Maru' means 'eternity' and 'zero (0)', 'qi' means 'delight' and "do" means "angry".
Bio
10 was created on October 10th, 2005 by itta and Marqido. Both members were already active as solo artists before forming this duo. In 2006 they released the Album "LIVE" and "UFO E.P" in Japan. After that 10 toured "Asian Tour" (Japan, China, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand).
In 2007 the album version of "UFO" was released, followed by a tour through Asia. In September and October of 2007 they played in Europe, performing at several festivals in France and Spain. That same year itta and Marqido released "See You New World", together with Li Jianhong. 10 joined the compilation album 'Asian Flashback(PSF Records)'.
DISCOGRAPHY
10 / LIVE (independent)
10 / UFO EP (independent)
10 - Live + UFO EP Disc Review by Martijn Busink (Musique Machine)
The international duo called 10 was formed by Itta from South-Korea and Marqido from Japan, both also active as solo-artists. Marqido on his laptop and Itta on assorted instruments, toys and vocals. Laptopmusic often ends up a bit boring to watch but the extravagant looks of Itta and the use of the colours red and black makes them appear different compared to the competition.
Musicwise they also come across a bit different, more friendly and what they consider 'poppy'. Although definitely not without melody, the first melancholic pianochords on the live disc already show that, this noise being closer to playful than abrasive. Mind you, it's still noise, so it buzzes and squeeks, but it's just more fun than usual. 10 themselves consider their music "ironic", but I'm not entirely sure what they mean by it.
Like I said the live disc opens with melancholic pianochords, soon to be flowing into twinklings that get a backdrop of soaring noises. Basically it continues like this, the laptop provides a continuous sound over which melodica's, childlike vocals, percussions and other organic sounds get sprinkled. The interplay between the digital and the analog makes the sound of 10 very lively and also gives it a bit of a ritual feel. It's improvisation and I guess it comes with the territory, but this track seems a bit random though, it doesn't really seem to go anywhere. The second of two long tracks is better. Itta sings nicely over the Marqido's buzz and the keyboard sound adds some more texture to that resulting in a wonderful piece of music.
There's also a studio EP called UFO which continues on the qualitative standard of that last live track. A noise thick with bass itself is already quite cool, but the sounds coming from Itta really add to it. I understand that there's lyrics, but of course that's lost on me as I don't speak the language. That's not really a problem for the music, but if you do understand the words I can imagine it adds to the endresult.
10 is a nice addition to the laptop scene I think, the two are touring a lot, mostly in Asia at the moment, but I'm sure they?ll make it to Europe and the US some day. In the meanwhile we in this area have to do keep ourselves busy with these two releases, which is not a chore at all.
10 / UFO (independent) buy mp3
10 - UFO Disc Review by Martijn Busink (Musique Machine)
I previously reviewed an EP by this Korean/Japanese project by the same name, but this is a full album called UFO. Things haven't changed much since then, but that doesn't mean this is worth a listen.
The ingredients of 10's music are the same: heavy electronic throbs, coming from Marqido's laptop, indeed sounding like an U.F.O. landing, paired with Itta's voice and toyinstruments coming across as an alien trying to communicate with the listener in her own peculiar language. Most music takes the (free)form of improvisation, but every now and then, like in SSKKBBII, there's a some sort of songstructure by way of melody and harmony. The material on UFO is recorded live in various places like Tokyo, Bangkok, Osaka, Seoul and Shanghai and indeed this music sounds like something that should be experienced live, especially with the strong visual image these two have created for themselves.
10's unique sound is possibly appeals to those interested in the music from Japan as well as electronic music from the seventies (roughly OOIOO meets Klaus Schulze). Those familiar with the previous releases will surely enjoy this, and those outside Asia might get more eager to see the two perform live.
Li Jianhong + itta + Marqido / See You New World ( 2pi Records )
V.A / Asian Flashback ( PSF Records ) *Art & Produce Marqido
Asian underground compilation with 13 groups. Featuring Li Jianhong, Narita Munehiro, Hano Shoji, Mustangs, Kiyasu Orchestra, Mafeisan, 10, Xiao He, D!O!D!O!D!, Sato Yukie, Yoshiteru Koga Jizo, Kim Young Jin, Li Daiguo, Amature Amplifier, Soonie. "First PSF compilation to focus on the linkages between the established underground scene in Japan and nascent ones in China and Korea. Politics and history had long prevented exchanges between the three countries, but in recent years increasing trade and cultural linkages have revealed exciting new synergies. Covers the breadth of new East Asian underground forms ? white-out noise, face-peeling free improvisation, lysergic rock, limpid acid folk, electronic tone float, coruscating punk, free jazz and avant-art moves. Features relatively established names like China's king of noise guitar Li-Jianhong and motor-psych free-rock emperor Munehiro Narita, alongside a ton of utter unknown names." -- Alan Cummings.
PHOTOS
U-A-U
