Japanese musicians tap on vintage tape recorder reels to create unique sounds for Issey Miyake

13/10/2018. The Japanese ensemble making music from old tape reels
metalocus, ANTONIO G DE JUAN, ANA MENÉNDEZ

The musical group Open Reel Ensemble have found a unique way of making music, creating reverberating drum beats on the outstretched tape of cracked open reel-to-reel tape recorders from the 1970s and 1980s. the japanese musicians behind the group include ei wada, haruka yoshida, and masaru yoshida, have been making sounds and publishing them since 2013, producing sounds including a soundtrack for designer issey miyake‘s last four seasons.

Open Reel Ensemble for Issey Miyake

Open Reel Ensemble produces a mysterious timbre that resembles a synthesizer. ‘Manipulate the rotation of the reel with your hand or computer, and assemble the ensemble using the sound and voice recorded on the tape on the spot‘, it reads on the group’s website. ‘that strange tone and musicality are highly appreciated.’

Open Reel Ensemble doesn't play conventional instruments, like guitars, drums and keyboards. Ei Wada, the leader of Open Reel Ensemble, discovered their performative qualities by accident.

Over the years, the group has developed new techniques. "We're finding new techniques every day," Wada said, "exploring rotation and movements, and the relationship between magnetics and sound."

Open Reel Ensemble typically plays this with a voice recording, or in conjunction with a vocoder.

Open Reel Ensemble. Our Saturday music video. (Official Music Video). METALOCUS MUSIC PROJECT in Spotify.