Boring sounds / unevolving sounds / unproductive sounds / lazy Sounds / garbage-like sounds ...

These infinitely divided sounds are scattered everywhere. Each sound is junk but some sounds may be important. They are for you to seek. We want you to find them. That is astro twin's request.

"astro twin" is the duo of Ami Yoshida and Utah Kawasaki. It was started around 1996. Yoshida gave the duo its name, taken from the manga of the same name by Keiko Takemiya. It comes from the astrological term for beings born on the same day although these two have different birthdays. Their sign, however, is the same – Taurus.

Disc 1 – astro twin 1. recorded at Uplink Factory, Tokyo Japan (Mar. 17, 2001). 2. recorded at Spitz, UK (Mar. 27, 2002)

cosmos

Sachiko M: sinewaves, contact microphone on objects
Ami Yoshida: voice

cosmos has no concept.
cosmos has no discussion.
cosmos accepts all sounds. Then it ignores them.

Sounds that are released in an instant from lull-like stagnation. Sometimes overlapping, sometimes turning away from each other, the sounds are of limitless beauty and strength.
cosmos is invincible.

"cosmos" is the duo of Sachiko M and Ami Yoshida. It was formed in 1997, in an extremely natural fashion. The only thing set down at the beginning was the name cosmos, provided by Ami. Although the unit has given only one or two concerts a year since its formation, it has, through its unique feeling of space and its overwhelming presence, gained an enthusiastic following which continues to grow. 2002 it releases its first and second albums: Tears (Erstwhile), and astro twin / cosmos (F.M.N. Sound Factory).

Disc 2 – cosmos recorded at Spitz, UK (Mar. 27, 2002)

Amy Yoshida (J), born 1976. Originator of the "howling voice," strives for a barely audible sound that is perceived as sound itself rather than as vocalization. In May 1997 she released the solo CD Spiritual Voice, and since then has been active in wide-ranging projects including albums by Otomo Yoshihide.

Sachiko M (J) performed from 1994 to 1997 as a member of Ground Zero (which disbanded in March 1998) at festivals and concerts around the world. She played an important role in the group's chopped-up, "plunderphonic" (or "plagiaristic" sampling) sound. From 1997, Sachiko M has pursued a unique performance style which brings to the forefront the sampler's own test tones and noise, to develop nearly memory-free sampling works. Her solos consisting entirely of sine waves have attracted a great deal of attention. Sound, rather than the instrument, is paramount for Sachiko. She is also involved in such electronic improvisation projects as the trio I.S.O., with Yoshimitsu Ichiraku and Otomo Yoshihide; another duo with Toshimaru Nakamura (no-input mixing board) on the CD entitled UN and the powerful post-sampling project Filament with Otomo Yoshihide.

Utah Kawasaki (J), born in Tokyo in 1976. Inspired by his visits to the Paris Peking record shop, Utah Kawasaki began producing music in 1994. Since then he has contributed to a number of compilation CDs. Kawasaki toured Europe in October 2000 with the group Mongoose, which he formed with Taku Sugimoto and Tetuzi Akiyama.