Editing Nobukazu Takemura

{{Short description|Japanese musician and artist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{BLP sources|date=September 2010}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name                = Nobukazu Takemura
| image               = Nobukazu Takemura (181689688) (cropped).jpg
| caption             = 
| background          = solo_singer
| alias               = Child's View, Assembler, DJ Takemura
| birth_name          = 
| origin              = [[Kyoto]], Japan
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1968|8|28}}
|birth_place          = [[Hirakata, Osaka]] Japan
| death_date          = 
| instrument          = 
| genre               = [[Electronica]], [[trip hop]], [[Glitch music|glitch]], [[nu jazz]], [[chamber music]], [[Ambient music|ambient]]
| occupation          = Musician, artist, DJ
| years_active        = 1990–present
| label               = 
| associated_acts     = 
| website             = [http://nobukazutakemura.com/ Nobukazu Takemura Official site]
}}

'''Nobukazu Takemura''' (竹村延和 ''Takemura Nobukazu''; born August 28, 1968, in [[Hirakata, Osaka]]) is a Japanese musician and artist. He became interested in music at a young age by listening to the radio, and began to make music at home with a tape recorder and keyboard. During high school, after a record store job that exposed him to [[jazz]] and [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]], he had regular gigs in the clubs of Osaka and Kyoto as a [[Turntablism#Turntablist contests|battle DJ]] before launching his music career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thrilljockey.com/thrill/Nobukazu-Takemura/|title = Nobukazu Takemura}}</ref> Takemura's music career has seen him cover a wide range of genres and styles within short periods of time. Beginning his career in hip-hop and jazz, Takemura later entered into a prolific period  as an [[electronic music|electronic]] musician, exploring genres such as [[glitch (music)|glitch]], [[drum and bass]] and [[minimal music|minimalism]]. Takemura's most recent work has included [[chamber music]] and performance art.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/takemura-mn0000411171|title = Nobukazu Takemura &#124; Biography, Albums, Streaming Links|website = [[AllMusic]]}}</ref>

==Career==
In 1990, Takemura founded the [[instrumental hip hop]] group Audio Sports with [[Yamatsuka Eye]] (of [[The Boredoms]]) and Aki Onda. Their first album, ''Era of Glittering Gas'', was released in 1992 (after which Onda subsequently took control of the project).

In 1992, Takemura formed the [[nu-jazz]] collective Spiritual Vibes, which released several albums and a few singles throughout the early to mid-1990s.  During this period Takemura would occasionally toy with (and eventually pursue full-time in the late 1990s) his own solo releases, typically under the names of DJ Takemura or Kool Jazz Productions. He has released music under the pseudonyms of DJ Takemura, Child's View and Assembler, and his music has covered a wide variety of genres in a short amount of time, ranging from hip-hop instrumentals, to jazz, to chamber music and electronic minimalism, breakbeat, noise pop, glitch and jungle music.  The vast majority of Takemura's music has been recorded in his home-made "Moonlit Studio", in his Kyoto apartment.  
 
He founded the Lollop and Childisc labels in the 1990s after meeting musicians who were unable to release their music due to not having a record label.  His voluminous releases, [[remix]]es, and collaborations make a comprehensive [[discography]] difficult, and his music often defies any easy categorization. Takemura's first U.S. release was ''Funfair'' on the Bubble Core label in 1998, a slightly altered release of the ''Yoru No Yuenchi'' album released previously in Japan. This was followed by ''Scope'' on the [[Thrill Jockey]] label in 1999, an album that was released solely in the U.S. He has frequently collaborated with fellow Childisc vocalist/composer Aki Tsuyuko, with her vocals having been sampled on many of his albums.

His unique and complex approach to [[melody]] and [[instrumentation (music)|instrumentation]] has generated a catalog of collaborations with critically acclaimed artists including [[Issey Miyake]], [[Zu (band)|Zu]], [[Steve Reich]], [[DJ Spooky]], [[Yo La Tengo]], [[Tortoise (band)|Tortoise]], and [[Tujiko Noriko]].  Takemura performed live extensively in the early 2000s, having toured the U.S. opening for Tortoise and [[Plaid (band)|Plaid]], as well as touring the U.K. with a full live band playing his music on a sponsorship from the British Arts Council.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nobukazutakemura.com/bio.html |title=Nobukazu Takemura official page |website=www.nobukazutakemura.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331004606/http://www.nobukazutakemura.com/bio.html |archive-date=2012-03-31}} </ref>
Takemura was also responsible for the sound design of [[Sony]]'s robotic dog [[AIBO]].<ref name=WP>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121104005526/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/100935792.html?dids=100935792:100935792&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+20,+2002&author=Joshua+Klein&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Nobukazu+Takemura,+Synthesizing+Things+Up&pqatl=google Nobukazu Takemura, Synthesizing Things Up] ''[[Washington Post]]'', 20 January 2002]</ref>

Takemura moved from his long-term home of Kyoto to Berlin, Germany in 2008. In February 2014, Takemura released ''Zeitraum'', a compilation of music, sounds and images he had created from 2004 – 2013 for various projects, commissions and collaborations.  Zeitraum is Takemura's first solo album release in 11 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/8342539/|title = 竹村延和の約12年ぶりのニューアルバムは『Zeitraum』、来年2月にリリース}}</ref>

==Discography==
''Note:  This discography only includes solo and collaboration releases under the names of "Nobukazu Takemura", "Child's View", "Assembler" or "DJ Takemura".  None of Takemura's group releases, such as with Audio Sports or Spiritual Vibes, are included.''

=== Studio albums ===

{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Title
!Album details
|-
| 1994
| '''''Child's View'''''
|
*Released: 2 November 1994
*Label: Toy's Factory <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span> / Bellissima Records <span style="font-size:85%;">(GER)</span>
*Formats: [[LP record|LP]], [[CD]]
|-
| 1997
| '''''Child and Magic'''''
|
*Released: 15 December 1997
*Label: [[Warner Music Japan]] <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span>
*Formats: CD
|-
| 1998
| '''''Yoru No Yuenchi'''''
|
*As ''Child's View''
*Released: 1998
*Label: Childisc <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span>
*Formats: CD
|-
| rowspan = "4" | 1999
|'''''Funfair'''''
|
*As ''Child's View''
*Released: March 1999
*Label: Bubble Core Records <span style="font-size:85%;">(US)</span>
*Formats: CD
*U.S. version of Yoru No Yuenchi with slightly altered tracklist
|-
|'''''Milano: For Issey Miyake Men By Naoki Takizawa'''''
|
*Released: 26 May 1999
*Label: Warner Music Japan <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span>
*Formats: CD
|-
|'''''Scope'''''
|
*Released: 9 June 1999
*Label: [[Thrill Jockey]] <span style="font-size:85%;">(US)</span>
*Formats: LP, CD
|-
|'''''Finale: For Issey Miyake Men By Naoki Takizawa'''''
|
*Released: 22 December 1999
*Label: Warner Music Japan <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span>
*Formats: CD
|-
| rowspan = "3" | 2000
| '''''Meteor'''''
|
*Released: 2000
*Label: Childisc <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span>
*Format: CD
*Was released in U.S. as a 12" single instead of an album
|-
|'''''Hoshi No Koe'''''
|
*Released: 2000
*Label: Childisc <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span> / Thrill Jockey <span style="font-size:85%;">(US)</span>
*Formats: LP, CD
*Japan and U.S. versions had one different track on each
|-
|'''''Sign'''''
|
*Released: November 2000
*Label: [[Tokuma Shoten|Tokuma Japan Communications]] <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span> / Thrill Jockey <span style="font-size:85%;">(US)</span>
*Formats: LP, CD 
*Japan and U.S. versions had some differing tracks
|-
| 2001
|'''''Songbook'''''
|
*Released: 21 December 2001
*Label: Childisc <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span> / Bubble Core Records <span style="font-size:85%;">(US)</span>
*Formats: LP, CD
*Japan and U.S. versions had different tracklistings
|-
| rowspan = "4" | 2002
|'''''Assembler 1'''''
|
*As ''Assembler''
*Released: 13 March 2002
*Label: Childisc <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span> 
*Formats: CD
|-
|'''''Animate'''''
|
*Released: 13 March 2002
*Label: Childisc <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span>
*Formats: CD
|-
|'''''10th'''''
|
*Released: 24 July 2002
*Label: Childisc <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span> / Thrill Jockey <span style="font-size:85%;">(US)</span>
*Formats: LP, CD
*Japan version had one extra track
|-
|'''''Water's Suite'''''
|
*Released: 2002
*Label: Extreme <span style="font-size:85%;">(AUS)</span>
*Formats: CD
|-
| rowspan = "2" | 2003
|'''''Assembler 2'''''
|
*As ''Assembler''
*Released: 30 May 2003
*Label: Moonlit <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span> / Thrill Jockey <span style="font-size:85%;">(US)</span>
*Formats: CD
*Japan version had an extra live bonus track
|-
|'''''Etude'''''
|
*Released: 2003
*Label: En/Of <span style="font-size:85%;">(GER)</span>
*Formats: LP
*Limited edition of 100 vinyls
|-
| 2007
|'''''Kobito No Kuni (Unreleased Tracks up to 1999)'''''
|
*Released: 21 December 2007
*Label: Moonlit <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span>
*Formats:  CD
|-
| 2014
|'''''Zeitraum'''''
|
*Released: 26 February 2014
*Labels: Happenings <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span>
*Formats: CD
|-
| 2015
|'''''Einheit'''''
|
*Released: 5 December 2015
*Labels: Happenings <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span>
*Formats: CD
*Exclusively sold at Hotel Anteroom in Kyoto for a Takemura art exhibition. 
|-
|}

=== Extended plays ===

{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Title
!Album details
|-
| 1993
|'''''The Quest is a Reward'''''
|
*Released: 1993
*Label: [[NEC Avenue]] <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span>
*Formats: CD
|-
| 1998
|'''''Sablé & Grill EP'''''
|
*As ''Child's View''
*Released: 1998
*Label: Childisc <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span>
*Formats: CD, [[12"]]
*The CD version had one more track than the 12"
|-
| 2001
|'''''Recursion EP'''''
|
*Released: 2001
*Label: Childisc <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span>
*Formats: 12"
|-
| rowspan = "2" | 2002
|'''''Animate EP'''''
|
*Released: 2002
*Label: Childisc <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span>
*Formats: 12"
|-
|'''''Mimic Robot'''''
|
*Released: 2002
*Label: Thrill Jockey <span style="font-size:85%;">(US)</span>
*Formats: 12"
|-
|}

=== Singles ===

{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Title
!Album details
|-
| 1992
|'''''Hoping For The Sun / Kool Jazz Scene / Science Fiction'''''
|
*As ''DJ Takemura''
*Released: 1992
*Label: Global Dept Records <span style="font-size:85%;">(UK)</span>
*Formats: 12"
|-
| 1994
|'''''For Tomorrow'''''
|
*Released: 1994
*Label: Toy's Factory <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span> / 99 Records <span style="font-size:85%;">(GER)</span> / Bellissima Records <span style="font-size:85%;">(GER)</span>
*Formats: 12", CD
|-
| rowspan = "2" | 1999
|'''''The Cradle of Light / After Image'''''
|
*As ''Child's View''
*Released: 1999
*Label: Childisc <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span>
*Formats: 12"
|-
|'''''Meteor'''''
|
*Released: 1999
*Label: Thrill Jockey <span style="font-size:85%;">(US)</span>
*Formats: 12"
*U.S. single version of the Meteor album
|-
| rowspan = "2" | 2001
|'''''Mahou No Hiroba'''''
|
*Released: 21 November 2001
*Label: Childisc <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span>
*Formats: CD
|-
|'''''Picnic / Oyasumi'''''
|
*Released: 2001
*Label: Bottrop-Boy <span style="font-size:85%;">(GER)</span>
*Formats: [[7"]]
|-
| 2002
|'''''Hiking / Viking'''''
|
*Released: 2002
*Label: Bottrop-Boy <span style="font-size:85%;">(GER)</span>
*Formats: 7"
|-
|}

=== Collaborative albums ===

{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Title
!Album details
|-
| 1997
|'''''Changing Hands'''''
|
*With [[Richard Barbieri]] & [[Steve Jansen]]
*Released: 16 July 1997
*Label: Flavour of Sound <span style="font-size:85%;">(JP)</span> 
*Formats: CD
|-
| 2003
|'''''Turntables and Computers'''''
|
*With [[Otomo Yoshihide]]
*Released: 6 November 2003
*Label: Headz
*Formats: CD
|-
| 2007
|'''''Identification With the Enemy: A Key To the Underworld'''''
|
*With [[Zu (band)|Zu]]
*Released: 2007
*Label: [[Atavistic Records|Atavistic]]
*Formats: CD
|-
| 2012
|'''''East Facing Balcony'''''
|
*With [[Tujiko Noriko]]
*Released: 6 June 2012
*Label: Happenings
*Formats: CD
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*http://www.discogs.com/artist/1777-Nobukazu-Takemura
*http://www.discogs.com/artist/8313-Childs-View
*http://www.discogs.com/artist/118267-Assembler
*http://musicbrainz.org/artist/e60957f9-56fd-49f1-823f-e8d15f2b0eec

==External links==
* [http://www.nobukazutakemura.com/ Official Web Page (under construction)]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Takemura, Nobukazu}}
[[Category:Japanese electronic musicians]]
[[Category:Intelligent dance musicians]]
[[Category:People from Hirakata]]
[[Category:People from Kyoto]]
[[Category:Japanese expatriates in Germany]]
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]