''Melt-Banana Lite Live ver 0.0'' is a live album by

Melt-Banana Melt-Banana is a Japanese noise rock band that is known for playing extremely fast noise rock and hardcore punk mixed with experimental, electronica and pop-based song structures. Since forming in 1992 the band has released ten albums and toure ...

. It was released on November 3, 2009.

Background and recording

Melt-Banana perform some of their shows under the name "Melt-Banana Lite", an alternate configuration of the band that replaces guitars and drums with

samplers Sampler may refer to: * Sampler (signal), a digital signal processing device that converts a continuous signal to a discrete signal * Sampler (needlework), a handstitched piece of embroidery used to demonstrate skill in needlework * Sampler (surna ...

and

synthesizer A synthesizer (also synthesiser or synth) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis a ...

s; some shows additionally replaced the drum kit with a

drum machine A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument that creates percussion sounds, drum beats, and patterns. Drum machines may imitate drum kits or other percussion instruments, or produce unique sounds, such as synthesized electronic tones. A d ...

. This set-up was prompted, in part, by the difficulties of transporting instruments while touring, and a desire to make it easier and more convenient. Musically, the style was suggested by vocalist

Yasuko Onuki Yasuko Onuki (often known simply as Yako, Yasuko or Yasuko O.) is the singer from Japanese band Melt-Banana Melt-Banana is a Japanese noise rock band that is known for playing extremely fast noise rock and hardcore punk mixed with experiment ...

, who made some demos that featured only drums, a

theremin The theremin (; originally known as the ætherphone, etherphone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox) is an electronic musical instrument controlled without physical contact by the performer (who is known as a thereminist). It is named aft ...

and her vocals. As Onuki came up with the idea ahead of a planned tour with drummer

Dave Witte Dave Witte (born August 11, 1971) is an American drummer. He is known for his work in numerous extreme metal or hardcore punk bands including Municipal Waste, Melt-Banana, Discordance Axis, Black Army Jacket, Birds of Prey, Burnt by the Sun, a ...

, guitarist

Ichirou Agata is the guitarist for the Japanese noise rock band Melt-Banana. Agata is known particularly for his furious stage antics, jumping and constantly moving around, and exceedingly unique approach to playing the guitar which involves extended techni ...

believed she wanted to highlight the speed of Witte's drumming by removing the guitars. After their tour with Witte, Melt-Banana continued to play shows under the new configuration, typically with a drum machine.

Reception

Alex Deller of ''

Rock Sound ''Rock Sound'' is a British magazine that covers rock music. The magazine aims at being more " underground" and less commercial, while also giving coverage to better-known acts. It generally focuses on pop punk, post-hardcore, metalcore, punk, ...

'' gave it a 7/10, saying that despite the change in instruments, "this is still the bat-shit crazy Melt-Banana that have had you crawling the walls for the best part of 15 years."

Track listing

References

{{Authority control Melt-Banana albums 2009 live albums