In my hometown (Vienna), those longing for Japanese culture will find several pertinent restaurants, tea houses and manga stores. There’s a Japanese film festival, Shibari studios and even a stone commemorating the Tennō. Missing, crucially, is an Onsen, a Japanese thermal bath. This is not due to the infrastructure. There are several thermal baths, spas and saunas and not every Onsen is built around of vulcanic springs. Perhaps the reason lies somewhere else: Onsen are inseparably from a certain bathing culture. Its guests must follow a strict code of contact. In turn, social hierarchies are suspended.
I’m bringing all of this up, because, first off, Meitei’s latest album has been recorded in an Onsen and, secondly, is based on an art installation for an Onsen. Thereby, it’s less background music for a Spa, than… what would be a Western equivalent? Sound art in the locker room of a Soccer club? »Sen’nyū« is not complaisant. Like Meitei’s »Kofū« trilogy, is sound nostalgic and haunted. But now the artist is increasingly making use of field records. In between burbling water, wind and the whispers of bathers an intimate atmosphere, reminiscent of Claire Rousay, takes place. Those expecting the whimsical arrangements of Meitei’s earlier albums, might be disappointed by »Sen’nyū’s« unagitated movements. Yet, it’s more grounded for it. Meitei reminds us that cultures only show themselves when we are ready to immerse ourselves, like a guest in warm water.
Sen'nyu
