Inui 1 is the first solo album by Makoto Kawabata (of Acid Mothers Temple fame.) It set the precedent for a solo discog of long form ambient, introspective works and the 4 volumes of Inui remain some of his finest records to this day.

A huge variety of instruments and electronics are played on these records, along with feedback and drones. Theres no speed guru shredding present and so his other extended techniques have a much bigger presence than in his rock output. There’s a lot of glissando guitar ala Daevid Allen, bowed sitar and perhaps other bowed things, and drones and tones that push the limits of hearing.

It’s definitely at home with other Japanese minimalism and electroacoustic stuff from the 90s/early 2000s. He’s not afraid to build up walls of sound either, across 20+ minute tracks with heavy repetition and intense psychedelic layering of string instruments. It’s in those moments that I’m reminded he’s the mastermind and mixing hand of Acid Mother’s Temple.

The records were reissued by (the excellent!) VHF records and can be found on some streaming services, and purchased from the VHS website or this bandcamp .