I must admit, this record sort of stumped me when I was trying to decide how to start this column. Coming in hot out of Berlin, Mitsune is a fascinating group built around the shamisen-slinging trio of Shiomi Kawaguchi, Tina Kopp, and Youka Snell, and anchored […]
This dispatch from the U.F.O. finds Makoto and company in top form. The mixing and production is some of his finest and makes the most of the excellent and diverse instrumentation on this album- particularly the different rhythm sections and the intense washes of noise and synth. […]
Among the many collabs between Tatsuya Yoshida and Uchiashi Kazuhisa (Altered States, Ground-Zero,…), this is a particularly overlooked one released in 2022 where Yoshida plays a drum set with four snares. Definitely my favorite live recording from recent years. The whole thing is available as audio […]
A demolishing record with an insane guitar wall of sound and driving drums. 40 minutes of sonic overdrive which gets intense as hell pretty quickly. And of course it’s from Japan. Check it out on YouTube
One of my favorite albums of 2021 turned out to be Bo Ningens self titled debut from 2010! Wanting to do a physical release of their first record but not content with a simple reissue or remastering, intercontinental psych rockers Bo Ningen have produced an entirely […]
A legendary meeting of the minds that got its long overdue release 2023. If you haven’t heard that this collaboration has been cooking, here’s the story. Simeon Coxe and Makoto Kawabata recorded this back in 2009, after Simeon reached out and invited the collaboration. They laid […]
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 […]
Two enigmatic musicians from two sides of the Pacific come together for an amazing tape on Perpetual Doom. The songs are (mostly) courtesy Portland outsider/insider musician Lee Bagget, also known as that mean guitar that’s the secret to folk project Little Wings. There’s a few by/featuring […]
A bootleg in spirit, this live improvisation between Japanese jam legends Kikagaku Moyo and the USAs Ryley Walker (& band) will take you on a trip. Drag City’s own Cooper Craine (Bitching Baja’s, Cave) leveraged his extensive experience in the field to cut and polish a […]
Fifth album by this japanese folk artist, approaching the experimental sound of the first couple of records without being too unapproachable, perfect mix of “out there” soundscapes and generally vibey moments, with a pleasing nocturnal vibe.