AJ - Last Song First Side (1973)
Rare 1974 underground psych rock private press on the Black Walnut label. Primitive recording with fuzzy acid guitar and dark basement feel. A trio featuring the talents of bassist Lance Gessler, guitarist (and uncredited vocalist) Andrew Jay Goulart (we're guessing the band name came from his initals), and drummer Tom Arnold, its hard to know what to make of this effort. Released in miniscule quantities by the small Black Walnut label, 1973's "Last Song First Side" was apparently a self-financed ego project. With Goulart writing and producing all ten tracks (the liner notes actually listed four songs, though two of the titles consisted of multipart medleys), material such as "Feeling Down" and "Strange" proved surprisingly accomplished.
Lineup:
Lance Gessler - bass (1973)
Andrew Jay Goulart - vocals, guitar (1973)
Tom Arnold - drums (1973)
Tracklist:
Side A
1.) Feeling Down (Andrew Jay Goulart)
2.) Medley
a.) Morning Chill (Andrew Jay Goulart)
b.) Thoughtless (Andrew Jay Goulart)
c.) Strange (Andrew Jay Goulart)
Side B
3.) Medley
a.) Quietness (Andrew Jay Goulart)
b.) Pardon Me (Andrew Jay Goulart)
c.) Beautiful Day (Andrew Jay Goulart)
4.) How Long (Andrew Jay Goulart)
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. - The Early Acid Mothers Temple Recordings 1995 - 1997 (2007)
cid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. - The Early Acid Mothers Temple Recordings 1995 - 1997 (2007)
3 Lp Edition
Catalogue ID: SYRE 011
Virgin 150 gram vinyl
Description: This is the limited edition of 100 copies 3 disk version. It collects the extremely limited edition cassette
material from 1995 - 1997 (AMT-000 AMT-001 AMT-002).
In 1995 the quartet of Kawabata Makoto (Musica Transonic, Mainliner, Toho Sara), Koizumi Hajime (ex. Mainliner,
ex. Seventh Seal), Suhara Keizo (Arijigoku, Rashinban), and Cotton Casino (Mady Gula Blue Heaven) formed a new
group and started to record their improvised jam sessions. The group did not yet have a name at this point in
their existence. A group of social dropouts of every description - musicians, dancers, artists, farmers, channellers,
ex-yakuza, mermaid researchers and professional vagrants - known as the Acid Mothers Temple Soul Collective, had
already begun to coalesce around Kawabata. Several years earlier Kawabata had spent some time in a beatnik commune
in Nagano, but he soon left, having become repulsed by their exclusionary left-wing ideology and hypocritical
ecological activities. In response he had founded his own commune, one without any political ideology or ethics
save that of non-interference in each other's lives. The mission of this "hometown of souls" would be to open its
doors to anyone who was still searching for something in life. Around the same time Kawabata had become involved
in the Tokyo underground scene through his role as guitarist with Musica Transonic. Determined to do something to
introduce the world to the other members of the Acid Mothers Temple Soul Collective, he decided to invite them to
join his as yet untitled new improvising jam band. His old friend Higashi Hiroshi and many other members of the
collective started to participate in the group's recording sessions. This would be the beginning of Acid Mothers
Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. (AMT).
In 1996 a limited edition cassette entitled Acid Mother's Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. (note that the band's
name was spelled with an apostrophe in the beginning) was sold at an event that Kawabata played at. This was the first
release to bear the AMT name, and it included recordings by the original quartet, an early take of "Speed Guru", and
other recordings dating from 1995 and early 1996.
In 1997, Kawabata joined Mainliner on their US and European tour. He took with him two limited edition cassettes
entitled Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. 1 and Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. 2,
which were sold at gigs on the tour. They consisted of recordings from 1995 to 1997, including tracks by the original
quartet with added overdubs and newly recorded tracks. After the tour ended, Kawabata went back to work on these pieces,
mixing and adding new overdubs. These would eventually become the recordings that were released by PSF as the band's
eponymous first album (PSFD-93), so the original cassettes may be considered as "demo" versions of that record.
While these early recordings were released under the AMT name, they were in fact closer in concept to Kawabata's solo
albums. Recordings of improvised jams were manipulated using musique concrete methodology and remade into Kawabata's
personal image of psychedelic music. There was no intention for the group to play live, and in fact there were no gigs
in the first few years. But when the first PSF album was released, Kawabata decided to tour overseas for the first time
in June 1998. Soon afterwards Tsuyama Atsushi joined the group, and began to cement its identity as a live band. The
process of transformation from a Kawabata solo project into a group was one that began around this time and still continues
today.
This compilation reissues most of the early recordings of Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. and makes
them available to a larger audience for the first time.
Tracklist:
A01 From The Melting Paraiso
A02 The Acid Mothers Prayer
A03 Amphetamine A Go Go
A04 Aum Over Drive
B01 Speed Guru
C01 Zen Feedbacker
C02 Pink Lady Lemonade
C03 Satori LSD
D01 Aunt Ema Blues
D02 Rolling Buzz Fuzz Fucker
D03 Satori LSD
E01 Freak Out Mu
F01 Speed Guru
3 Lp Edition
Catalogue ID: SYRE 011
Virgin 150 gram vinyl
Description: This is the limited edition of 100 copies 3 disk version. It collects the extremely limited edition cassette
material from 1995 - 1997 (AMT-000 AMT-001 AMT-002).
In 1995 the quartet of Kawabata Makoto (Musica Transonic, Mainliner, Toho Sara), Koizumi Hajime (ex. Mainliner,
ex. Seventh Seal), Suhara Keizo (Arijigoku, Rashinban), and Cotton Casino (Mady Gula Blue Heaven) formed a new
group and started to record their improvised jam sessions. The group did not yet have a name at this point in
their existence. A group of social dropouts of every description - musicians, dancers, artists, farmers, channellers,
ex-yakuza, mermaid researchers and professional vagrants - known as the Acid Mothers Temple Soul Collective, had
already begun to coalesce around Kawabata. Several years earlier Kawabata had spent some time in a beatnik commune
in Nagano, but he soon left, having become repulsed by their exclusionary left-wing ideology and hypocritical
ecological activities. In response he had founded his own commune, one without any political ideology or ethics
save that of non-interference in each other's lives. The mission of this "hometown of souls" would be to open its
doors to anyone who was still searching for something in life. Around the same time Kawabata had become involved
in the Tokyo underground scene through his role as guitarist with Musica Transonic. Determined to do something to
introduce the world to the other members of the Acid Mothers Temple Soul Collective, he decided to invite them to
join his as yet untitled new improvising jam band. His old friend Higashi Hiroshi and many other members of the
collective started to participate in the group's recording sessions. This would be the beginning of Acid Mothers
Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. (AMT).
In 1996 a limited edition cassette entitled Acid Mother's Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. (note that the band's
name was spelled with an apostrophe in the beginning) was sold at an event that Kawabata played at. This was the first
release to bear the AMT name, and it included recordings by the original quartet, an early take of "Speed Guru", and
other recordings dating from 1995 and early 1996.
In 1997, Kawabata joined Mainliner on their US and European tour. He took with him two limited edition cassettes
entitled Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. 1 and Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. 2,
which were sold at gigs on the tour. They consisted of recordings from 1995 to 1997, including tracks by the original
quartet with added overdubs and newly recorded tracks. After the tour ended, Kawabata went back to work on these pieces,
mixing and adding new overdubs. These would eventually become the recordings that were released by PSF as the band's
eponymous first album (PSFD-93), so the original cassettes may be considered as "demo" versions of that record.
While these early recordings were released under the AMT name, they were in fact closer in concept to Kawabata's solo
albums. Recordings of improvised jams were manipulated using musique concrete methodology and remade into Kawabata's
personal image of psychedelic music. There was no intention for the group to play live, and in fact there were no gigs
in the first few years. But when the first PSF album was released, Kawabata decided to tour overseas for the first time
in June 1998. Soon afterwards Tsuyama Atsushi joined the group, and began to cement its identity as a live band. The
process of transformation from a Kawabata solo project into a group was one that began around this time and still continues
today.
This compilation reissues most of the early recordings of Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. and makes
them available to a larger audience for the first time.
Tracklist:
A01 From The Melting Paraiso
A02 The Acid Mothers Prayer
A03 Amphetamine A Go Go
A04 Aum Over Drive
B01 Speed Guru
C01 Zen Feedbacker
C02 Pink Lady Lemonade
C03 Satori LSD
D01 Aunt Ema Blues
D02 Rolling Buzz Fuzz Fucker
D03 Satori LSD
E01 Freak Out Mu
F01 Speed Guru
Acid Mothers Temple & The Cosmic Inferno - Just Another Band From The Cosmic Inferno (2005)
Acid Mothers Temple & The Cosmic Inferno - Just Another Band From The Cosmic Inferno (2005)
2005 disc. Yet another release from the Acid Mothers Temple collective, this new incarnation sees the Japanese prism refracting a new sound to mark their 10th year. A whole decade! Including members of The Boredoms, Ghost, Mainliner and Zeni Geva, and with artwork from Stephen O'Malley (member of Sunn O)))/Khanate),
ACT & The Cosmic Inferno are up to their waist in ROCK (capitals are mandatory) with huge riffs and squalling barrages hammering down throughout. Made up of two pieces
with a combined running time of over an hour, ACT have drawn yet another distinct sound from their bag that is just as essential as anything put out by The Melting
Paraiso U.F.O or SWR. Add to this the fact that one band member (Tiffany) is credited on the sleeve notes as providing 'erotic whisper', and you have to conclude that
this contrary bunch will still be bothering ears come 2015. Guaranteed! (boomkat.com)
* Tabata Mitsuru: bass, vocals, maratab
* Higashi Hiroshi: electronics, dancin' king
* Shimura Koji: drums, latino cool
* Okano Futoshi: drums, god speed
* Kawabata Makoto: guitars, speed guru
* Tiffany : erotic whisper
Tracklist:
1. TriggerInTriggerOut
2. They are Coming From The Cosmic Inferno
Acid Mothers Temple & The Cosmic Inferno - Just Another Band From The Cosmic Inferno (2005)
Acid Mothers Temple & The Cosmic Inferno - IAO Chant From The Cosmic Inferno (2005)
Acid Mothers Temple & The Cosmic Inferno - IAO Chant From The Cosmic Inferno (2005)
If any band deserves the mantle of most uncompromising psychedelic band, I can't think of anyone that comes close to these guys. This is actually a cover of
Gong's 'Master Builder' from their masterpiece 'You' album, done as a memorial to Pierre Moerlin recently passed away, the great Gong percussionist. This
whole cd encompasses that one song given the overwhelming AMT treatment but actually going through a series of changes and developments making it one of the
most compelling works this band has done. About mid-way through begins a plateau of sonic, trance-inducing complexity that is shere ecstacy, lasting for over
ten minutes; and then following a return to the chorus/chant resumes the pulverizing sonic improvisation that turns the air into liquid and deconstructs
reality as we know it. I was lucky enough to catch these guys performing and they closed the show with this set and I believe Kawabata Makoto truely made
innanimate objects bleed with torture; one of the most devastating performances I have ever seen! (amazon.com)
Tracklist:
1. OM Riff From The Cosmic Inferno (playing time: 00:51:26)
Acid Mothers Temple & The Cosmic Inferno - IAO Chant From The Cosmic Inferno (2005)
Acid Mothers Temple - Mantra Of Love (2004)
 |
Acid Mothers Temple - Mantra Of Love (2004)
Acid Mothers Temple, the world-class modern psychedelic rock band of Japan, released what might be their most beautifully mellifluous album yet this summer. As a highly prolific musical collective, having produced over forty releases since their inception in 1995, this is no small feat. Two of their more notable recent albums, Electric Heavyland and Univers Zen ou de Zéro à Zéro, were much more ... well, heavy on the hyperkinetic freakouts and cosmic delirium. Mantra of Love seems to be a watershed, veering into more spacious and resplendent regions of sound. Wailing tsunamis and thunder-shattered percussion have been traded out for more pleasant and easily discernible gales.
"La Le Lo," the first of two lengthy tracks on the disc, is said to be a traditional Occitan hymn drawing from the indigenous language of southern France in the 11th to 15th centuries, marking their second flirtation with ancient folk styles since La Nòvia. The bouzouki and electric sitar that snake around Cotton's voice recall Popol Vuh (particularly the Heart of Glass soundtrack) and other kraut rock while the synthesizer sends spiraling waves into space, like a message from the desert to the stars. (Interestingly enough, AMT founder/figurehead Mokoto Kawabata claims that he hears music broadcast from outer space directly into his head.) The song ebbs and swells a number of times, oscillating between bucolic and cosmic, before launching into an extended lysergic jam.
The second and final track, "L'Ambition Dans le Miroir," is even more hushed, leading in with shimmering wind chimes and the ubiquitous sound of astral synth. Guitars are strummed in a somber tone while Cotton Casino sings her swan song -- this is, sadly, rumored to be her final performance with the AMT collective. The song dwindles into a restrained drone of keyboards, feedback, and ambient texture until all has been stripped away and only the chimes remain, swaying gently in the breeze... -- B.W (amazon.com)
Tracklist:
1. La le lo (occitanian trad.) 30:00
2. L'ambition dans le miroir 15:02
Acid Mothers Temple - Mantra Of Love (2004)
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