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48. SHINKI CHEN: “Shinki Chen & his Friends” (Polydor – POCH-9030) (CD: Near Mint/ Mini LP Styled gatefold Sleeve: Near Mint/ Original Obi: Near Mint/ Insert: Mint). Only official reissue straight remasterd from the original mastertapes. Accept no substitutes, this is the real thing. One time only issue graced with exact replica of the original obi, released in 2000 in an edition of only 500 copies to feed the Japanese domestic collector's market. One of the greatest psychedelic artifacts to come out of
Japan ? At least I think so and certainly one of the rarest since original copies are just NEVER offered for sale. Shinki Chen of Speed Glue & Shinki on a solo trip assisted by fellow drugged and totally wasted scenesters. Doped up vocals, fuzz soaked guitar riffage, booming rhythm section, snarling vocals, in-your-face attitude, this disc has just all. A killer disc that takes no prisoners. No surrender till the last vicious note has stopped wailing. Identical reissue in thicker than life foldout jacket. Completely sold out and getting hard to get. Here you have a chance. There have been various editions out of this album, all claiming to be “official”, well this is the sole official edition out there, taken straight from the Polydor masters, complete with replica of the original obi and cover artwork. Long out of print and so bloody awesome music, one of the best ever!! Price: 45 Dollars |
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49. SOUND OF NORTH AMERICAN FROGS: (Smithsonian Folkways) (Sealed). This disc is not a mere cataloging of frog and toad calls, but rather an aural documentary on their distinctness and biological significance. Fifty-seven species of frogs and toads are represented on this 55-minute, 92-track disc, linked together with narration by Charles M. Bogart. He details the variation in a straight scientist voice that will strike some as amusingly incongruous with the burps and bleats of the frogs, noting differences in sound cycles per second, possible uses for mating purposes, and the like. Actually, there is quite a bit of variation in the sounds presented, from low eerie growls to rapid-fire trills. I found myself listening to the commentary for each selection with anticipation of the few seconds of calls that follow. The liner notes are very helpful too, but not necessary for just enjoying the disc. I've listened to it as both background noise, in which case my head snaps around to the speakers regularly, and the main event. In fact, the sheer amount of information on this disc -- 57 species of frogs and toads are represented on 92 tracks -- makes repeated listening satisfying. Recorded in 1958, Sounds of North American Frogs has withstood the test of time more successfully than a good deal of the music of its time and has become a kind of folk artifact in its own right. Sinatra it's not, but there are plenty of golden, throaty calls on display. Recommended for amphibian lovers -- and those who love them -- everywhere. Price: 13 Dollars
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50. SPACE MACHINE: “Modular Series – Vol.1” (PSM-01) (Mini Cd and Paper Sleeve are mint). “Space Machine is Takushi "Maso" Yamazaki's outlet for the use and abuse of vintage analog synth equipment, where he leaves aside the violence and extremity of his work as Masonna in the "Japanese noise" idiom and instead attempts to channel the spirit of early '70s German electronic experimentalists like Klaus Schulze and Conrad Schnitzler. After three previous full-length recordings (Cosmos From Diode Ladder Filter on Alchemy being our fave) now comes the first two installments in a series of 3" eps, each of which sees Space Machine operating as a duo of Maso plus guest. For Model-101, the guest is Hiroshi Hasegawa of C.C.C.C./Astro. He also plays the synthesizer. Recorded live at Penguin House in
Tokyo, February 2004, this starts with a whoosh and whooshes onward and upward. It's a nice, dense twenty or so minutes of droning, whirring, bleeping spaced-out spirals of psychedelic synth! Of the two 3" discs, Model-101 is the more bleepy and loud and science fiction soundtracky, while Model-102 is quieter and perhaps less clichéd” (AQ). Long sold out extremely limited edition, now here for grabs, don't sleep on it. Price: 35 Dollars |
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51. SPACE MACHINE: “Modular Series – Vol.2” (PSM-02) (Mini Cd and Paper Sleeve are mint). On “Model-102, Yamazaki and his synths team up with Acid Mothers Temple guitarist Makoto Kawabata for nearly twenty minutes of interstellar exploration, recorded live at Cafe Futuro in Osaka, Japan in April 2003. That it's recorded live in a cafe is evident on the disc, what with the murmer of conversation heard in the background, as Maso and Makoto and their machines hum and drone and drift and glow in the foreground. Abstract yet effective, it's actually incredibly mesmerizing and soothing. Of the two 3" discs, Model-101 is the more bleepy and loud and science fiction soundtracky. Quieter and less cliched perhaps is Model-102. Both are recommended to all Space Machine/AMT/sci-fi synth fans.” (AQ). Both issues are long gone and deleted. Price: 35 Dollars
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52. SURFACE OF THE EARTH: “S/T” (Corpus Hermeticum – hermes 021) (CD Excellent/ Jacket and inserts: Excellent). Highly acclaimed debut recording by this
New Zealand geological drone ensemble. This is an antiquated behemoth of a recording, constructed from analogue synthesizers, primitive drum machines, homespun electronics, and numerous effects pedals. Long out of print release that creates an ecstatic paranoia rarely heard with such splendor, rigor, and sublime blackness. Highly recommended. Price: 22 Dollars |
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53. SUZUKI AKIO: “Oto – Date in Wakayama 2005” (
Museum of Modern Art Wakayama” (Book and CD are Mint). Sound Artist Akio Suzuki carried out an exhibition around Wakayama city (south of Osaka) in 2005. This catalog contains some photographs of installation, interview, drawing and text. Attended CD includes field recording on his action "Oto-date walk" (hearing the environmental sounds at points of walking area) and performance. Recording and mix by Hans Peter Kuhn. 86pp, text in Japanese, English and French. Price: 75 Dollars |
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54. TAKAYANAGI MASAYUKI GROUP: “Live
At Taro” (Jinya Disc) (Sealed and comes with the limited edition bonus disc).
Long gone and deleted limited run press that came with an extra Bonus Disc.
Regular edition is still in print, edition with bonus disc (about 50 copies
came with bonus) is long gone and oop. Line-up to this more traditional but not
less great Takayanagi slide is - Masayuki
Takayanagi: guitar,
Kenji Kosei: electric piano,
Yasuhito Mori:
bass,
Yasuhiro Yamazaki: drums. Here present are four standards recorded by an electric quartet at the tail end of the 70s. Shades of jazz fusion are evident throughout; the playing is straight-laced, swingin’, & on-meter throughout ... Fantastic set that should please any serious Takayanagi fan. This one is not
free or out there but demonstrates the classic side of the man, in the vein of
his Jazz Profile of Jojo disc and such. Price: 45 Dollars |
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55. TELLUS #13 Tape: “Power Electronics” (Tape, case and Fold Out Insert are Excellent to Near Mint). TELLUS – The Audio Cassette Magazine was created in 1983 at the Rum Runner Bar on
Canal Street in New York City. Joseph Nechvatal, a visual artist, Claudia Gould, a curator and Carol Parkinson, a composer and staff member of Harvestworks/Studio PASS met to discuss the idea of a magazine on cassette which would feature interesting and challenging sound works. With the advent of the Walkman and the Boom Box, the editors perceived a need for an alternative to radio programming and the commercially available recordings on the market at that time. Power Electronics Works by Merzbow, Controlled Bleeding, Amor Fati, Maybe Mental, Rhys Chatham, Architect Office, Psyclones, Blackhouse, Master/Slave Relationship, Joseph Nechvatal, If Bwana, Architects Office, Controlled Bleeding, Mojo, Coup De Grace, Le Syndicat, Mitch Corber and F/I. Cover: Joseph Nechvatal. One of the rarest on the label, earblisteringly great, puts all your suburban noise wannabe kiddies out of business within seconds. Price: 30 Dollars |
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56. THROBBING GRISTLE: “Live Box” (Alfa Records – ALCB782~785) (4 CD Set: Mint/ Box: Mint/ Inserts/ Mint/ Booklet: Mint/ Obi: Mint).
Japan only 4 CD set that came out in 1995. Limited edition of only 1000 copies, this one is numbered as 0868/ 1000. Comes with extensive several pages long detailed and illuminating liner notes written by Masami Akita. CD one contains live recordings from 1976 ~ 1978, CD 2 focuses on 1977 ~ 1978; CD 3 has its torpedoes aimed at the years 1978 ~ 1979 and CD 4 wrecks through the years 1979 ~ 1980. Although that the band recorded 5 highly influential albums during their lifetime, their true power always lay in their life performances. The members focused their improvised sounds on a throbbing mass of rhythm and noise. The aim of TG7s live works was to dispel any pre-conceived idea of what a gig should be, and they adopted various tactics and audio experiments to stimulate and involve the audience in their sonic collision courses. These often confrontational shows were physically and mentally exhausting for both TG and the audience but a price worth paying for such rich and positive rewards. TG recorded all of their 36 live appearances and this collection of 4 CD's has been compiled from the tape archives with the aim of representing the very best of these recordings. This was a Japan only limited edition that came out in 1995, rarely seen and illuminatingly great. A must. Price: 200 Dollars |
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57. TOD DOCKSTADER: “Eight Electronic Pieces” (CD – Locust – L36) (CD and case are both Mint). Seminal electronic music classic recording that was originally released on the Folkways label. Eight Electronic Pieces sounds like some abstract symphony; wistful bleeping, zigging and zagging, oozing in and out of focus, organic static buzzing and whirling that at times swells up like sonic tornado heading your way, filled with hair-raising static interference, well controlled but nevertheless thunderous outbursts of white noise that never fails to amaze the listener due to its wistful and un-academic playful approach. One of the best examples of old-skool electronic music, recorded in 1961. Killer stuff. Price: 15 Dollars |
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58. TUDOR DAVID: “Three Works For Live Electronics” (Lovely Music) (CD & Case: Mint). “David Tudor was an avant-garde pianist (most closely associated with John Cage, also performing Feldman, Stockhausen, Wolff, etc), who became a crucial pioneer in the world of live electronic music in the 1960s, developing custom-built electronic devices. These 2 Lovely Music CDs are the only commonly available recordings of his electronic music. Three Works includes: "Pulsers" a work from 1976, exploring the world of rhythms created electronically by analog, rather than, digital, circuity. Incorporates a tape of electronic violin work by Takehisa Kosugi. "Untitled": "a series of works composed in the 1970s that were developed through experiments in generating electronic sound without the use of oscillators, tone generators, or recorded natural sound materials” (Forced). Price: 11 Dollars
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59. YAMANTAKA EYE & SHINRO
OHTAKE: “Pipeline” (UCA - Uwajima Contemporary Art Museum)
(Sealed Copy with 100 paged booklet enclosed) Long gone and out of print 1996
release. “Collaboration between Juke/19 mainman
Shinro Ohtake (now much more known in the Japanese visual arts world, his
delightfully messy childhood-gone-wrong visual sensibility displayed in the
enclosed book) and Eye from The Boredoms. Anyone that cocked an ear to the
Juke/19 will understand well that Eye's inspired infantilism schtick is as
indebted to Juke/19's sound as his neon junkstore visual sense is indebted to
Ohtake's fine arts output. One suspects that their coming together here is
something of a pilgrimage to Mecca of sorts for Eye. As for what it sounds
like...well...let's see. The year is 1996, there's a room full of children’s
instruments on hand, a cockamamie thematic conceit is in place (in this
instance, that the album is by a collection of "24 puzzle punk
bands") and Eye is a featured performer. 3 guesses.” (VDOAND SOUND) Price:
100 Dollars |
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60. YOSHINO DAISAKU: “Yoshino Daisaku Ranpu Seizokojo” (Super
Fuji) (Sealed2 CD Set). Limited press reissue of this hideously rare 1974 private press rural folk rarity. Brother release accompanying the Otowa Shin disc, both totally indispensable obscurities that will cater perfectly to your eclectic tastes and hunger for archival sounds. I guess that Yoshino Daisaku is not immediately a name you all are familiar with. Yoshida Daisaku is one of the key-figures of the Yokohama sound, active till this day on the city's live circuit. This disc here is a reissue of his sole album, a private pressing out of 1974 and a real stunner it is. In the seventies, Yoshida spearheaded the city7s folk rock movement, when the eighties rolled along he became active in the post punk free form music scene and these days he is sculpting his way into acid blues tinted sonics. But what we have here is a recording the Japanese like to label as a privately released acid folk rock disc that saw the light of day in limited numbers way back in 1974. Yoshida's compositions have a certain straight American Rock dynamic that simultaneously embrace also a country rock and slightly acidic folk tinted approach that to a certain extent has some affinity to the Jacks sounds. Bluesy, yet folky, Yoshida's sonic world has elements of both, mingles them into one driving entity that even evokes images of an oriental Neil Young. In all it is an essential disc that sheds another beam of light upon a part of the Japanese rock scene most of us didn't even know existed of ailed to notice it was there. And just as is the case with Otowa Shin's disc, this one is a disc that grows on you after repeated listenings. The original album is represented on the 1st CD and as a bonus one gets a rare 1975 live recording spread over the 2nd CD. Again a stunning reissue, shedding a rare look upon a forgotten scene. Highly recommended and essential if you dig the Otowa Shin release. Get it before they vanish, only 500 copies were pressed and bound to dry up quickly…..Price: 35 Dollars |
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