Afrirampo - We Are Uchu No Ko

The final album by Osaka legends (and the 2 lovely ladies currently at the top this page.) before announcing their dissolution a few months back. I was lucky enough to watch their final public gig back in June. They also played one extra final invite only show at Namba Bears which included alot of onstage collaborations with members of Acid Mothers Temple, Boredoms and Ultra Bide among others. Apparently the show was recorded so hopefully it's released at some point.

Afrirampo are (were) a guitar/drums duo who created some rather unique trashy, playfull and quite frankly bizarre bedroom rock. You'll either love it of hate it but either it won't fail to make you smile. Their final album "We Are Uchu No Ko" (We are space girls) is split into 2 disks. Disk 1 is what you come to expect from Afrirampo while the 2nd is 6 tracks split into 2 sections. The first is a version of a track from guitarist Oni's solo album and the second a solo track written by drummer Pika giving a nice preview for their solo material. This album is also being released on Mogwai's Rock Action label in a few weeks so pick it up if you get the chance. 

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BLONDnewHALF - Stop Play Punk

If this fails to get your feet moving then nothing will. One of my favourite new dicoveries after I saw them play in Kyoto Urban Guild a few weeks ago. While some may be a little dissapointed that there are no "new halfs" involved ("New half" being the Japanese term used for transexuals.) you will find some of the most danceble, post/hardcore punk around. So get your dancing shoes on! ah-so so so so!

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Watusi Zombie - Buddha Mask Experience

Watusi Zombie have been around in one form or another since starting as a high school band in 1997. Since then the Osaka band have picked up a cult following for their frenetic and unpredictable live shows. The band have just released their 3rd album "We Are The World!!!" and are currently touring so it seems there's no better time to post their first album from 2005 "Buddha Mask Experience". The trio specialise in sleazy, bluesy, punky, noisy, garage rock. They sound pretty good on CD but ultimatley only seeing them live does their music any real justice.

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Oshiri Pen Penz - Micro De Ikou (オシリペンペンズ - ミクロで行こう)

A band renowned on the Osaka live circuit for their onstage antics which include getting obnoxiously drunk, climbing amp stacks and throwing up on the audience the Oshiri Pen Penz create a rather obnoxious mix of shouty punk vocals, skittery free jazz guitar and minimal percussion. Imagine Primus drunk and falling down a flight of stairs and you're not far off.

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Bossston Cruizing Mania - No Dub/ In Dub

Had the pleasure of seeing these guys play at Metro on Satruday. Interesting mix of broken funk, dub and spoken word vocals with a touch of Captain Beefheart. Bossston Cruizing Mania (That's 3 s's) are a Tokyo band that have been around in one form or another since 1993. "No Dub/ In Dub" is a pair of live recordings they are selling at their shows. Same track list and order but recorded at different venues. Apparently the only real difference is that "In Dub" has some dubbed over effects and instrumentation in it. Although to be honest it's barely noticable.

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Himuro - Clear Without Items

Time for a little change of pace. Himuro A.K.A. Tokyo based electronica producer Himuro Yoshiteru has been releasing music on and off since the late 90's. Clear Without Items released in 2004 varies between slick hip-hop influenced Prefuse 73 style grooves and agitated drum'n'bass, jazz inspired workouts more akin to someone like Square Pusher. It's eclectic but there are a number of absolute jems on this album. Great for blasting on summer drives with the windows down.  

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Amazon Saliva - Amazon Punch

Amazon Saliva are a local supergroup of sorts. Made up of local underground legends Hide of Ultra Bide on bass, Tabata of Acid Mothers Temple on guitar and Nani of Bogulta on drums. Released on Kochi's new Chaotic Noise label "Amazon Punch" is the bands latest studio album of hard rocking no nonsense punk/new wave and protests Japan's draconian drug laws.  I'll be posting some other stuff by the band members other projects later.

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The Jacks - Jacks No Sekai (ザ。ジャックス - ジャックスの世界)

This is one of my favourite Japanese albums. In many ways The Jacks could be considered to be Japan's Velvet Underground or The Doors. Emerging from the vast sea of indetikit "group Sounds" bands that flooded the Japanese music scene in the wake of The Beatles, unlike many of their peers The Jacks were dark, edgy and uncompromising. Nihilistic lyrics, brooding sparse songs, noisy guitars, screemed vocals and manic drumming. The Jacks were a very different kind of beast. "Jacks No Sekai" (Also known as Vacant World outside Japan.) is a classic and influencial album that should be heard by everyone. This version of the album is from the 40th anniversary box set which includes a few bonus tracks of alternative takes and live recordings of tracks on the album.

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Karugamo Nendo - Last Dance (カルガモネンド - ラストダンス)

Regulars on the Kyoto and Osaka live circuit Karugamo Nendo specialize in making some seriously catchy retro styled Garage Rock'n'Roll. Last Dance is the bands 2nd of 3 mini albums released on their own label. If ever given the chance I highly recommend checking these guys out live.   

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Yoshida Takuro - Genki Desu (吉田拓郎 - 元気です)

Takuro is one of Japans best known folk singers and part of the 60's folk boom. This is probably my favourite of his many albums. Originally released in 1972 Takuro must have been listening to alot of post-electric era Bob Dylan as the influence is obvious. While it almost borders on the line of parody (Especially in the opening track "Haru datta ne") it's by no means a bad thing.

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Maruo Maruko - Daisan Hankyu No Radio (丸尾丸子- 第三半球のラヂヲ)

Maruko plays an intimate, nostalgic form of Japanese folk music with a slightly avant garde twist. Maruko a Kyoto native and multi instrumentalist utilizes guitar, accordian and toy instruments and even manages to play a Jew's harp while singing. This is her first self released CDR of live recordings from 2008. 

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