Tsurubami

After releasing a handful of CDR-only releases, this recent offshoot of Japan’s Acid Mothers Temple Collective has finally released their first proper album. A power trio consisting of Kawabata Makoto on guitar, bassist Higashi Hiroshi and drummer Emi Nobuko, the three performed together previous to the creation of Acid Mothers in the band Tenkyo no To during the early ‘90s. Consisting of two 20-plus-minute long tracks, Gekkyukekkaichi finds the three musicians exploring the outer reaches of droned bliss, Kawabata leading the way with his acid-soaked playing. There is little melody to the creation, just constant building on repetition that opens into cacophony that at times borders on noise. Recorded live with no overdubs, this improv recording is one of the nicest surprises of the summer. Its exploratory feel is similar to that of Fushitsusha at times but also reminds of Subarachnoid Space at its most transcendent. I look forward to more.