Synchronize - 訪問者, 幼年期... 7" (Plaza, 198?)

Tracklisting

Side A

訪問者

Side B

幼年期

Depressive darkwave with piano and some interesting guitar mix. Rather spartan... and is it just me, or does side A's intro sound like it's hinting at a Blue Öyster Cult song?

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ミン&クリナメン - 世界によろしく 7" EP (Nagomu, 1987)

Tracklisting

Side A

[Japanese Title]

Side B

[Japanese Title] I

[Japanese Title] II

More wackiness from the Nagomu label, this time from female-fronted group Min & Kurinamen. A-side is a high-energy speed-punk track tailor-made for bouncing off the walls, replete with background vocals, an over-the-top guitar solo, and more generally ridiculous elements. Side B... surprise free-jazz! Which leads into a rollicking jazz-punk tune. Fun stuff. Enjoy!

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Para-Phrase - SU-DE-NI!? 7" flexi (Beat Generation, 1981)

Tracklisting

Side A

SU-DE-NI!?

Great little single-sided flexi from this obscure Sapporo group. Very 'Tokyo Rockers' inspired (Friction, Lizard, etc). Nice!
If you like this, be sure to grab this live recording posted at the great Music Is A Better Noise blog.

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パイナップル4.9 - s/t 10" (Gym, 1983)

Tracklisting

Side A

でんでででん

Na-

夜に

コロコロ

Side B

ふるえる○×△

あの石

わらりぼ

空・旗

I hadn't ever heard of this band when I bought the 10", but I figured that a band with the name Pineapple4.9 and an album cover like that wouldn't disappoint. I'd say I was right, though I have a hard time pinning down exactly what is so appealing about it. They're almost like a no-wave band with all the nervous tension drained, leaving them diffused and skeletal. Pretty mellow, but just enough subtle strangeness to keep me interested.

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Sakata Orchestra - 4 O'Clock LP (Better Days, 1981)

Tracklisting

Side A

What Time is It?

4 O'Clock

Side B

E? E!! E?

Trapper

Fantastic LP from this Wha-Ha-Ha member and mainstay of the Japanese avant-jazz scene. Features a little bit of the goofy computer electronics and crazed vocals of Wha-Ha-Ha, but mostly this is all about the free-wheelin' jazz!
I believe someone had requested this LP in the comments... sorry for the wait.

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The Goónzees - s/t 7" flexi (Kuru Kuru, 1983)

Tracklisting

Side A

ぬるぬる (This is a Love Song)

Side B

うぞうむぞう

Here's one of the most obscure pieces in my collection. Mentions of this band on the web are scant, and this flexi was completely 'ungoogleable' when I bought it. Turned out to be a pretty good purchase though!
Very, very PIL-influenced cavernous post-punk racket with a fierce guitar sound referencing Neu!'s "Negativland" and dubby effects all over the place. Really great stuff. If anyone has more info on this band, I'd love to hear it.

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Sadato Group - s/t 7" flexi (Kang-Gung, 1984)

Tracklisting

Side A

Kafesho

Side B

Gohon Gahon

Rather odd cosmic free-rock nuttiness from this mostly-Japanese group led by Swiss-born-Iranian-living-then-in-Tokyo-but-now-in-New-York multi-instrumentalist Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi (Sadato seems to have been his Japanese name). Zappa and free-jazz seem to be the major touchstones here. Wild stuff!

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Ikari - s/t 7" flexi (R.B.F., 1984)

Tracklisting

Side A

Lucky Time

No Perspective

Cool flexi from this P-Model side-project featuring two quick punk songs with some interesting elements and a unique sound. Definitely worth checking out despite the brevity of my write-up here.

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Bachikaburi - Ichi-ryu 7" EP (Nagomu, 1985)

Tracklisting

Side A

Only You

彼岸 Higan (Nirvana)

Side B

稲荷 Inari (Inari)

苦行 Kugyo (Penance)
 返答（貧困）Hentou(Hinkon) Answer(Poverty)

While this is technically the second record I've posted from Nagomu Records (the other was Picky Picnic's Lovely Water Peaceful), I'd say this is the first to really demonstrate the Nagomu aesthetic. If you don't know, Nagomu was founded by Kera, the singer of the subsequently successful group Uchouten. The label quickly established a distinct sound and became somewhat of a phenomenon, even spawning it's own fashion movement in the form of the Nagomu-gal look, a colorful, bohemian style. Though trendy, the label cultivated a fairly bizarre trademark. Bachikaburi here illustrate perfectly the manic punk-rock idiocy prevalent in much of Nagomu's early catalog.

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姫御前 - s/t 7" flexi (胎内レーベル, 1985)

Tracklisting

Side A

Doll

電機人形

Here's a fun little single-sided flexi that I noticed was selling somewhat high on eBay. Weird and wobbly technopop with female vocals. Sorta like if Lewisite got a concussion or drank too much cough syrup. Pretty great! I sure wish this band released more...

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Picky Picnic - Lovely Water Peaceful 7" flexi (Nagomu, 1986)

Tracklisting

Side A

Lovely Water Peaceful

Side B

Blue Mountain 500 Miles Goes By

More insanity from Picky Picnic, one of the best bands ever.
Like Cynical Hysteria World, this release features the artistic and musical talents of famed animator Kiriko Kubo - a perfect match for Picky Picnic. Her influence seems to temper the group slightly, but they're still unquestionably idiotic here, as evidenced by the completely a cappella Martin Denny parody Blue Mountain 500 Miles Goes By.

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