[i]Phenomenal new power trio moves from a group that easily rivals Fushitsusha or Seijaku in intensity of attack. Here Haino is mostly featured on guitar and vocals with occasional forays into lapsteel (!) and air synth while O’Rourke plays bass and Ambarchi plays drums. This is some of the most squealing iconoclastic psychedelic rock of Haino’s career and his guitar playing is back at a Double Live/Hendrixoid peak, with endlessly overloaded single note guitar solos wrestling form into oblivion, long sections of devastatingly articulate feedback moves and even some torrential blues boogie. Ambarchi and O’Rourke are a revelation. Ambarchi moves between the kind of minimal tectonics of Ikuro Takahashi’s work with Kousokuya, fleet almost Rashied Ali-style freeform and passages of straightahead bandstand rocking that Haino responds to with obvious delight. O’Rourke nails the whole deal to the ceiling, with growling bass gravities and single note post-Ozawa implosions. Haino’s lapsteel work is as formally outrageous as you might’ve hoped, with tight slide work and torrents of blurred notes generating a deep Blind Willie atmosphere while Ambarchi drags the whole thing through the swamp. Indeed, there’s still a heady blues-rock feel to much of the interaction – Haino’s vocals are at a soul-scraping Black Blues-style peak – and in many ways this group feels like a mediator between the planetary scale psychedelic rock of Fushitsusha and the electric blues of Seijaku. They should give themselves a group name and make this an on-going concern – it’s rare to experience this kind of higher minded chemistry between Haino and his collaborators and I’d rate this set well up there in the top five Haino recordings, alongside Double Live, Affection, Pathetique et al. Recorded live at SuperDeluxe in Tokyo on January 24th 2010, the sound is studio quality throughout and for anyone who enjoyed the trio’s previous studio album this stunning set takes it to the next level. Beautifully packaged in a gatefold sleeve designed by Stephen O’Malley and with art by Marco Fusinato, this just became my album of the year and I can’t imagine anything topping it. Limited supply though, so don’t sleep. Highest possible recommendation![/i]
"I may skip. I may even warp a little.... But I will never, ever crash. I am your friend for life. " -Vinyl. Michell Gyrodec SE, Hana ML cart, Parasound JC3 Jr, Stax LR-700, Stax SRM-006ts Energiser, Quad Artera Play+ CDP
Here on my own on a blustery Mother's Day Sunday. An unusual state of affairs when I remember the outings to the various hotels over the years. Anyway the first time I saw the clip below I immediately learnt it by heart and dedicated it to my own much missed Mother. So to departed Mums everywhere this one's for you....
"I may skip. I may even warp a little.... But I will never, ever crash. I am your friend for life. " -Vinyl. Michell Gyrodec SE, Hana ML cart, Parasound JC3 Jr, Stax LR-700, Stax SRM-006ts Energiser, Quad Artera Play+ CDP
