★Doubtmusic
sec:ond sim
The Japanese post-rock trio Sim (Oshima Teruyuki (guitar), Ootani Yoshio (electronics) and Uemura Masahiro (drums)) play a compelling stripped-down and motorik complex music, Ootani's electronic sound and noise hopping up and down, Uemura's groovy drums and Oshima's keen and threading sound by his unique sim-version guitar
The Tale Of The Heike
An epic concept album narrated and performed by Akira Sakata, Heike Monogatari ("Tale of the Heike") is the most disturbing entry so far in the DoubtMusic catalogue. This work is an expression of the philosophy of impermanence. It's also a vision of Hell. Woodwinds signify madness. Bells accentuate silence. And Sakata's voice unleashes a phantasmagoric torrent of shomyo (Japanese Tantric Buddhist chanting), death metal growls, and pure pandemonium. Is he serious? Or not? One thing is cert…
The beauty is the thing
The trio of pianist Aki Takase, guitarist/daxophonist Kazuhisa Uchihashi, and trumpeter Axel Dorner in an exploration of informed and exquisite dialog in acoustic and electric improvisation. This trio's musical inspirations give birth to an amazing, extraordinary, mind-boggling mandala of sound. It's an extreme sound that could only be achieved by people engaged in the ultimate sonic and musical explorations. Surrender yourself to the joyful sounds coming out of the left and right speaker…
Lonely Woman
ONJT+ (Otomo Yoshihide’s New Jazz Trio +) plays Ornette Coleman’s “Lonely Woman” and Albert Ayler’s “Bells.” ONJT means Otomo Yoshide’s New Jazz Trio; Otomo Yoshihide (guitar), Mizutani Hiroaki (bass, misc.), Yoshigaki Yasuhiro (drums, percussion), and “+” means guests for those 2 CDs: Sachiko M (sinewaves) and Jim O’Rourke (EMS synthesizer). Otomo continues his “New Jazz” project from ONJQ (Quintet) via ONJE (Ensemble) to ONJO (Orchestra), and now he organizes ONJT + (Trio +) as his core …
Bells
ONJT+ (Otomo Yoshihide’s New Jazz Trio +) plays Ornette Coleman’s “Lonely Woman” and Albert Ayler’s “Bells.” ONJT means Otomo Yoshide’s New Jazz Trio; Otomo Yoshihide (guitar), Mizutani Hiroaki (bass, misc.), Yoshigaki Yasuhiro (drums, percussion), and “+” means guests for those 2 CDs: Sachiko M (sinewaves) and Jim O’Rourke (EMS synthesizer). Otomo continues his “New Jazz” project from ONJQ (Quintet) via ONJE (Ensemble) to ONJO (Orchestra), and now he organizes ONJT + (Trio +) as his core …
Mail from Fushitsusha
Mail from Fushitsusha, which Keiji Haino himself calls 21st-century blues, draws out exquisite dynamics and 'space' - like a nerve being passed through the eye of a needle. Carrying out their sonic explorations while adhering to the Fushitsusha method, these three tough artists create a muscular sound - a sound that turns the rock - blues concept on its head! Keijo Haino sent Seijaku out into the world as his permanent band. At the time of recording, this was to be a single album, but the combin…
You Should Prepare To Survive Through Even Anything Happens
This is a real blues album created as an expression of devotion to 20th-century blues. But not blues as a style - the object of devotion here is the blues spirit. You might even say this album is the successor to authentic blues. Those who get it, get it! Keijo Haino sent Seijaku out into the world as his permanent band. At the time of recording, this was to be a single album, but the combination of Haino's overflowing musical ideas and the unlimited improvisational abilities of the three member…
Book from Hell
Zai Kuning (g., vo., perc., misc.), Otomo Yoshihide (g., turntables, perc., misc.). 'The Asian improvisation of the present, a connection between Singapore, Tokyo and Hong Kong. A vivid 71-minute performance moving back and forth between turbulence and stillness. 'Book from hell' is the denomination of the concert, Zai Kuning organized on September 2008 in Singapore. CD title is used as it is and also CD cover is the poster of 'Book from hell' concert, Zai designed. This is Asian improvi…
Rostbeständige Zeit
Axel Dörner, Nobuyoshi Ino, Kazuo Imai, Noritaka Tanaka. This is the masterpiece of 2CDs, splitting the music into improvisation (momentary composition) and / or composition. Disc 1 is the improvised music by Axel, Ino, Imai. Guitar sound of Imai is hot and tingling, Ino plays careful his choice pizzicato and arcoexquisitely, and Axel's original sound bring Ôout' into their music. Their atmosphere of music is special one, cannot be similar from every music. Disc 2 consists of all Axel's composi…
A thousand mountains
To start with, we've always commended Japan's Doubtmusic label for the handsome packaging job that each one of their digipack cd releases invariably receives. This one, though, we'd probably be inclined to buy just 'cause of the especially cool cover art alone! Done by one Tomoo Gokita, the cover suggests an arched window in a brightly patterned wall, looking out on (a photo of) some majestic snow-capped alpine mountain (the Matterhorn, is it?). But in front of the "window", the corpse-painted v…
With Records
Otomo Yoshihide (turntable), Ozeki Mikito (kirie), Mats Gustafsson (baritone saxophone from Mats Gustafsson's solo LP 'It Is All About' on Tyyfus label). Mastered by Jun Numata. Released to commemorate the exhibition Ensembles '09: With Records at Gallery 45-8, Tokyo, October 11-November 8, 2009. No cover, limited 800 copies, serial numbers. Otomo Yoshihide (turntables), Ozeki Mikito (cutout art) and Mats Gustafsson (baritone sax).
Complete Grune Revolution (1975)
A much-needed and expanded reissue of this 1970s Offbeat label LP of cellist Midorikawa in duos with Masahiko Togashi, Masayuki Takayanagi and Masahiko Sato.Keiki Midorikaw (cello, bass), Masahiko Togashi (percussion, drums), Masayuki Takayanagi (guitar) et Masahiko Sato (piano). Recorded on January 16, 1976 at Nichi-futsu kaikan, Tokyo. The original LP of this work has duo with Takayanagi on A side and duo with Sato on B side. But in the concert, Midorikawa played duo with Togashi about 40 minu…
Phantom Note
Trumpeter Itaru Oki's third album from 1975 reissued, a flamed out free jazz masterpiece. Itaru Oki (trumpet), Yoshiaki Fujikawa (alto sax), Keiki Midorikawa (cello, bass, piano), Gozo Yoshimasu (poetry reading on 5). We are very glad to inform that a long time out of printed OffBeat label LP is reprinted on CD. Itaru Oki visited Paris, France in the 70s and when he came back to Japan temporarily in 75, he organized a elite free jazz troop and recorded in studio. 'Phantom Note' is his 3rd album,…
the gun
Namba Jazz is the improvisation duet by Yoshigaki Yasuhiro (drums, percussion) and Yamamoto Seiichi (guitar, misc.). "Namba" of Namba Jazz means not an area in Osaka but means Namba walking. And "Jazz" of Namba Jazz is not jazz but is actually Jazu.Namba Jazz has performed gigs 4 times in Japan. This CD is consisted great 10 tunes what selected in 3 gigs. The guitar playing by Yamamoto has a wide variety of the sound. He keeps a spark of genius and has never sounds the cliche of improvisation. H…
Blood
CD audio + DVD video (NTSC / Region All). 'This trio was formed by Imai Kazuo (guitar), Suzuki Manabu (handmade electronics), and Ito Atsuhiro (optron) in July, 2005. I'm using a controllable instrument along with uncontrollable electronic sound devices that may make the music somewhat difficult to remain stable, yet its context of where I am now is the one that is similar to jazz'. Imai Kazuo, from linernotes. Imai Kazuo is the one and only graduate of Takayanagi Masayuki's private guitar scho…
Blacksheep
Yoshida Ryuichi (baritone sax), Goto Atsushi (trombone) and Suga Dairo (piano). 'Blacksheep is a trio group, consisting of Yoshida Ryuichi (baritone sax player in Shibusashirazu Orchestra, Fujii Satoko Orchestra, etc.), Goto Atsushi (trombone player in 'Tokyo Out', 'Denki Slime', etc.) and Suga Dairo (pianist in Shibusashirazu Orchestra, 'Real Blue', etc.). Sometime very beautiful, sometime intense improvisation and sometime humoresque and very serious, this, their first work is made up of prote…
plays the ENKA -woodwind solo
Enka is a style of Japanese popular song roughly corresponding to American blues and country music, French chanson and Italian canzone. The sound of enka is deeply rooted in the souls of Japanese people, and famous enka songs continue to be sung and hummed wherever this music exists.In this album, Umezu's exceptional sensitivity and taste combine with the "world of enka," swirl and eddy, and explode before our eyes. This music has excellent circulation; it leaps with energy. Here, Japan has crea…
Monte Alto Estate
This is the collaborative masterpiece of the 3-piece unit, sim (Oshima Teruyuki on guitar and composition, Ootani Yoshio on computer, electronics, etc, and Uemura Masahiro on drums) and Otomo Yoshihide (turntables, self-made synthesizer). The noise of Otomo sharply incises the unique sound of sim, where Uemura’s controlled roaring drumming sets an main axis on Oshima’s precise rhythmical composition, Oshima’s the chord cuttings beats minimally and the electronics of Ootani give extreme voltage. …
Dots
One of their miraculous duo result is their first CD "Territory" (dmf-112, 2006). This work, "DOTS" is even more overpowering, speed, ramified rhythm, edits, and so on. First, they recorded their improvised music in studio, then they overdubbed various sounds, edited the materials and mixed different effects into the tunes. This is the music for the prog rock, math rock, post rock fans. Dense and Fiery !
Live Vol. 2 Parallel Circuit
Since last year, those titles had been a hold by various matters but ONJO (Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Orchestra) Live CD are finally released at last. Those essential titles, 2CDs x 2 sets are organized various Live performances and indicate the future ONJO. The sound of ONJO contains every connection between tone, onkyo, sonority, melody, rhythm and so on. Disc 1 : Shichinin no Keiji (Berlin + Tokyo), Gazzelloni (Kyoto), Te recuerdo Amanda > Song For Che > Reducing Agent (Tokyo), Super Jetter (…