Mizutama Shobodan

Incl. printed inner sleeve & 4 page fold-out insert ** Spittle Records resurrects a dangerous ride through Japan's experimental underground with the first vinyl reissue of this 1985 masterpiece. Four decades after its original Japanese release, Mizutama Shobodan's sophomore album A Skyfull of Red Petals finally receives the vinyl treatment it deserves, emerging through Spittle Records as a testament to one of Japan's most fearless and uncompromising experimental units. Mixed by master Fred Frith and originally released in 1985, this album represents another dangerous ride with the self-proclaimed "Polka Dots Fire Brigade" - a further descent into the surreal depths of Japanese dreamland.

The album captures Mizutama Shobodan at their most adventurous, building upon the foundation established by their debut while pushing deeper into uncharted sonic territories. As Frith himself recalls: "Mizutama Shobodan were a force of nature – powerful and original and unapologetic. I saw them live before I heard the first record and was very impressed. I liked the way the group interacted, it was a very good atmosphere between everybody." Central to the group's distinctive sound was the remarkable interplay between Kamura and Tenko - two vocalists whose contrasting approaches created a unique dialectic of expression. Frith notes: "I really liked the contrasting sounds and styles of Kamura and Tenko, two very different kinds of voices that really worked well together." This vocal chemistry, combined with the group's fearless approach to sonic experimentation, positioned Mizutama Shobodan as one of Japan's most compelling avant-garde acts.

A Skyfull of Red Petals embodies the spirit of 1980s Japanese experimental music at its most unrestrained - a period when artists felt free to blend traditional and avant-garde elements in ways that would have been unthinkable in more conservative musical climates. The album's title suggests both beauty and violence, delicacy and destruction - themes that run throughout the group's work. Spittle Records' reissue treats this essential album with appropriate care, presenting it on vinyl with a printed inner sleeve and 4-page fold-out insert that provides crucial context for understanding the group's place within Japan's experimental underground. Limited to this single pressing, the release offers a rare opportunity to experience one of the era's most vital documents in its intended format.

For those familiar with Japan's rich tradition of experimental music - from the psychedelic adventures of Les Rallizes Dénudés to the noise explorations of Merzbow - Mizutama Shobodan represents a unique voice in this continuum. A Skyfull of Red Petals stands as proof that the most radical music emerges when artists refuse to acknowledge boundaries between genres, cultures, or expectations.