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Masayuki Takayanagi, New Direction UnitApril Is The Cruellest MonthBack to the record
Point of Departure

“In its final minutes, crashing drums, wailing sax and strings, it achieves that unique liftoff that only this kind of music can.”

Jason Bivins

Let’s get this out of the way. If you’ve never heard this lost classic of Japanese free jazz/noise/guitar freakery, just get it. If you’re one of its devotees, you probably have some bootleg CD-R that you’ve obsessed over for a couple of decades, since the early 1990s Japanese issue of the 1975 monster that ESP had originally intended to release.

Originally published by Point of Departure.Read it on Point of Departure

6 other reviews

Pitchfork

“Cruelly unreleased at the time, Takayanagi’s sound remains formidable and transformative.”

The Quietus

“The important thing is that April Is The Cruellest Month is here now, waiting to be someone else’s ‘Free Form Guitar’ moment.”

Bandcamp Daily

“The album features one of Takayanagi’s most fearless groups, the New Direction Unit, and the music it contains is unapologetically fierce and monumental.”

Free Jazz Blog

“We are privileged to have such a classic and important free jazz work available once more.”

Jazz Journal

“Takayanagi clearly had a vision for his music, and the result is a thought-provoking album.”

The Wire

“My Friend, Blood Shaking My Heart” is an example of what Takayanagi called a mass projection.”