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Masayuki Takayanagi, New Direction UnitApril Is The Cruellest MonthBack to the record
The Wire

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

Bill Meyer

In 1971 Masayuki Takayanagi’s New Directions For The Arts Trio performed for an audience of farmers trying to save their land and leftist students fighting the establishment powers that wanted to take it. Their aggressive music, which was mercilessly stripped of genre conventions that might have helped people unacquainted with free jazz to get a handle on what was being played, was the dud of the Gen’ya Festival. Four years later Takayanagi explained that he wasn’t playing for any of the people present, but for the earth itself.

Originally published by The Wire.Read it on The Wire

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.”

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.”