The Japanese psychedelic underground is one of the world's most labyrinthine music scenes, rarely charted by Western listeners. Now signed to discerning Chicago labels, Ghost and 00100 are two of its more recognisable standard-bearers: the former having collaborated with bardic New Englanders Damon ...
The Japanese psychedelic underground is one of the world’s most labyrinthine music scenes, rarely charted by Western listeners. Now signed to discerning Chicago labels, Ghost and 00100 are two of its more recognisable standard-bearers: the former having collaborated with bardic New Englanders Damon & Naomi; the latter thanks to frontwoman Yoshimi’s immortalisation by the Flaming Lips.
Although Hypnotic Underworld starts with a fantastically disconcerting improvisation, Ghost are actually the more conventional, enjoyably fluttering between commune jazz, zen folk and straightforward hippy rock reminiscent, perhaps, of Spirit.
OO1OO aren’t so self-consciously cosmic, and as a result their clattering mantric pop is more original. More fun, too: Yoshimi’s ebullience is inescapable on Kila Kila Kila, from the gymnastic drumming to her ecstatic, Bj