(Avant-Garde, Noise) Keiji Haino, Jim O'Rourke, Oren Ambarchi - Imikuzushi - 2012, MP3, 320 kbps

Massively anticipated re-match for the world-beating trio of guitarist/vocalist Keiji Haino, bassist Jim O’Rourke and drummer Oren Ambarchi: recorded live on January 6th 2011 at SuperDeluxe in Tokyo, this is classic post-Fushitsusha avant rock bombast at an insane high-energy peak. Ambarchi is the perfect drummer for Haino, much more so than any jobbing improv or free jazz percussionist, in that he’s not afraid to drop it into straightahead 4/4 pummel if the power chords demand it. Haino reacts with obvious glee to his pugilistic attack, piling sky-splitting solo upon solo alongside epic levels of fuzz. O’Rourke is on similarly phenomenal form, driving the whole group with these hypnotic two-note grooves that are uniquely powerful and that provide an anchor for Haino to get all the way out. O’Rourke is obviously a serious student of the late Yasushi Ozawa as he has mastered the Ozawa style of single infinitely pulsating notes dropped into deep wells of silence and when the smoke clears and it’s just O’Rourke’s bass and Haino’s voice plotting the void the effect is truly hair-raising. But most of all Imikuzushi is about the wild rockers and it pretty much puts the seal on the group as the true inheritors of the euphoric psychedelic blues of Fushitsusha, with O’Rourke and Ambarchi the only rhythm section to truly approach the classic Ozawa/Takahashi dream team. Totally phenomenal, one of the top five releases in the Haino discography, pretty much destroys any other contemporary ‘rock’ recording and already my album of the year. Comes with a beautiful gatefold sleeve and glossy photographic inners designed by Stephen O’Malley. Already completely sold out at source. Can’t possibly recommend this one enough, a mandatory VT purchase!

Bass – Jim O'Rourke
Drums – Oren Ambarchi
Guitar, Vocals – Keiji Haino