EAST BIONIC SYMPHONIA - s/t

At long last a chance for the adventurous listener to actually get to hear what all the hip name checkers only prattle about. At first, East Bionic Symphonia seems to be just another one of the many legendary Japanese improvising groups of the late 1970s. However, in this case the mystical reputation is justified. Recorded live in July, 1976, the two long tracks on this LP sound like the unique, solitary, and sprawling soundscape that a narcotic Amon Duul and AMM could have played in the backyard of your favorite Buddhist temple. Originally the group was the class project of a collective of students of minimal violinist Takahisa Kosugi (Taj Mahal Travellers founder). The line-up includes a couple of names well known to PSF aficionados. There is Kazuo Imai, who also played with the Taj Mahal Travellers and released a great solo CD, How Will We Change, a few years ago. Also, there is Masami Tada, a respected sound-sculptor with a number of solo releases. This is a limited and numbered reissue (500 copies) of their sole LP, originally released in 1976 on ALM records, and a permanent resident on many a self-respecting wantlist for years now.