KANEKO, JUTOK - Endless Ruins

Jutok Kaneko is not a name that will ring too many bells among lightweight cognoscenti of the Japanese psychedelic underground, but too those with sharper ears and deeper wallets the news that Tokyos OTHER black-clad guitar master has finally made a solo album is true cause for rejoicing. Kaneko is known, if at all, as leader of Kosokuya, one of the most idiosyncratic and least appreciated rock groups in Tokyo. The group have been in existence since the late seventies, pounding out a unique take on the space-rock idiom that sucked crushing chords and spiralling solos into the heart of blank, bleak emptiness. Not as career-minded as certain other scenesters, the group only released three albums over those 22 years ( Ray Night 1991-1992 Live on Forced Exposure, and The Dark Spot collaboration with Masayoshi Urabe on PSF [PSFD-90] are still available). Although Kaneko frequently guests at improv gigs in Tokyo, non-Kosokuya recorded appearances have been equally rare, encompassing only a duo album with Rinji Fukuoka on Pataphysique and a very limited live improv video with Chie Mukai and others. Hence the excitement at this solo release. Naked and mostly alone, Kaneko hurtles into a deep, dark hole of his own devising, his immensely distinctive vocals howling out his pain as his guitar shoots out pulsating tendrils of beautiful black light. Stylistically not that distant from Kosokuyas deployment of heavy space, its at once a depressingly nightmarish and exhilarating sound, utterly unique. On two tracks he ploughs a deeper furrow with the help of Takuya Nishimura (Che-SHIZU) on bass, and Koji Shimura (ex White Heaven, Mainliner) on drums. One for those select moments when you dream that Jandek had jammed with Quicksilver. -- Alan Cummings. Restocked!