TAKAHASHI, AYUO - Private Tapes 1985-1995

First release on the label by the son of avant garde pianist Yuji Takahashi, and a one-time member of Fushitsusha. 20 tracks self-recorded over a period of 10 years. Sound-wise its enticing mixture of Hammill-ish progressive rock, dark folk, medieval-influenced instrumentation and some almost Xpressway-like singer-songwriter stuff (entirely in English). Influenced by Arabian, Celtic and Chinese court music, James Joyce, biwa music (the traditional accompaniment played by blind musicians to recitations of Japanese epic poetry), Richard Thompson and Joao Giberto; impressive stuff."