In 1969 »the cultural barriers that had long separated Japan’s many artists and entertainers were finally removed,« wrote Julian Cope in his flawed but essential Japrocksampler in 2007. The year was a turning point and ushered in a new age of experimentation whose results »brought forth incredibly highly charged works, many of which defied attempts at categorisation.« The compilation Far East New Rock Invention 1969-1975, released as part of 180g’s Wamono series and accompanied by detailed liner notes courtesy of Sally Kubota, is a document of the genesis of these new sounds.
Its nine tracks feature material by some of the better known representatives such as the Far East Family Band, Yuya Uchida & The Flowers and its successor, the Flower Travellin’ Band (here in collaboration with the Terumasa Hino Quintet), and mostly draws on the Nippon Columbia catalogue—some of the albums represented here have recently been reissued. The compilation thus obviously aims to introduce this loose movement that took its inspiration from hard and psych rock, folk, and occasionally avant-garde music to a more general audience. However, also the real heads will find something new, including deep cuts by former The Dynamites member Hiroshi Segawa and Takeshi Inomata & Sound L.T.D.’s feverish jazz-fusion freak-out »Black Angel.« This makes Far East New Rock Invention the kind of compilation that invites its listeners to dig even deeper. It is well worth it.
