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LP
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ZORN 082LP
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Reissue, originally released in 1989. After Dinner's Paradise of Replica is a concise nugget of tomfoolery that occupies a whimsical no man's land between art pop, Japanese folk music, and full-assed Art Zoydian avant proggery. Gentle, arcane and covertly sweeping, it typifies that friendly strain of experimentalism that Eastern music seems so predisposed towards and which curious minds find such great delight in. Assembled by the enigmatic chanteuse and composer known simply as Haco, After Dinner was less a band and more of a loose art collective that utilized a plurality of different musical disciplines stapled together through free improvisation sessions. And some of this does come through on Paradise of Replica -- the record is a scrapbook of bells, strings, and koto humming under Haco's ethereal vocals, and the effect, while perfectly tuneful, does come off more as a musical project than a conventional album. But Paradise of Replica is far from an impenetrable scholastic endeavor -- in fact, there's something of an Elephant 6-like quality in its ability to warp conventions while still coming off more or less like pop music. Counter to the ramshackle hostility of much improvised music, After Dinner's choices are melodious and feel deliberately sequenced. Even crescendos don't tend to rise above a murmur, and there are even apparent hooks on tracks like "A Walnut" and "Ironclad Mermaid." Ultimately, there's not much to be said about Paradise of Replica that can elucidate more than actually hearing it will be able to. Proggy, playful, and lush, it's a brief glimpse into something in the vicinity of genius, and just outside the realm of commercial music. It's a quietly bold project that shows a softer side of the avant-garde, and makes a perfect companion to Stereolab and Magma at once.
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LP
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SOAVE 028LP
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After Dinner from Japan, embraced new wave, traditional Japanese music, free contemporary and avant-garde rock. Founded by female vocalist, musician and composer Haco in 1981, After Dinner broached a very interesting collective cohesion. Their backgrounds, though however various, brought them together during times of recording and live performance. 1982-85 includes all their first production; the complete first album Glass Tube, two tracks from the first 7" single and a bonus track from a 1985 compilation on Celluloid. Includes 24-pages booklet.
"A founding member of the legendary band After Dinner, Haco is one of the most versatile vocalists in the Japanese indies scene." --John Zorn
"Haco is capable of gallons of tenderness and melancholy." --Kurt Gottschalk
"Listening to After Dinner is like submerging yourself in water and going to sleep while playing Kate Bush on one CD player and traditional Japanese music on another." --Julian Cope
"Haco has a soft, airy voice and her lyrics (sung in both English and Japanese) are inflected with an intelligent sense of whimsy as she sings of the dreamier aspects of modern life." --Brian Olewnick
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CD
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RER ADR1
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"A limited edition collection of exquisite live interpretations of songs by Japanese pop genius, Haco, taken from the band's first and second European tours in the early 1980s -- technically innovative events at which they set up 5'1 sound systems at every concert. Powerful, delicate music featuring exotic as well as conventional rock instrumentation, and the extraordinary voice of diminutive diva, Haco. Includes previously unreleased materials. Powerfully played and beautifully recorded with full documentation, new photographs, technical diagrams and an introduction by Haco, who oversaw the project. Re-mastered by Bob Drake."
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CD
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RER ADCD
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Repressed and available again for the first time in years. After Dinner was the Japanese group from the late 80s, let by vocalist Haco. This reissues their original ReR studio album from 1984, plus tracks from the live cassette release that followed, etc.. "...bizarre experimental 3D surround-sound, backwards/sped up/slowed down tape technique (before the days of sampling), complex but charming arrangements featuring a huge cast of Japanese instrumentalists. The influences are many: John Cage, nursery rhymes, cabaret, free-jazz, traditional folk music..."
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