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LP
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SIWA 901LP
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"Following a number of small run releases (and an appearance on a volume of PSF 's Tokyo Flashback series) here's a vinyl only set of Sabu Orimo's solo shakuhachi work. Recorded by Orimo in 2007-2008 and played on unlacquered natural bamboo flutes. With an approach to his instrument described as 'Japanese old stone age style' (or the somewhat misleading term 'noise shakuhachi'), Orimo might be said to be working on the fringes (of the fringes) of Japan's broadly defined 'psychedelic' scene. That said, one could ask if Siwa's motives here might not just be a case of trying to peddle 'the hated music' behind a veil of blatant exoticism. Yes, that does mean that after a number of rock/folk moves, we're dishing up some more exquisite 'improv'. And you deserve it. Heavy weight vinyl-only edition of 299 in five color hand-pulled screen printed sleeves."
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CD
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SIWA 003CD
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"CD reissue of Chie Mukai's second solo album originally released on LP in 2000. Three tracks recorded at Kid Ailack Art Hall in Tokyo in the late '90s. Just over 40 minutes of solo improvisations featuring the beautiful deep drone of the er-hu (a traditional bowed Chinese instrument), augmented by voice, kengali, rings and cymbals. Mukai is an important (and underdocumented) figure in the Japanese underground whose work goes back to her time as a student under Takahisa Kosugi in the late '70s which resulted in her participation in the legendary East Bionic Symphonia album. Since then, she has continued to work with her own Ché-SHIZU outfit and appear on recordings with artists such as Maher Shalal Hash Baz, Rinji Fukuoka (Overhang Party), Sei'ichi Yamamoto (Boredoms) and Masayoshi Urabe. This CD is housed in a screenprinted gatefold chipboard sleeve and is released in an edition of 600." "It is such an unadulterated pleasure to have this Siwa album, her first release outside of Japan, back in print. Three longish pieces, all recorded live in the late nineties. There's a far fuller drone sound to her er-hu here, compared to that on her previous solo release (Kokyu Improvisation, on PSF), a wavering intensity that pulls your brain straight into a sensation-dulled trance. And with none of the evil wince often associated with solo violin improvs, you're free to fully appreciate the fractional control and deep humming resonance of the instrument. It's a beguiling sound, seeming to combine both earth and air in one eternal thrumming, shimmering pull of gut on steel string. Mukai augments the sound with an occasional percussion crash, and a verse or two of wordless higher-mind vocalization. What more could a human ask for? This is sumptuous late-night improv, a fine goose-feather pillow for addled minds everywhere." --Alan Cummings
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CD
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SIWA 002CD
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"March 2005 meeting of Exias-J (Experimental Improvisers Association of Japan) and drummer Sabu Toyozumi. Since the late '90s Exias-J have been conjoining the worlds of free music and modern composition by employing free improvisation in variously structured approaches ranging from jazz and rock rooted forms to avant-classical and performance art settings. Sabu Toyozumi is a true giant of Japanese free music with a history running from his involvement with Masayuki Takayanagi's New Direction Unit in the late '60s through his work with Kaoru Abe , Peter Brötzmann, Takashi Mizutani (Rallizes Denudes), Keiji Haino and a veritable who's who of internationally known improvisers. There is a sonic clarity to this new studio recording that might help elucidate the underlying musical structure on the two previous live Electric Conception recordings (available on PSF). That said, with one stated goal being the disruption of the hierarchies of instrumentation through the application of electro-acoustics, this frequently creates a dense, shifting sonic mass that should make even ardent noise fans feel quite at home. Edition of 500 in screenprinted gatefold cover."
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LP
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SIWA 5002LP
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"Archive LP of material recorded by Tori Kudo and some fellow travellers during a stay in New York in the Summer of 1981. Originally released on cassette the approach on these recordings was a long way from the eerie organ driven Noise Tenno LP that Tori and Reiko released a year earlier. About half of Atlantic City consists of songs, teeth bared and falling apart as they come together but still in a style similar to Tori's subsequent work with Maher Shalal Hash Baz. The other half is made up mostly of extended guitar jams rooted equally in rock and blues but retaining Tori's rather unique take on the idioms. Screenprinted cover and insert art adapted from drawings and photos taken in NY and Atlantic City in 1981."
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2LP
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SIWA 012/13LP
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...Deserve To Have for Your Enjoyment. 2003 release, available again. "Nmperign is Greg Kelley and Bhob Rainey. The first LP of this 2LP set consists of the title track which was recorded in Mhere, France. The music on the second LP is from a performance at Wesleyan University and is entitled 'I Am Sitting In A Fucking Room'. Instrument credits are given as 'marantz pmd 130, sony micro20002, horns'. In the past Nmperign has collaborated with Le Quan Ninh, Günter Müller, Jason Lescalleet, Jerome Noetinger, Lionel Marchetti, Axel Dörner and many others. Their previous recordings have appeared on labels such as Selektion, Rossbin, Twisted Village and Intransitive. Limited vinyl only edition with 5 color screenprinted cover."
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LP
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SIWA 003LP
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A string trio made up of Simon Fell (double bass), Rhodri Davies (harp) and Mark Wastell (cello), recorded live in Chelmsford, UK 12/95.
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