Yasutaka Tsutsu, Yosuke Yamashita – IE (筒井康隆, 山下洋輔 ‎– 家)

    Yasutaka Tsutsu, Yosuke Yamashita – IE (筒井康隆, 山下洋輔 ‎– 家)

    20 Mar

    By

    Label: Frasco ‎– FS-7007
    Format: Vinyl, LP
    Country: Japan
    Released: 1976
    Genre: Jazz, Rock
    Style: Experimental, Avantgarde, Psychedelic Rock, Free Jazz

    Yosuke Yamashita is generally known for his piano playing and free jazz trio. This record takes him in a vastly different direction.

    The best way for me to describe what is going on here is, this music is like a soundtrack to a dream sequence. Starting with soundscapes Yosuke creating on a Fender Rhodes and percussion, making you feel uneasy on what is going to happen next. There is tension. Like walking in an unknown forest. You’re unsure what’s going to happen next.

    Then Yosuke begins a piano melody that repeats hypnotically. This is doubled up by the bass and lays the foundation of the side. It seems familiar, like on old friend. This part of the dream, you’ve conquered the forest and now you’re free in friendly pastures. Blue skies above. The horns and strings provide assurance that everything will be ok. And like a wonderful dream, the Japanese spoken word elements add to the weird and the wonderful. Flute and piano lines dazzle over the top of that assuring hypnotic melody. Just like fireworks across a night’s sky. The night is bright, and the feeling is euphoric.

    Then, the fireworks stop. Chorused guitars chords and sax solo take to the end of side one. Making you feel like you’ve had an amazing journey. You feel good but you know you’re only halfway there. Now you must find your way back home.

    Side two begins with washes of synth and guitar chords. Like 30’s jazz meets Tangerine Dream. This is the part of the dream where things start to get weird, disjointed. You’re completely unsure of what’s going on. There’s spoken word elements and free Avant Garde piano licks. It feels like you’re lost and you’re starting to worry. How DO you find your way home?

    A man whistles and he seems friendly. He’s playing the guitar chords your heard earlier. This provides security. But really, you don’t know what’s going on. Your head is turn left and right hearing different sounds and voices. Do you keep going? Or do you stop to wait it out?

    A baby crying and a sound of a bomb. Now you’re terrified. The dream has turned into a nightmare and you can’t wake up. Will this madness stop?

    Then you hear a child laugh and a synth line that’s leading the way home. There’s hope. You’re tired from the grueling journey but you know you can make it home.

    Off in the distance, you hear the familiar piano melody. You can see home. You’re not far now. The blue skies return, and your surroundings are what you know. You’re feeling good. Happy, safe. But you’ll never forget where you’ve been. This is a dream that will last with for some time. The journey of your mind, soul and spirit.

    Is this a jazz record? Maybe. But it’s jazz like you’ve never heard it. There are no “songs” on this record. There is no 4/4 drumbeat. There’s no familiarity of the standard “verse, chorus, verse. chorus”. The structure is free, experimental and avant-garde but tightly composed.

    Be warned, this music was made for the free spirited not for the faint of heart. You will either welcome this with arms wide open or say thanks but no thanks. It is for the person who likes to take life by the horns and ride whatever gets thrown at them. The journey taker.

    For me this record is ahead of its time. It’s timeless.

    Listen to Side A

    Listen to Side B

    Track listing

    A1           海 Umi  14:37
    A2           月 Tsuki                6:20
    B1           嵐 Arasi 11:30
    B2           家 Ie      7:02

     

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