Browse by Label: P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)

Artist:	MATSUTAKE, HIDEKI
Title:	Edo
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$26.00
Catalog #:	PCD 1452

"Two LP-side long freakouts from this YMO engineer fellow. First side starts out with a lovely komungo/koto solo before mixing in some Tomita/YMO-ish synth arpeggios, drift-wash, noises. Second half is similar, perhaps more on the electronics tip with some glossy whoosh, whuh, scchhhew. Some of this caps that whole BBC radiophonic workshop/Delia Derbyshire tangent quite fluidly. Make no mistakes about the electronics content being anything other than of the 'synthesizer' ilk. Enjoyable nonetheless. In, of, and about space." -- Hrvatski.

Artist:	TAJ MAHAL TRAVELLERS
Title:	August 1974
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$38.00
Catalog #:	PCD 1463/4

Repressed! Double CD reissue of the 2nd Taj Mahal Travellers album, originally issued by Japanese Columbia in 1974 as a 2LP set. Along with their debut album July 15th, 1972 (released by Japanese CBS in '72), these are some of the most hallowed and whispered about documents of the avant-garde artifact-era (a set of these on original LP would set you back $1000+ even 10-15 years ago & have very rarely been offered anywhere). Legendary higher-key improv-drone extravaganzas that more than live up to their reputation, this reissue is going to make a certain sector of underground society very happy. The group was led by the infamous Fluxus member Takehisa Kosugi (electric violin, harmonica, voice, etc.), with: Kyo Koike (electric double bass), suntool, voice, etc.), Yukio Tsuchiya (bass-tuba, percussion), Beiji Nagai (trumpet, synthesizer Mini-Korg, timpani), Tokio Hasegaw (voice, percussion), Kinji Hayashi (electronic technique), Hirokeszu Sato (percussion, voice). Recorded live at Nippon Columbia Studio #1, Tokyo, August 19, 1974. Four side-long improvisations."Places and times of the trip: coffee houses, small galleries of Tokyo. They perform also on lonely beaches at dawn or on deserted hills in the afternoon. Also in Sweden, India, Iran, and England. Wherever a power supply is available. 'This music is not rehearsed, it happens. Without written notes or oral instructions; without an ensemble leader, each one having his own discourse immediately integrated into a slow, irregular throbbing of complex sound waves. Sound waves surfing.' Verfremdung: instruments are amplified with delay through echo machines. Previously produced sounds delivered by distant loudspeakers have already become something beyond reach when heard. This feedback -- actually a time-space lag -- is the basis of their music. The instrument arsenal: a violin played with glissandi in the same manner as the Indian sitar, string bass, guitar, drums, harmonica, small synthesizers, santurs (Iranian dulcimer played with two spoon-shaped mallets), a shahnal (Indian oboe), voices (Japanese Buddhist chanting, harmonic singing such as LaMonte Young does or as heard in Stockhausen's 'Stimmung'). Amplifiers: a heterodyne (voltage controlled filters connected to infrasonic wave sources) which changes tone colors back and forth very slowly. Also, other rather primitive hand-made electronic devices. All these contribute to the everchanging diversity of the ensemble. Close your eyes, relax and musically receive passing clouds, breezes, surging waves. This music is slow as a Japanese tea ceremony and as peacefully full of cheer as ancient scroll paintings." --Yuji Takahashi.

Artist:	VA
Title:	Toshiba Express Singles
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$28.00
Catalog #:	PCD 1469

A great collection of singles tracks originally issued on Toshida Express in the early 70s. There is no English title or information anywhere on this CD, but the list of artists included is supposed to be: Kenji Endo (3 tracks), Jacks (2 tracks), Kazuki Tomokawa (2 tracks), Kazuki Tomokawa & Down Town Boogie Woogie Band (2 tracks), Anri & Moses Tarzan (2 tracks), Cosmos Factory (2 tracks), Chronicle, East, Mops (2 tracks), Akiyuki Nosaka (2 tracks), RC Succession.

Artist:	MIZUTANI, KIMIO
Title:	A Path Through Haze
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$29.00
Catalog #:	PCD 1584

Kimio Mizutani was the guitarist in the excellent Japanese freak out group Love Live Life +1 and this is a long-desired reissue of his first solo album from 1971, originally issued by Japanese Polydor. Mizutani plays electric and "folk" guitar, leading a largish rock ensemble (bass, drums, organ, Moog, vocals, etc.) through the paces of what is widely regarded as on the true psychedelic masterpieces of the early 70s Japanese scene. Sensitive interludes (with accompaniment by the Toyama String Quartet and Etoh Wood Quartet), tasteful nods to progressive/fusionist extension and lovely psych guitar hover by Mizutani dominate the proceedings. A nice merger of hard rock conceptualization and the complexities that would evolve from it -- and until now just about impossible to hear within the confines of Western society. Limited stock.

Artist:	DATE COURSE PENTAGON ROYAL GARDEN
Title:	Report From Iron Mountain
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$32.00
Catalog #:	PCD 18502

First full album from Date Course Pentagon Royal Garden. Their complete lineup is: Naruyoshi Kikuchi (VOX-Jagar, CD-J, keyboard), Yoshihide Otomo (guitar), Kohki Takai (guitar, filter), Yasuhiro Yoshigaki (drums), Nobuo Fujii (drums), Masaki Kurihara (bass), Kenta Tsugami (soprano sax) Yoshihiro Goseki (tenor sax), Masayasu Tzuboguchi (synthesizers, electric piano, clavinett), Gen Ohgimi (percussion), Masaki Yoshimi (tabla). Guest: Itoken (drums, tambourin).

Artist:	RANSOME-KUTI AND HIS KOOLA LOBITOS, FELA
Title:	Highlife-Jazz and Afro-Soul (1963-1969)
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	3CD
Price:	$50.00
Catalog #:	PCD 18511/3

Long awaited 3CD collection (39 tracks) of Fela's earliest material to be released. Nice 48 page booklet of photos and notes (Japanese/English). A bit of overlap with the '69 Los Angeles Sessions CD, but mostly previously unreleased and super rare tracks, packaged with love. "The release of this collection of Fela Ransome-Kuti's pre-Afrobeat music is a major event for fans of both Fela's music and African popular music in general. Many of these recordings(originally issued on European-based labels such as Decca, EMI, Phillips, and Parlophone, as well as Fela's own FRK label) were thought to be lost forever and certainly, were unknown to all but the most fervent Fela enthusiasts. And even these enthusiasts had to endure low fidelity tapes which had been copied over innumerable generations, from original recordings that were not themselves of the highest quality. What little has been known of Fela's highlife period has been largely due to the efforts of Mr. Benson Idonije, Fela's early manager and a long-time proponent of Fela's highlife music. These recordings now re-enter public circulation in much-improved sound quality, via the thankful efforts of the dedicated record collectors who have assembled this compilation. As an overview of a period when one of Africa's greatest musicians was attempting to find his own style, this comprehensive collection finally makes a crucial and fascinating chapter of Fela's career available to African music enthusiasts around the world." -- Michael Veal.

Artist:	3/3
Title:	3/3
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$38.00
Catalog #:	PCD 18516/7CD

Double CD reissue of this Japanese underground rock classic, exclusively available on P-vine. Originally released in Japan, 1975; reissued on LP on Shadoks in 2007. Disc 1 features the original 3/3 album (recorded 1974-5), plus 2 previously unpublished bonus tracks from the same timespan. Disc 2 features all previously unreleased live performances, recorded 1976-77 (all pre-Friction). Packaged in a gatefold mini-LP sleeve, with multiple inserts -- amazing package overall. "3/3 are Reck (guitar, vocals), Higo Hiroshi (bass) and Chiko Hige (drums). The name was inspired by a Japanese comic (4/4). In February 1975, 3/3 (Sanbun No San) released this album in a tiny pressing of 15 copies only to get a record deal. The cover was homemade and the recording sounds live but without audience. The music is ultra heavy guitar-dominated psychedelic rock like a mixture of Blue Cheer/Randy Holden/MC5 and early punk/new wave bands. The sound quality is mediocre but the music is a blaster. 3/3 has never released another recording. Both Reck and Hige then moved to New York where they stayed for over a year and played with James Chance & The Contortions, Lydia Lunch (Teenage Jesus & The Jerks) and others (No New York movement). They returned to Japan in 1978 to start a new group which became very famous: Friction. In 1979 Friction appeared on a compilation and in 1980 they recorded their first album. Friction released more than 10 albums in Japan. Friction has certainly had a heavy influence on the late 1970s Japanese punk and new wave scene. Reck is again active on the Tokyo scene and has teamed up with Haino Keiji and hardcore drummer Pill, with whom he performs under the name Head Rush. This album of 3/3 is the rarest underground album ever released in Japan." Number 43 in Japrocksampler's Top 50.

Artist:	AFRIRAMPO
Title:	Suuto Breakor
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$23.00
Catalog #:	PCD 22290CD

New album following up to their Tzadik CD, only released via P-Vine in Japan. "New studio recording; one 42 min. song 'Suuto Breakor' is recorded in full version." The official bio of Afrirampo is worth revisiting: "2 young Japanese girls rock duo from Osaka JAPAN! Naked rock!!!!! Naked soul!!! Red red strong red dress!! Freeeeeeeeedam paradice rock! Jump! With improvisation. Sooo fantastic & wild performance ! wowowowowowowowowwoooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They are star like shine flash, Interesting funny and sexy cute.... so real...Every body Smile."

Artist:	O'ROURKE, JIM
Title:	Tamper
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$23.00
Catalog #:	PCD 23008

These 2 early O'Rourke albums, originally issued by the Australian label Extreme (and out of print for the past few years) have now been reissued as Japanese imports on P-Vine, with cute new packaging. Evidently so much cigarette smoke has clouded Jim's interior thought process that he has allowed these early works to regain public consumption potentiality (the series subtitle, "Jim O'Rourke Old Series" might indicate even more will be on the way). Notoriously dismissive of his own work in the past, it's a nice gesture to see these on the shelves again. Because pleasure is what it's all about (even cigarettes can evidently provide pleasure), and these discs deliver it in pure, billowing form. Tamper was O'Rourke's first solo CD release (following the long neglected LP-only The Ground Below Above Our Heads on Entenpfuhl), originally released by Extreme in 1991. It features three longish compositions for small chamber groupings: "Spirits Never Forgive" (Warren Fischer: violins; O'Rourke: cello, percussion, electronics); "He Felt The Patient Memory of a Reluctant Sea" (Ken Novotny: clarinets; O'Rourke: oboe, percussion); "Ascend Through Unspoken Shadow" (Jeff Cortazzo: bass trombones; Fischer: violins; Dave Klingelhoffer: cellos; Novotny: bass clarinets; Sue Wolf: cellos). Although scored for mostly acoustic instruments ("Ascend..." is scored for 8 bass clarinets, 8 bass trombones, 8 cellos and 4 violins for example), electronic ambiance bursts forth via the dense mixing. Retrospectively impressive.

Artist:	VIRGIN INSANITY
Title:	Illusion of Maintenance Man
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$23.00
Catalog #:	PCD 23739

Japanese-only CD edition of the lone album (at the time) from 1971 by this TX group -- 200 copies pressed, recently reissued in very limited form on LP by Destijl. This P-Vine CD comes w/ 7 bonus tracks (from the same sessions?) released for the first time. Immaculate mini-LP jacket packaging, with booklet of liner notes (Japanese) and lyrics (English/Japanese). Heavy.
Destijl's description of the album: "Exact / legit repro of an unbelievably / unassumingly great / rare rec from TX, circa '71. 4 kids (one chick fatale) stoned / alone and aware of the big things. Tempted, yet devoted only to the shaft of light extending from the loin of god, on which we will all eventually sit, that slowly rises and lifts us towards the heavens... for the fan of gripped mind / dropped jaws, this is the regal beagle; austere / smart / aware vibes that slowly imply the king of American folk privates. It's connection within the deep tim'bre of the private / psych / folk family tree of references is hazy, but perhaps the dropped names of Arthur Lee Harper, Pete Fine, Fenner / Leland / O'Brien, Timmothy, the Bachs will work for the astute customer."

Artist:	VIRGIN INSANITY
Title:	Toad Frog & Fish Friends/The Odometer Suite
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$23.00
Catalog #:	PCD 23740

After releasing Illusion of Maintenance Man in 1971, Virgin Insanity evidently went on to record 2 more albums that never saw the light of day: Toad Frog & Fish Friends, also from 1971, and The Odometer Suite from 1973. This Japanese-only CD conveniently compiles the 2 together and throws on 2 bonus tracks of new 2005 recordings by the currently revitalized group. In a similar style to Illusion, but perhaps more freaked out, this is beautifully shambolic folk-rock from the edge of time, with parts of Toad Frog coming across like Texas' answer to the Godz. The Odometer Suite is a lot more '73 than '71 (guess that "makes sense") -- the naivete is a little wobbly for today's sophisticates. But the now easily achievable completeness that P-vine makes possible with these 2 CDs is hard to beat.

Artist:	LAS ROTURAS
Title:
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$18.00
Catalog #:	PCD 5109

Weird Latin-breaks and musical craziness from M.O.O.D.M.A.N. and the Los Apson crew. This movement remains quite unknown on a worldwide basis, but records like this and the incredible Killed By Bass CD (a recent M.O.O.D.M.A.N. "compilation" on P-Vine) are too devastatingly weird to remain out the hands of the curious for much longer. Described as "This is incredible break-beats album for listening & scratching, with many samplings of 50s -- 70s Latin stuff. Terribly wild but cool," this album reveals layers of inexplicable Japanese humor and sampling inertia at every corner. Extreme spinbacks, prismatic collage of disparate elements (jazz riffs, slow breaks, vibes distortion, numbingly tweaked weirdbeat electronics), and a unique death-mask editorial voice fuse this one into something far outside the typical exotic-mix fare.

Artist:	VA
Title:	[Invasion of the Dot Knights!]
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$18.00
Catalog #:	PCD 5361

"Japanese only CD-compilo of material released on Sweden's Dot label (highly lauded/touted full-spectrum 'lectronica, about as quality-control obsessed as a label can get), featuring recent tracks from Quant, Roupe, Friend & Doktor Kosmos (whose recent Cardigans-related 'Single of the Week' was re-ished stateside via Minty Fresh!), Hab, Star, Argonort, and Man-Q-Neon. Not to be confused with the original Swedish Dot comp The Knights Who Say Dot; only 1 track overlaps, the rest are vinyl-only single tracks on CD for the first time here, or previously unreleased altogether. Musically, we get 11 tracks of cosmo-funk synth-freak (heavy on the analogues), live-feel space-jungle, downtempo make-out breaks, etc..., all of which are soothingly non-offensive. Includes full Japanese-language bios of each artist and a Dot-ography of sorts. An ultimately pleasing offering, providing a graphically superior intro to this up-and-still-coming commune of obscuro-knob-twiddlers." --Hrvatski

Artist:	VA
Title:	Cheap. Have A Cigar, My Friend
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	PCD 5404

"Long overdue selection of vintage (1993-1998) wax-only madness from this Viennese recording society associated with producer Patrick Pulsinger (iO, Sluts & Strings, Showroom Recordings, etc...) & like minded buddies. Included here: 3 tracks from Showroom Recordings, 2 from Sokol, and one each from iO, Restaurant Trax, Reimann, Cube & Sphere (Potuznik & Hans 'H.P.' Platzgumer), LZ1, Robert Hood, Sluts 'n' Strings & 909, and Christopher Just. A loose selection featuring the more unorthodox electro-funk, midtempo feedback jazz, hi-squelch stereo, & phase-pan sessions pressed over the last five years." -- Hrvatski.

Artist:	VA
Title:	Cheap. Five Years In Satan's Ass
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	PCD 5405

"Second volume, focusing on the out-techno explosions most commonly associated with Cheap. Included here: 2 tracks each from Sluts 'n' Strings, Restaurant Tracks, Gerhard Potuznik (Mego/GiGuptight), iO (Mo' Wax), & one each from Kentolevi, Robert Hood, Lazer Musik & DJ SIL. S�hk�-obsessives beware: Not only do you get 1/2 of Mika Vainio's long o/p 'Kentolevi' EP, but 1/2 of Suzanne Brokesch's DJ SIL single as well, which floats around the same textures & sonics used on her classic 'Tal-S' release. Most tracks predate the current less-is-more fad (to greater effect) by some time. The perfect shallow-end for you to wade into the much deeper selection of non-information oriented vinyl singles from this massively influential label. Think big." -- Hrvatski.

Artist:	VA
Title:	Reel: Organised by Reel
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$20.00
Catalog #:	PCD 5410

Japanese-only compilation of tracks from the UK label Reel (offshoot of the now defunct Clear label). Proponents of a post-Detroit Intelligent House Music (IHM!), moody atmosphere, advanced non-4/4 programming and no divas allowed. Beautifully produced stuff. Features tracks from Daniel Ibbotson, Keisuke Nagao, B12 (Warp), C.S.M. (Serotonin's John Selway & Carlos Vasquez, plus a John Beltran remix), Deepart. The Nagao and B12 tracks are previously unreleased exclusives; the C.S.M. and Deepart tracks are previously only available on Reel 12"'s. The Daniel Ibbotson tracks are taken from his now deleted (?) New Stories full length on Reel (his debut album, predating the recent Streamlines on Glasgow Underground).

Artist:	AUNT SALLY
Title:	Live 1978-1979
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$23.00
Catalog #:	PCD 5629

Aunt Sally was Phew's first group; their debut album was released by the famous underground electronics label, Vanity Records in 1978. Aunt Sally were the proto No Wave band of Tokyo alongside Reck's Friction, but generally unknown outside of Japan due to the non-distribution of Vanity releases. After the one AS album, Phew went on to record a single with Ryuichi Sakamoto and a couple of LPs of iced-out depression that were later issued by the DSA label for Western consumption (her classic solo debut, Phew was recorded with Conny Plank, Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit). This previously unreleased live album features some totally nuts and freaked out lo-fi mania. The cover segue-way 'Blitzkreig Bop' into 'My Generation' would surely win some kind of no-wave irony award if anyone was keeping tabs (I won't even mention the opening track, a cover of "Mony, Mony"). Frantic, swirling organ, tattered drumming, shrieking vocals from Phew, more punk than DNA, but you can only expect so much.

Artist:	VA
Title:	Weather
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$32.00
Catalog #:	PCD 5649/50

"Collection of erstwhile (Chicago ca. 1998) in form, yet modern in presentation Japanese artists running amok amidst the presence of scenester Atsushi Sasaki (Headz/Fader magazine, also he of the late/lamented Meme label). Two themed disc-selections, one all-instrumental (Songs, mostly Gastr-Del-Tortoise leaning ensembles), one vocal groups (Voices, ditto, far more mainstream J-Pop sensibilities, Stereolab). Standouts: Potoratch's short vocal & drum plunderphonic etude, Minamo's drone followed by imperceptible clicking fading up into punch-in/out edits, GROUP's extended guitar and electronics rustler, Tujiko Noriko's (Mego connection, pay attention...) pained laptop-concr�te warbler. Curious mix of straight up live-band dynamics and newfound experimental technological interventions and avenues (VST Plugins, seemingly everywhere, live to glass recording methods, software compression/maximization). It's your duty to listen now, for the future. Soft, mostly." -- Hrvatski.

Artist:	WORLD STANDARD + KAMA AINA
Title:	Futari: Anthology Of Barbarian Folk Music
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	PCD 5664

"Futari is a serial collaboration project of Soichiro Suzuki(a.k.a.World Standard) In that project , he's going to collaborate with friends who are engrossed in music deeply. They spent more time than ordinary collaboration work. They make music by exchanging sound data and e-mails without meeting. The chemistry of them produces something new. It will be quite different from their past works. The 2nd release of the project is with Kama Aina (Aoyagi Takuji)." Thematic packaging that is similar to the 333 004 release (Futari: Graceful Silence).

Artist:	KOSUGI, TAKEHISA
Title:	Violin Solo 1980 N.Y.C.
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$23.00
Catalog #:	PCD 5765

A previously unreleased solo violin performance by the founder of the Taj Mahal Travellers and legendary Fluxus conceptualist. Active since the 1960s, Kosugi has more recently served as the music director for the Merce Cunningham Dance Troupe. He is currently involved with the composing and performance of impromptu music and electronic multimedia music. To be brief, Kosugi is one of the most important and influential Japanese experimental avant-gardists, alongside the likes of Yasunao Tone, Toshi Ichiyanagi & Yuji Takahashi. This album was recorded by Kazunori Sugiyama, 6/22/80, in NYC, and features a breathtakingly live solo violin performance.

Artist:	NAGISA NI TE
Title:	On The Love Beach
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	PCD 5810

"Reissues of the three Nagisa Ni Te albums originally released on the Osaka-based, barely distributed Org label. Org are probably best known for the monumental Return To Rock Mass 3CD by primitive mystics Maher Shalal Hash Baz, portions of which were reissued in a more user-friendly form on the recent Geographic retrospective, From A Summer To Another Summer (An Egypt To Another Egypt). But delving deeper into the Org label can turn up a clutch of other lo-fi psych-pop gems. Perhaps chief amongst them are the albums by label head Shinji Shibayama. Shibayama has been a mysteriously central figure in the Kansai psych underground since the '80s, showing up a clutch of barely documented units like Idiot O'Clock, Yakeppachi no Maria, Hallelujahs (whose sole album of misty folk-psych was the first release on Org and was later reissued by PSF), Love Beach, Cold Breath (in the rain) Rock n Roll Band, and probably several more. Nagisa Ni Te is his crowning moment, though. Their three albums are wide-eyed and wonderful paeans to the delights of love and togetherness (the group's core is Shibayama and his partner-muse Masako Takeda) that seem permeated on some cellular level with a power to invoke memory. Dreamily recollected feelings of wistful regret at the end of the summer holidays, unforgettable reveries, and joyful instances of boy-girl oneness when time seems to stop. Moments of childlike wonder-melody are wrapped up in arrangements that are at once spontaneous and perfectly realised. Honesty and direct simplicity are the keynotes, songs sometimes trembling on that ever so fine edge between profundity and profound embarrassment as songs are stripped back to the bare bones of punk emotiveness. At times, Shinji and Masako's vocals crack and tremble, the acoustic strumming falters, and they seem on the verge of plummeting into an abyss of abject amateur ineptitude, borne up merely by the thinnest layer of conviction and deep truth. It would be a mistake, however, to try to rank Nagisa Ni Te with the (perceived) innocence of your Shonen Knifes. While they do aim to evoke childhood experience and response, this is a deliberate attempt to create a simpler personal world, one that finds its own values far from the everyday realities of life in an Osaka suburb. Furthermore, the pop sensibility that informs the group's music is one that has drunk deep on Tims Hardin and Buckley, the Velvets, Kevin Ayers, Leonard Cohen, Peter Ivers, Anthony Moore, Fujio Yamaguchi -- wherever blinding instants of musical epiphany have seized the quiet soul, Nagisa Ni Te have followed. In a way, their exploration of emotions and everyday satoris are as single-minded as Merzbow's is of noise, or Haino's is of mystery. Each of their albums has something unique to recommend it. The debut, On The Love Beach, is essentially a Shibayama solo album, with overdubbed contributions from a clutch of friends, including Chie Mukai, Kenichi 'Idiot' Takayama, early Hijokaidan member Naoki Zushi, Maher-ists Tori Kudo and Hiro Nakazaki, and drummer Ikuro Takahashi. On the original Org release, Masako was credited with (no sniggering at the back) 'wind' throughout. It's perhaps the most pop of the three releases, focusing as it does on Shibayama's vocals. The way the rhythm slows for an instant before the closing fuzz guitar solo on the title track still raises chills no matter how many times I hear it." --Alan Cummings/Oppobrium. Originally issued as ORG-007 in Nov. 1995.

Artist:	GOLDEN CUPS
Title:	The Golden Cups
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	10CD BOX
Price:	$265.00
Catalog #:	PCD 7229/38

Includes every album released by The Golden Cups: The Golden Cups Album(1968), The Golden Cups Vol. 2(1968), The Golden Cups Album Vol.3: Blues Message(1969), Super Live Session(1969), Recital(1969), Return of the Golden Cups 8(1971), Live Album(1971), Single Collection, Powerhouse, and Hello Party. "In 1966 the cosmopolitan port town of Yokohama proved the perfect breeding ground for the new Group Sounds. Just as in Liverpool and Hamburg, the local kids were exposed to a wealth of foreign culture not readily available to the typical Japanese teen. Kids with friends from the base got to watch shows like American Bandstand, while the chances of their less-fortunate peers catching British or American bands on Japanese TV shows were next to nil. Yokohama had its' own exotic culture, and it was there that, in December, the Golden Cups were born. Initially using the name Group and I, they became the house band at the Golden Cup discotheque near the Honmoku army base. Their clientele was made up mainly of GI's, and their set list entirely of covers: 'One More Time'(Them), 'Evil Woman'(Canned Heat), 'Gloria', 'Stroll On', 'I Got My Mojo Workin'' (their opening tune), 'I Feel Good' (James Brown), 'Work Song' (Paul Butterfield Blues Band), etc. Sadly no recorded document of this period survives. 1967 also saw the Cups hit the road, if only for a short distance, for an important stand at la Seine, a popular Jazz Kissa (or Jazz Tea Room) in Tokyo. The band had something of a split personality live, depending on where they were playing. If they were at a club or Jazz Kissa, they'd play their fave tunes and put on a wild show; but if they were giving a 'recital' at a large concert hall, they were forced to perform their dull commercial material, often with an orchestra for accompaniment. The Cups gave their final concert on New Year's Eve, 1972 in an Okinawa discotheque. Just as at the beginning of their career, the audience was mainly American GI's. Since it was their last show, the band played their big hit 'Nagai Kami no Shoujo', but no one in the audience recognized it. It was at this point that Jorge Yanagi noticed a strange smell, and, opening the curtain behind the drum kit, discovered the building was on fire! The Cups yelled 'Fire! Fire!' in an effort to clear the room, but many in the drunken crowd thought they were introducing the next song, and called for them to start playing again! Eventually everyone got out, but the Cups had lost all of their instruments, and weren't even paid what they were guaranteed for the show. A sad end for one of Japan's most important GS bands." Each CD comes as a digipak with original artwork. Box also includes a 152 page booklet.

Artist:	BONNIE 'PRINCE' BILLY
Title:	Wilding In The West
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$23.00
Catalog #:	PCD 93080

"Wilding In The West is a Japanese exclusive live album featuring Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and his band. It is the second live album of Prince's career following 2006's Summer in the Southeast. The album was recorded in central coastal California by Paul Oldham and features three new songs co-written with Neil Michael Hagerty. The band includes Bonnie regulars, Dawn McCarthy, Emmett Kelly, Aram Stith, Azita & Will & Paul Oldham."

Artist:	FRICTION
Title:	'79 Live
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD/DVD
Price:	$31.00
Catalog #:	SSAP 001/2CD

New series of reissues and archive vault material from Pass Records, licensed to P-vine. Pass was the quintessential Japanese no-wave/art-punk label of the late 70s, although they only released a handful of items (best know for Friction and Phew). This Friction CD/DVD is a new archival release, issued for the first time. The CD is live material from 1979, recorded live at Taku-Taku, 12/16/79. 10 tracks, 3 of which are not from their first LP. The DVD features Friction filmed live, from 1979, plus an 8mm movie by Reck and Mogi Emiko, simply called 1979-80 8mm Film. Dedicated to Sam Fuller.

Artist:	FRICTION
Title:	Friction
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$23.00
Catalog #:	SSAP 003CD

Deluxe reissue, packaged in mini-LP jacket sleeve. This is the second Japanese-only reissue of the debut self-titled Friction album, originally issued by Pass in 1980. Friction was the trio of: Reck, Tsunematsu Masatoshi & Chico Hige. Bassist Reck had resided in NYC in the late '70s and played with James Chance and the Contortions as well as Lydia Lunch in the No Wave heyday. Friction was the band he formed upon returning to Japan in 1978. The band continued to exist for the better part of two decades and eventually issued a domestic album on Tzadik in 1999 (Zone Tripper), but this heavily charged debut (aggressive rock/punk, informed by No Wave and Japanese noir aesthetics) was their defining moment. Considered the most legendary underground Japanese group of the time (their albums were at least barely available in the US, unlike the earliest efforts from Keiji Haino or the Alchemy label), now reissued for the second time in equally definitive fashion.

Artist:	VA
Title:	Pass No Past - EPs & Singles
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$31.00
Catalog #:	SSAP 004/5CD

Artists: Friction, Tsunematsu Masatoshi, Phew, Boys Boys, Totsuzen Danball, Gunjogacrayon, E.D.P.S. (aka Tsunematsu). Pretty impressive double CD from Pass records vaults, including all of their original 7" 1& 12" EP material, plus a previously unreleased track by Tsunematsu Masatoshi (who was the guitarist/leader of Friction along w/ Reck). The first two Friction singles are featured, including non-LP b-sides -- never seen records from the collector scum pantheon. The Phew material is her famous duo work with Ryuichi Sakamoto, from 1980. Totsuzen Danball later, somewhat famously, recorded an album with Lol Coxhill. All material here from 1979-82. With two booklets which feature large repros of all covers and other related flyers, etc.

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Artist:	X-ECUTIONERS
Title:	Japan X-Clusive
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	PCD 5349

Artist:	CURTIS & SAMURAI, MIKI
Title:	Samurai
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$25.00
Catalog #:	PCD 1599

Artist:	YOSHIHIDE/BILL LASWELL/YOSHIGAKI YASUHIRO, OTOMO
Title:	Soup Live
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$40.00
Catalog #:	PCD 18509/10

Artist:	SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA
Title:	Live At Montreux
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$35.00
Catalog #:	PCD 22032/3

Artist:	CYNE
Title:	Collection 1999-2003
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	PCD 23369

Artist:	RANELIN, PHIL
Title:	Sounds From The Village -- Phil Ranelin Anthology
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$23.00
Catalog #:	PCD 23555

Artist:	HARRISON, WENDELL
Title:	Reawakening: Wendell Harrison Anthology
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$23.00
Catalog #:	PCD 23556

Artist:	SANGATSU
Title:	Remixes Vol. 1
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.00
Catalog #:	PCD 4207

Artist:	WORLD STANDARD & WECHSEL GARLAND
Title:	The Isle
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	PCD 5696

Artist:	YAMAMOTO, SEIICHI
Title:	Crown of Fuzzy Groove
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$23.00
Catalog #:	PCD 5838

Artist:	GOLDEN CUPS/MOPS/HAPPENING FOUR
Title:	Rock'N'Roll Jam'70
Label:	P-VINE RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$40.00
Catalog #:	PCD 7228/9