UK Psychedelia Discussion Forum
Regal Zonophone 2
HARUMI was the name of a Japanese guy who went to the USA and released a self titled double LP produced by Tom Wilson (Velvet Underground / Simon and Garfunkel) and this LP is well worth hearing. It is art meets pop. There is plenty of phasing and kitchen sink production with instruments both conventional and exotic. Most of the songs have a pop sheen, and he really did have a good ear for a pop tune. The pop tunes filled up one LP and the second LP had two long trace inducing pieces of music taking a side each. The first of these, "Twice Told Tales of the Pomegranate Forest" is a largely sparse spoken word piece and bored the pants off me, however the last one has a bit of drive to it, quite exotic in places and far better. It is like a collision of art rock and Japanese classical music, all with a trippy commentary. However it is the short songs that would appeal to the fans of pop psych, and there is plenty to like here. Most of the lyrics are in English and very accessible. My favourites would include the "Sugar in Your Tea" which is both poppy and hypnotic as it draws you in with his spaced out phased vocals. “Hunters of Heaven” which is a fabulous swirl of strings, horns organs and whatever else he could find all over a increscent beat which only gives way at the end. “Fire by the river” with its combination of a traditional guitar driven pop song and trippy vibraphone effects plus Harumi’s ethereal vocals. And there is the pretty “First Impressions” with its baroque instrumental break in the middle. I mean Gosh. There’s a bit of something for everyone. This is without a doubt (to my mind) the best Japanese psych LP out there.
Next is Kiyoko Itohs “Woman at 24 hour love in”(1970) which could be described as more lounge than psych, but has a few moments of real beauty. Its like a recording of a French chanteuse. It can be hard to refer to individual tracks as the japanese symbols don’t replicate well. It's pretty melancholic, and very atmospheric. There are a few upbeat songs- the first (translated as Be Dangerous or – the 4th track ) is the highlight of the LP. As the piano tinkles and the woodwinds trill – the one moment that recorders sound good, she sounds alluring,as if drawing you into the trap she has set. A fine moment. This leads into the most upbeat song on the LP (When I Walk in the Town ) which is confident but not nearly as exquisite as the previous song. Much of the rest of the LP is slow and atmospheric, never dreary but some could be described as lacklustre. But for every low point there is something that embraces you with its loveliness. Perhaps the best of the slower songs is the song Event. Nestled between the slow and the (almost) quick is the third last track (the Mad Woman) which starts off quietly and seductively only to end in… well… madness. Another favorite.
Not a album for many of you here, but if you love the delicate psychedelic female singing, it’s worth a look.
Hi BR - I've known the Haromi album for a long time and I fully agree with you. It could have just been a single album really it's good pop sike and groovy pop. I think it has been reissued as a 2 x LP not that long ago and no dount on CD. It's a beautiul portrait sleeve as well. I've not heard of Kiyoko Itohs “Woman at 24 hour love in” but it sounds like an album I'd enjoy, so must look that one up. Thanks for taking the time to write these up.
Paul
Hi Daniel,thanks for sharing your thoughts ,i am with everyone else on this, Harumi is indeed a good record and i cant really add anything as your description is spot on.I also have the East album on cd,but i must admit its been donkey years since i played it,so i'll be giving that a spin today,thanks Paul C!!
Thanks for that comment. East is probably the only other one that I can think of - at least in that era. When they get that rare it would be a small group indeed.