Rough Guide to Avant-Garde Japan

Defining exactly what is or is not ‘avant-garde’ music is an impossible task, with not even close to a consensus among either musicians or fans. The wildly diverse and, at times, incredibly extreme world of experimental music in Japan is equally hard to pin down, so although I would inevitably question a few of the inclusions on this set, it’s mostly a fine introduction to a world of music in Japan many people will not be aware of.

In addition to more internationally successful performers such as koto magician Michiyo Yagi, playful ‘jazz’ band Shibusashirazu (in English ‘Never be Cool’), and Okinawan sanshin player and vocalist Mutsumi Aragaki, this volume also introduces some musicians certainly unknown outside Japan. I doubt Cockroach Eater have played many gigs overseas, but their appealing electronic groove mixes nicely with acoustic instruments and theatrical vocals. Best of all is ‘fPB’, an epic 11-minute tribute to French composer Pierre Boulez by tsuMGuito, a guitar/koto duo who present something extremely fresh, ambient and a bit spooky. Unfortunately some easily avoidable factual errors are included in the notes, most notably not clearly stating that Michiyo Yagi in fact plays a 17-string ‘bass’ koto on the selected track ‘Rouge’. This is a 20th-century instrument that sounds nothing like the 1,200-year-old, 13-string koto traditionally played by the aristocratic classes. Let’s hope for better quality control on the follow-up!