Kirikyogen
Kirikyogen (Japanese: 切狂言, Hepburn: Kirikyōgen) is a 1970 album by Japanese musician Kuni Kawachi and the Flower Travellin' Band.[1] It was originally credited to "Kuni Kawachi and his Friends" (クニ河内とかれのともだち, Kuni Kawachi to Kare no Tomodachi) when initially released. The album showcases Kuni Kawachi's progressive rock influences, as well as the growing heavy metal sound that the Flower Travellin' Band were honing.
Kirikyogen | |
---|---|
Studio album by Kuni Kawachi and the Flower Travellin' Band | |
Released | 1970 |
Recorded | 1970 |
Genre | Progressive rock, psychedelic rock, heavy metal |
Length | 36:47 |
Label | London/King |
Overview
It is the first album released by Kuni Kawachi after leaving the group sounds band the Happenings Four.[2] Although sometimes co-credited to the Flower Travellin' Band, only vocalist Joe Yamanaka and guitarist Hideki Ishima took part in the album. It was recorded between Anywhere and Satori, before the band went to Canada.[3] Ishima later recalled that this was the first time he heard Yamanaka sing in Japanese; an experience he referred to as "strange."[4]
In 1971, the song "Works Composed Mainly by Humans" was reworked, renamed "Map" and released as a split single by Flower Travellin' Band without Kawachi, together with the song "Machine Gun Kelly" by American band Jo Mama.[2]
Kirikyogen was later released on CD by King Records.[1] In 2002 it was bootlegged under the name Music Composed Mainly By Humans,[2] which replaced "To Your World" with the live track "I'm Dead" and renamed "Classroom for Women" to simply "Classroom".[5] This bootleg also included "Map", as previously released by Flower Travellin' Band, instead of the original song "Works Composed Mainly by Humans".
Reception
Hernan M. Campbell of Sputnikmusic wrote that with this album the Flower Travellin' Band began "cultivating a heavily dissonant guitar style that emphasized on a low-tuned sound and slower tempos, thus giving their music a more menacing characteristic." Together with Satori, he cited Kirikyogen as playing a part in the creation of doom metal.[6]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Kirikyogen" (Kirikyōgen (Shibaigoya no Mei Yakusha) (切狂言(芝居小屋の名役者))) | 5:09 |
2. | "Works Composed Mainly by Humans" (Ningen Shutai no Keiei to Kōji (人間主体の経営と工事)) | 5:46 |
3. | "Time Machine" (Taimu Mashīn (タイム・マシーン)) | 7:48 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
4. | "To Your World..." (Omae no Sekai e...... (おまえの世界へ......)) | 6:33 |
5. | "Graveyard of Love" (Ren Ai Bochi (恋愛墓地)) | 4:11 |
6. | "Classroom for Women" (Onna no Kyōshitsu (女の教室)) | 3:26 |
7. | "Scientific Investigation" (Otoko Kara Onna o Mita Kagaku-teki Chōsa (男から女を見た科学的調査)) | 3:54 |
Credits
- Kuni Kawachi - keyboards
- Akira "Joe" Yamanaka - vocals
- Hideki Ishima - guitars
- Pepe Yoshihiro - bass
- Chito Kawachi - drums
- Yuya Uchida - producer
References
- "Kuni Kawachi & Flower Travelling Band* - Kirikyogen [切狂言] (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
- "切狂言 (Kirikyogen)". jrawk.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
- "We just stopped, took a break. It turned out to be for 36 years!". jrawk.com. Archived from the original on 2009-01-01. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
- "Flower Travellin' Band interview with Hideki Ishima". psychedelicbaby.blogspot.com. 2011-09-12. Retrieved 2016-03-18.
- "Flower Travellin' Band - Music Composed Mainly By Humans (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
- "Review: Flower Travellin Band - Satori". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on 2013-06-22. Retrieved 2016-02-06.