the of mirror eye

* Les Rallizes Denudes: 1-02 (unknown) (17 mb) | 2-02 (unknown) (12 mb)
From le 12 mars 1977 a Tachikawa : Over Level : OVER 001CD

For almost 30 years this band, Les Rallizes Denudes, has made so many anti-career moves and stayed so far underground that it’s amazing that they lasted for any length of time at all. The entire band is shrouded in mystery, with precious little out there in the way of articles, proper recordings or interviews. Here’s what is known about them: They were formed in 1967 as a protest to the politics and the polished pop music of the time. And that the key member of the group is guitarist/vocalist Takashi Mizutani. And that’s about it.

Although the ultra-mysterious and rumour-cloaked Les Rallizes Denudes/Hadaka no Rallizes existed in various forms from November 1967 to their last gig in October 1996 they are practically unknown in - let alone out of - Japan. Their recorded output is incredibly rare and highly priced and interviews or articles in the music press virtually non-existent. Tie that in with links to radical left-wing politics, extreme sensory assault at live shows and a general revolutionary aura and you have what must be the ultimate cult group.

(from Noise: NZ/Japan)

But then there’s this record. This double cd’s worth of music that probably tops the lists of my favorite records of all time. It’s a music filled with extreme feedback/distortion/fuzz and incredibly simple song structures. The musicians take their time and let things unfold naturally. Their playing is somewhat rudimentary (the bass player somehow manages to mess up a three note bass line!) but that’s totally besides the point. Les Rallizes Denudes are more about feeling and the physical sensation that their music produces.

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*note* I apologize to those with slow connections for the size of these songs and the Mainliner one, but sometimes that’s just how the cookie crumbles. Hopefully it’s not too much trouble to get these downloaded.