TAKEHISA KOSUGI

One of those rare albums of a rather brilliant nature, 1975's 'Catch Wave' found the experimental Japanese electric-violinist Takehisa Kosugi going it alone after his five year stint as head of the similarly-intoned Taj Mahal Travellers. Nicely described by one critic as 'existensial drone music', Kosugi's work both with-and-without group has always been of a very spartan and experimental nature, and about as far from conventional forms of rock & pop as one can really get. A similar touchstone could be the synthesized soundscapes of Klaus Schulze's 1970's albums or the earlier electro- moans of Terry Riley and Steve Reich, yet somehow Kosugi transcends even these stylistic boundaries; truly, there is nothing quite like 'Catch Wave'. Rare is the album that simply cannot be stopped or paused, even for a miscrosecond, yet the quivering, rolling and vibrating strains of Kosugi's phaser-laced violins simply transfix you and take hold, drifting seamlessly along a single unbroken line for what seems like a blissful eternity. Very much like a certain psychotropic experience musicians and artists are known to enjoy, 'Catch Wave' is a pure and dramatic experience of a deeply transcendental nature. Quite extraordinary, utterly engrossing and all consuming. STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2013

Violins from outer space.

This solo album from Japanese psychedelic legend Takehisa Kosugi ( main member of Taj Mahal Travellers), is a very amazing psych gem that really needs more attention, as it is a excellent early Prog Electronic gem.

This album has two side long songs, both being experimental and very loose and droney. The first track is nothing more than a violin subjected to some electronic wizardry and a ever present background of a washing oscillator.

The next track followes the same formula, but with vocals added and subjected to the same treatment as the violin. The vocals ( if you can call them that ) I do not particularly care for and it is the only thing holding me back from being able to call this a masterpiece.

Highly recommended to people who like Psych.

Takehisa Kosugi - the main member of the mystical and psychedelic Taj Mahal Travellers came up with the goods big style on this release.

Kosugi formed the Japanese equivalent of the Fluxus movement in the early 60's with his 'Group Ongaku' and later went on to create one of my all time favourite bands 'The Taj Mahal Travellers' who would release three brilliant albums in the early 70's. Catch Wave delivers in a similar style.

This completely solo album continues his previous experiments with electronically processed violin using what I imagine must have been pretty expensive equipment back in'75. There are no drums, guitars or bass present, just a swirling melee of highly distorted strings and oscillators creating one of the most unique sounds I've heard.

Track two "Wave Code" introduces vocals into the equation, but they're no ordinary vocals - being subjected to the same incredible distortions as the violin.

Sounding like the best Kosmische Kraut and similar in some respects to Klaus Schulze's 'Irrlicht', only more refined, spacious and less claustrophobic. It's the kind of music you'd expect to hear on a planet orbiting Sirius.

An incredibly fresh sounding recording that hasn't dated one iota which is amazing considering it's now 36 years old.

Symphony from a beehive.

I'm really happy to present this artist to the archives because I consider him as one of the greatest in contemporary experimental electronic music. After being in touch with the fluxus movement during his early 60's years, Takehisa Kosugi formed the neo-shamanic pych-freafout droning ensemble Taj Mahall Travellers. Published in 1975 Catch Wave figures among his first solo efforts. The music delivers a rather a similar extatic musical voyage to Taj Mahall Travellers' esoteric improvisations but in this solo project, Kosugi focuses his interest on voluminous deep electronic textures. Different frequences and electronic tones accompany his ethereal, minimal amplified violin improvisations. The result is astonishing, a sonic poetry, constantly beautiful and beatific. The two epic performances published on Catch Wave represent cosmic- psychedelica at its best. Mano Dharma features magical, intergalactic, supernatural programming strings and buzzing spaced out drones. Put on a high volume and played on a good hi fi sound system, this composition will propulse you in an other galaxy. Wave Code takes back the same schema with the add of cosmic, mad-LSD voices and noises that finally progress into a ritual-like electronic amplified chant. A fantastic, attractive, abstract instrumental listening. Mesmerizing and so recommended.