Ground Zero

I was hoping for some friendly discussion on one of the best groups to come out of the Japanese avant scene, or in my eyes one of the all time greats. Disbanding in 1999, 2007 sees the release of a new live album from 1992 on doubt music:

"This CD includes unissued live performances and studio recordings (12, 13) right after Otomo formed GROUND-ZERO. This happened before the release of their first album, called "Ground-Zero" (God Mountain). Their playing is in the rough and sound quality is not quite best, but this materials should be kept a record of their intence performances of earlier GROUND-ZERO for future ages. This is remembrance of fresh / poisonous earlier GROUND-ZERO after interval of 15 years."

http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2668

Recommended albums:

Play Standards and Consume Red. For and amazing live version of Consume Red check out Last Concert.

For some reason, Ground Zero really do seem to get over looked on prog sites, while gaining quite a large audiences in more abstract realms of music. But this doesn't mean they are unaccessible, far from it, I think it is because Otomo is so popular in other areas.

Null & Void also a very good album, I would rank it as one their best second tier albums. So somewhere between 3.5 - 4 stars. Its sounds is quite similar to Play Standards, some rank those two albums on level grounds, I think it all comes down to personally preferences. For me Play Standards is one of those special albums which keeps finds its way back in my player and still sounding fresh each time.

I still have not heard Conflagration, Consummation, the two versions of Revolutionary Pekinese Opera (which are supposed to be very good) and the new live album. So I have my own holes to fill in.

I own all albums except Revolutionary ~ ver.1.28 and Live 1992 +.

My favorite album is Kakumeikyogeki (original). This album was released on only 1200 copies, so it was soon (within 1 year) sold out from the market. I hear ver.1.28 includes one more track from the original. But I see track titles are very different each other .... 

honganji wrote: My favorite album is Kakumeikyogeki (original). This album was released on only 1200 copies, so it was soon (within 1 year) sold out from the market. I hear ver.1.28 includes one more track from the original. But I see track titles are very different each other ....

This explains quite a bit to me, I have been wondering why I was having such a hard time tracking down the original disc. But from your opinions looks like I will hunting around some more.

bj, try going with Play Standards next, I think this one will be right up your ally. Some very good sampling on that one.