SATORI

FLOWER TRAVELLIN' BAND is a Japanese heavy psych band from Tokyo that were connected to the counterculture movement. SATORI is their second album but the their first to contain all original material. Despite not selling very many albums in their day the group gained a large cult following over the decades mostly due to this album which blends a mix of Black Sabbath inspired doom metal with the fuzz guitar of Blue Cheer and some Hendrix sounding guitar riffs and leads. That describes the tones and inspirations for the parts but the sum of the parts that creates the music itself reminds me more of Krautrock guitar oriented jams. This early mix of metal with progressive and psychedelic rock is a real treat because it is simultaneously rockin', bluesy, spacey and tripped-out.

The thing that really stands out is that FTB seemed obsessed with everything Western and incorporated few Japanese sounds into their mix. The only thing I can discern is the occasional gong and a few scales that sound Eastern-tinged at times. For the most part this will remind you of the 60s drugged out hippie bands that emerged from the LSD culture. There are monotonous bass riffs, tripped-out echoed guitars and full-on freakouts but the sound is heavy and the contrast between the hard rock and the psychedelic ways in which they play it is what makes this sound so different from everyone else of the day. I agree with the hype surrounding this album but it falls short of a long lost masterpiece for me however it is a very well played album that will keep your interest throughout its entire run.