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HERETIC

Progressive Electronic • Japan


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Heretic picture
Heretic biography
From 1980 to 1982, Hiro KAWAHARA formed OSIRIS, who were influenced by the likes of ASTRAL TEMPEL, DR.JEKYLL AND MR.HYDE, with a Krautrock sound, and mainly released cassette tapes. OSIRIS released the album 'In The Mist Of Time', assisted by Fools Mate magazine.

In 1984, Hiro KAWAHARA, Thoru OHTA, and Takurou MORIYAMA formed HERETIC and released their debut album, 'Interface'. This was followed up in 1988 by ?Escape Sequence? which was released by Belle Antique and included Yozox YAMAMOTO and Taiqui TOMIIE from AIN SOPH.

In 1994, a compilation album from previous two albums was released by Belle Antique, which was followed by recording works using MIDI, and various software in Hiro KAWAHARA's personal studio. In 1996 there was a limited pre-lease demo, ?Past In Future?, which was followed up by 'Yayoi Dream' and 'Drugging For M', all on Belle Antique. In 1998 there were individual collaborations with German musicians Peter FROHMADER and Steve BALTES (ASHRA), while in 2000 Kawahara had exclusive audio parts on Eurock's CD-ROM, 'The Golden Age', which included his final recording track as Heretic in 1999.

In 2010, Eurock (USA) released a HERETIC and pre-HERETIC compilation called 'Requiem' as Eurock's final CD. Then in 2023, all of Hiro KAWAHARA's past and unreleased works have been digitally released by Cuneiform Records.

HERETIC Videos (YouTube and more)


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HERETIC discography


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HERETIC top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

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Interface
1985
4.00 | 1 ratings
Escape Sequence
1988
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Yayoi Dream
1996
0.00 | 0 ratings
Drugging For M
1997

HERETIC Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

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Live - Kyoto '85 and Tokyo '88
2023

HERETIC Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

HERETIC Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

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1984-1988
1994
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Requiem
2010
4.00 | 2 ratings
Complete Works
2023

HERETIC Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

0.00 | 0 ratings
Past in Future
1996

HERETIC Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Complete Works by HERETIC album cover Boxset/Compilation, 2023
4.00 | 2 ratings

BUY
Complete Works
Heretic Progressive Electronic

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

4 stars Hiro Kawahara is a Japanese experimental musician who has been releasing material under his own name or using the band name Heretic for more than 30 years. There have been times when Heretic have been a proper band, or Hiro and guests, or others when he has been the only member but always with the same aim of taking influences from the likes of Heldon (in particular) and Tangerine Dream and imbibing them with Japanese hints and nuances to create something which is challenging and confronting all at the same time. This compilation has been put together in album sequence, but many of these have additional tracks so the complete set is 62 tracks with a total running time of more than 13 hours. Yes, you read that correctly, 13 hours 36 minutes to be precise and I played it through twice before I started to understand what was going on.

This is not music which is easy to listen to or comprehend, and it would be very easy indeed to discard it as the noodlings of someone sat in a studio with little else to do and no interest in the rest of the world. However, if one is prepared to spend the time really listening to what is going on then one will find a great deal in here to discover and enjoy. It is not meant to be something to settle back with and relax, but is designed to have the listener work hard ' not all art is meant to be easy, and sometimes it is the extra effort which gives the greatest rewards. This is music which must be played on headphones and one needs to really listen and pay attention, as this is angular and sharp, never settling and there is a danger of missing what is going on. It is a lot to take in but I am sure I would never have got inside and appreciated this nearly as much if I had just played the odd track (which are often 30 minutes in length) or bits of albums. Cuneiform have somewhat hedged their bets on this one as while it is possible to purchase this as 'Complete Works' they have also made the individual albums available as well. However, given the complete set is only $75, if this style of music is of interest then I would just jump on and get this as not only is it the best value for money it is certainly the best way to understand Hiro.

Not for the fainthearted, this is yet another essential extended set from Cuneiform Records.

Thanks to kev rowland for the artist addition.

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