Fushitsusha was formed in 1978 by Keiji Haino, and played live shows for a decade before putting this behemoth of a double live album out in 1989. Some research puts the date of these recordings from 1978, and that they’re from two separate shows, but I can’t find anything concrete about the date. What is concrete is the breadth, the noise, the aura of darkness with bright spots of light. The first recording is a steady backbeated blues romp while Keiji Haino plays harmonica, stopping to moan mournful moans and play conventional solos. The second track gives us much less conventional playing before Haino starts in on the angry shouting. Track 3 is a perfectly restrained ballad, the guitar parts reminiscent of Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s Antenna’s To Heaven side. A far cry to the preceding anger, just deep sadness, perhaps even contentment. Track 4 is again restrained, but moving along more quickly as Haino’s vocals dance between croons, and anger. It builds up and up to something, but denies the climax. Disc 2’s first track is the most uplifting song on the album. A welcome break from the mood shifts of the previous 40 minutes. Triumphant sounding, strange to hear that kind of sound on this kind of release. But that goes away fast with disc 2’s second track. Not quite back into the mud completely, but we’re getting there. Disc 2’s third track is a journey through space, Fushitsusha continually showing their ability to change their sound easily. The concluding 26 minute monster immediately gives a foreboding sound. Something coming. But by 2 minutes and 40 seconds this quickly goes away as Haino begins his moans, Muryama and Akui playing wonderfully off each other. This track shows their mastery of the quieter, more abstract playing, allowing Haino to take center stage. The track builds back up slowly between the disconnected drumming and guitar playing, begining to sound a bit triumphant again. It dissipates before it can reach the heights of the first track on disc 2. A wonderful ending. Seijiro Muryama – drums Akui – drums Yasushi Ozawa – bass Maki Miura – guitar Keiji Haino – guitar, harmonica
