Japanese Psychedelic Rock of the 70s

A look at the history and sounds of Japanese Psychedelic Rock of the 70s.

Introduction

If the 1960s were a golden age for psychedelic rock in the Western world, then the 1970s were its experimental heyday in Japan. Drawing inspiration from groups like the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Cream, a wave of Japanese bands began to explore the outer limits of rock music, pushing the boundaries of what was possible with electric guitars, bass, and drums.

Many of these bands combined elements of psychedelia with other genres like Krautrock, prog rock, and even traditional Japanese music to create something wholly unique. The results were often mind-bendingly brilliant—and occasionally completely bonkers. Here are 10 essential Japanese psychedelic albums from the 1970s.

History

Japanese psychedelic rock is a subgenre of psychedelic rock that originated in the late 1960s with the musical experimentation of Japanese rock bands such as Les Rallizes Dénudés and Colour Haze. The style is distinguished from Western psychedelic rock by its incorporation of Japanese musical influences and Instrumentation, such as the use of the sitar, taishōgoto, and the incorporation of elements from traditional Japanese music.

60s Japanese Rock

The birth of Japanese Psychedelic Rock is often marked by the release of the album “Aakhda” by the band Les Rallizes Denudes in 1968, which is seen as a highly influential work in the development of Japanese Psychedelic music. The sound of “Aakhda” was characterised by its use of heavy distortion and feedback, which would go on to be characteristic of the genre.

The early 1970s saw a number of other important releases in the genre, including albums such as “Kizu” by Taj Mahal Travellers and “Merry-Go-Round” by Flied Egg. These releases helped to further develop the sound of Japanese Psychedelic Rock, with bands beginning to experiment with longer song structures and more complex instrumental arrangements.

The mid-1970s saw a further evolution of the genre, with bands such as Yellow Magic Orchestra and Far Out beginning to experiment with electronic instruments and synthesizers. This new direction helped to create what is sometimes referred to as ‘cosmic’, or ‘space’, psych, which became a very popular sub-genre throughout the late 1970s and into the 1980s.

70s Japanese Psychedelic Rock

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Japanese psychedelic rock bands such as Ash Obtain Method, Far Out and Foodbrain were influenced by British and American psychedelia. They began to experiment with electronic equipment, generating new sounds that sometimes incorporated traditional instruments. This period also saw the development of the first Japanese rock festivals, such as the Red and White Songs contest held in Osaka in 1970.

In Japan, the psychedelic music scene centred on Tokyo clubs such as Narcotics, Spiderland and Mura. These clubs were often frequented by Westerners, giving Japanese psychedelic rock bands a cosmopolitan edge. Tokyo-based bands such as Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O., Boris and Makoto Kawabata’s main project Acid Mothers Guru Guru were at the forefront of the Japanese psychedelic scene in the 1990s and 2000s.

80s and 90s

In the early 80s, a new generation of bands arose that were influenced by the sounds of acid rock and punk rock. These bands continued to experiment with different sounds and textures, giving rise to new sub-genres of psychedelic rock.

The 90s saw a resurgence in popularity for psychedelic rock, as grunge and alternative rock bands began to experiment with the genre. This led to a new wave of Psychedelic bands, many of whom were influenced by the 60s counterculture movement.

Key Artists

Japan’s psychedelic rock scene of the 1970s was largely influenced by Western artists such as the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. However, Japanese artists took this genre of music and made it their own, creating a unique sound that was unlike anything else coming out of the West at the time. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the key artists who helped shape Japanese psychedelic rock of the 70s.

Ghost

Ghost is a Japanese rock band that formed in the 1970s. The band is best known for their unique blend of psychedelia and hard rock, which has earned them comparisons to bands like Pink Floyd and Deep Purple. Ghost has released numerous albums over the years, but they are perhaps best known for their live performances, which are often described as “startling” and “mesmerizing.”

High Rise

One of the most prolific and innovative bands of the Japanese psychedelic scene, High Rise formed in 1985 and released their debut album, “Psychedelic Speed Freaks”, in 1986. The band is known for their densely layered, feedback-laden sound as well as their use of various effects pedals. They have been highly influential on subsequent Japanese psych acts such as Acid Mothers Temple and White Heaven.

Les Rallizes Dénudés

Formed in Osaka in 1969, Les Rallizes Dénudés (or simply Zézu, as they were also known) were one of the most enigmatic and influential Japanese bands of the 1970s. Like many of their peers, they blended traditional folk music with Western rock and roll, creating a unique and modern style that has come to be known as Japanese Psychedelic Rock.

The band was fronted by guitarist Mizutani Takashi, who was joined by a rotating cast of musicians over the years. They released several albums and singles throughout the 1970s, but their live performances were always their main focus. These shows were often improvisational and could go on for hours, with the band jamming on extended versions of their songs.

While they never achieved widespread commercial success, Les Rallizes Dénudés have remained influential in Japan and beyond. Their records are highly sought-after by collectors, and their atmospheric sound has been cited as an influence by many contemporary artists.

Conclusion

Japanese psychedelic rock is a genre of rock music that emerged in the late 1960s and gained popularity in the 1970s. The music is characterized by its use of Western musical influences, particularly from psychedelic and progressive rock, and its incorporation of traditional Japanese musical influences.

The genre began to decline in popularity in the 1980s, but has seen a resurgence in recent years. In Japan, the genre is often referred to as “group sounds” (グループ・サウンズ), a term that was first used in the 1960s to describe Western-influenced pop music.

Psychedelic rock reached the height of its popularity in Japan in the early 1970s, with pioneering bands such as Flower Travellin’ Band, Les Rallizes Dénudés, and Acid Eater helping to define the sound of the genre. These bands were often influenced by Western artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Cream, and The Grateful Dead.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in Japanese psychedelic rock, with bands such as Kikagaku Moyo, Tetuzi Akiyama, White Heaven, and Ghost leading the way.