From Peter Becker Sent Mon, Aug 16th 1999, 00:08
This CD represents many genres, but its Leaf, so many might like it... Susumu Yokota: Image 1983-1998 ( Leaf ) I've always admired Leaf's dedication to avoid pigeonholing and their dedication to putting out releases that don't quite fit into any genre. This Yokota release will turn off any purist, guranteed. This is a good thing. : ) The liners will more appropriately give description to his focus and approach. I'll only mention that these are personal tracks that span a 13 tear study. The tracks are mainly guitar, organ, a bit of vocal utterances Somehow Yokota manages to namecheck/reflect the following without really copying anyone: Felt, Durutti Column, 4AD, Velvet Underground, Mouse on Mars (?), Jim O'Rourke ( subtly ), Takemura, the Made to Measure Series, Labradford ( but less gloomy ), Satie, the entire lofi/postrock school but without *any* asskissing, and on 1-2 tracks it even calls out the primitive distortion antics of the minimal schools ( past and present ), a bit of the psych-folk thing, definitely the German 70's scene ( the quieter stuff like Roedelius and Cluster ) as if tied together in a Fellini soundtrack. Also, its *very* Japanese but not musically.....if *that* makes any sense. What a totally beautiful CD. Simple yet very rich. Somewhat sensitive and emotional. Not for the dance floor but well, well done. Peter np: "