Review: Pioneering Japanese psychedelic rock Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. (AMT) were formed in 1995. Their relentless output has spawned various offshoots over the years, such as Acid Mothers Temple & the Cosmic Inferno and Acid Mothers Temple SWR, synthesising and alien cosmo-grammar in sound, one that perhaps only the most acid-casualtied tongues can interpret or speak. Now present through Rolling Heads comes their latest album for 2025: Holy Black Mountain Side comprises three psychedelic pieces, reticulating a series of recording sessions held down between 2021 and 2023, at one point reinterpreting a traditional folk song, and throughout enlisting guest bass from Taigen Kawabe of Bo Ningen. Each record comes wrapped in unique artwork by lead improvisor Kashiwagi Ten, adding an extra layer of veiled mystery to each: no two records are visually alike.
Xxxtra Asceticism Or Allergic To Meditation (9:13)
Asoka Ananda (19:44)
Review: Trust Masked Replicants showcases Acid Mothers Temple (AMT) in top form, delivering their signature brand of experimental psych-rock built around skeletal frameworks. Led by Kawabata Makoto, the band navigates chaotic, drone-infused improvisations, pushing the boundaries of human consciousness with their cosmic jams. Side-2 features the standout 20-minute track 'Asoko Ananda', a fast-paced, side-long piece that fuses kosmische rhythms, filter sweeps, free-jazz piano, tabla drumming, and vocal experimentation. This track captures the full range of AMT's skills, climbing to the summit of their collective abilities. Rooted in prog, Krautrock, modern composition and noise, AMT has been a driving force in the psyche-rock scene since the early 90s. With a long history of prolific releases and global tours, the band returns to Important Records for this limited vinyl edition featuring original member Cotton Casino. Trust Masked Replicants - with its neat titular nod to Captain Beefheart's best known album - is another top album for fans of the group's improvisational, mind-expanding soundscapes.
Review: Does The Cosmic Shepherd Dream Of Electric Tapirs? is not just a great - and amusing - question but also the title of Acid Mothers Temple's debut release on Space Age Recordings. This Japanese soul collective, known as Acid Mothers Temple and The Melting Paraiso UFO, remains an enigma to both the Western and Eastern worlds. Their music spans acid-rock, experimental, and psychedelic genres, varying with the listener's mood. After being out of stock for some time, the long-anticipated repress of this wild offering is now available on two solid green vinyl records and complete with the original seductive artwork.
Cotton, Tsuyama, Kawabata - "L'ambition Dans Le Miroir" (11:22)
Review: Riot Season's vinyl reissue campaign brings new life to Acid Mothers Temple's 2004 album Mantra of Love. Makoto Kawabata and the band deliver an intense journey where layers of heavy white noise are met by cosmic effects and powerful guitar solos in a fearless fusion of psych-rock and experimental sounds. The vinyl comes in a limited edition cream colour and includes carefully restored archival photos held in Acid Mothers Temple's Osaka vaults. With fresh remastering by James Plotkin, this release revives a standout in AMT's catalogue for devoted fans and new listeners alike.
Review: When keyboardist Thomas Jonsson, guitarist and bassist oMar Gudjonsson, saxophonist oSkar Gudjonsson and drummer Magnus Trygvason Eliassen take the stage, they channel the raw resilience of Northern Europe's islanders who have endured long, icy winters for centuries. Their energy transcends genres and has proven to captivate jazz enthusiasts, rock fans and ravers alike. This primal, non-verbal expression predates language yet remains deeply contemporary by blending cosmic vastness with free imagination and profound mysticism. Their music is a convergence of timeless human impulses and fresh creativity. It's challenging but hugely rewarding.
(The System Of) Doctor Tarr & Professor Fether (4:19)
The Fall 0f The House Of Usher: I: Prelude/II: Arrival/III: Intermezzo/IV: Pavane/V: Fall (15:06)
To One In Paradise (4:16)
The Raven (single version) (3:15)
(The System Of) Doctor Tarr & Professor Fether (single version) (3:24)
The One In Paradise (single version) (3:51)
Review: An album known for its extraordinary musical interpretation of some of Poe's most iconic works, this 1976 release still fascinates listeners today. With an intricate fusion of progressive rock, orchestral arrangements and innovative studio techniques, the album takes the listener in a dark, cinematic journey through Poe's literary universe. Parsons' production expertise is evident throughout, weaving together synthesisers, guitars, glockenspiel and dramatic orchestration, while eerie sound effects and narration enhance the album's haunting atmosphere. This reissue sound terrific aided by each side being pressed at 45rpm for extra fidelity. The instrumental opener, 'A Dream Within a Dream', sets an ominous mood, which features Orson Welles' narration. 'The Raven' employs an EMI vocoder and a boys' choir, crafting an eerie, chamber-like sound. Arthur Brown's impassioned vocals on 'The Tell-Tale Heart' heighten the track's intensity, mirroring the protagonist's growing madness. 'The Cask of Amontillado' and 'The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether' showcase the album's dynamic range, moving between grand orchestration and progressive rock energy. The 20-minute instrumental epic 'The Fall of the House of Usher' is a masterclass in atmosphere-building, from the baroque horror of its 'Prelude' to the unsettling climax in 'Fall'. The closing ballad, 'To One in Paradise', softens the album's brooding intensity with melancholic beauty. A stunning fusion of literature and music, it is one of the most inventive and evocative progressive rock albums ever recorded.
Review: The tasteful food at Nous'klaer Audio are offering up the new sounds of Erik Luebs here, and you'd do well to tune in. He is an American techno producer based in Japan who fuses late-2000s minimalism and harmonies with razor-sharp sound design, syncopated rhythms and intricate production. Erik's self-released catalogue is vast but he rarely lands on other labels, which makes this one even more notable. It delivers atmospheric sounds that are meticulously crafted yet impactful, from the layers of delicate textures and rich detail in 'Beat The Lifeless Heart' to the sleek, synth-heavy rhythms of 'An Embrace'.
Review: Alphataurus may not mean that much to a lot of people, but for anyone aware of the Milanese progressive rock titans, the fact they have a new record out will capture the imagination. After all, the outfit have been making a big impact with every album they've put out since - and including - the staggeringly ambitious self-titled 1973 debut. However, it's been a decade since we last had anything from them. Enter 2084: Viaggio Nel Nulla, then, a collection of music that marks a real turning point for Alphataurus, with the lengthy (to put it mildly) recording process ending with the departure of founding guitarist Guido Wassermann. Whether die hard fans will think what's here is worth the pain of that decision to leave is anyone's guess, but this collection is unarguably dystopian, futuristic, exploratory, cosmic and, almost conversely, accessible and catchy.
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