Debut Japan-only release for this group led by guitarist/vocalist Rinji Fukuoka and born from the ashes of his legendary Tokyo psych group Overhang Party. The form here is more akin to early Overhang Party than the later, John Cale/Paris 1919-influenced material, with the trio getting back to crushing riffs, wasted solos and doomy, PSF-style death-decadent ballads. Majutsu No Niwa translates as Magical Garden and the first track bears the same title, exploding a riff lifted from The Rolling Stones’ “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and extrapolating it into feedback-heavy post-Velvets environs. Fukuoka is a great lead guitar player in the tradition of Maki Miura/Suishou No Fune/Okhami No Jikan et al and his more extended flights are a joy for anyone who worships PSF. And who doesn’t? Comes in a slim, fold-out stylish black sleeve with lyric sheet and English translations. Recommended.

Arguably the most-flattening volume in this legendary series to date, Tokyo Flashback 2 features exclusive tracks from White Heaven (“Silver Current”), High Rise with Keiji Haino, Maher Shalal Hash Baz, Marble Sheep, Overhang Party, Yura Yura Kingdom, Yuragi, Kousokuya, Ghost (“Sun Is Tangging”), Ohkami No Jikan (featuring Maki Miura ex-Fushitsusha/Shiuzka) and Fushitsusha, who cover The Jacks' legendary “Marianne”. Yow.

Massive new live LP from Majutsu No Niwa, Rinji Fukuoka’s post-Overhang Party outfit, in a hand-numbered edition of only 250 copies. Four tracks that explode the group’s previous form, with instrumentals that combine Jimi at Woodstock/early Fushitsusha style guitar-smashing iconoclasm with loose free jazz rhythms and doomy mile high chord progressions alongside a buncha beautiful acid/folk ballads. The opening instrumental has gotta be their most scorched side of post-metal/psych since, uh, Magical Garden? The more punked tracks feel as loose and as lubed as classic Gasaneta but with a crude progressive edge that gives the nod to the Spectator label (Terje, Jesper & Joachim/Blues Addicts/Moses et al) while the ballads are spectacular, with that classic lonesome, reverb dosed feel of your favourite Flashback (w/an especially poignant Shizuka-esque feel) married to aching single note solos that just keep coming on. A spectacular side from these guys housed in a classic basement psych sleeve. What more do you want?!