Beautifully lop-sided big-band set from Tori Kudo's idiot-avant orchestra, swollen to include wildman bass clarinetist Arrington de Dionyso (of Owl Sounds et al), guitarist Chris Cohen, synths from Greg Saunier and drums from Andrew Maxwell alongside Tori, Saya, Ueno, Nakazaki, Endo, Akiko, Otani and McCloud Zicmuse. Aspects of everything from The Sun Ra Arkestra, Little Howlin' Wolf and Syd Barrett through Monk, Manson and the Mothers Of Invention. Kudo's arrangements sound like Charles Ives's parallel brass band voicings re-scored for troops of tiny, squawnking toys set to repeat-play sections of The Portsmouth Sinfonia record on low, low batteries while Tori bends six strings into warps of punk zag. Also features an England's Glory (!) cover.

Much-in-demand release of some eye-opening early live footage from the ‘classic’ and most punk-primitive incarnation of Tori Kudo’s idiot-avant orchestra and Japanese underground legends Maher Shalal Hash Baz circa 1987. Trading on mis-interpretations and amplifications of the more feral aspects of musical outsiders like Mayo Thompson, Syd Barrett, The Raincoats and Albert Ayler, Maher Shalal Has Baz created some of the warmest and most melancholic post-punk avant garde music ever articulated by non-musicians. This 75 minute film documents the group when they featured the late Masami Shinoda on alto sax, a central player in the whole Maher mythos who Kudo still describes as one of only two full-time members of the group. Also features another key member, Hiro Nakazaki, on euphonium, Hirofumi Mitani on bass, Kanji Nakao on drums and Takuya Nishimura on guitar and bass. Maher’s music is fragile but very physical and getting to grips with the dynamic up-close and in the flesh adds a whole new dimension to your appreciation of the depth and rigour of Kudo’s beautiful, a-musical vision. And Shinoda’s playing is a real joy. Highly recommended.

Another necessary volume in this on-going series documenting current activity on Tokyo’s psychedelic underground and a long-time personal favourite, the line-up and track choice here is unbeatable, with exclusives from Overhang Party, White Heaven, Fushitsusha (a fabulously unrelenting noise guitar blow-out), Cobalt, Kumo To Hae, Sweet & Honey, Ghost, Daiichi-Kakkensha, Uchu Engine, Maher Shalal Hash Baz and Shizuka, the latter of whom raise the roof with guitarist Maki Miura roaring his way through heavens of feedback and blues. Love that fake ringwear on the cover too, a real touch of class. Highest recommendation.