Brand new tribute set of cover versions and punk extrapolations based around the phenomenal body of work birthed by Mr Jojo Hiroshige aka Alchemy label boss and Hijokaidan mainman. Features a totally disobedient Beefheart-style rave-up from the Oshiri PenPenz, microphone-gobbling action from Masonna (first new recording in years), great psych/pop stylings from Doodles, monstrously deformed guitar/noise from Solmania, GaramonKakinoki +AOL and a whole bunch of other punk Kansai Industrialists. Think of it as a particularly focussed Night Gallery instalment. Highly recommended.

Totally sick: celebrating Alchemy Records' 20th anniversary - and Japanese noise/rock legends Hijokaidan's 25th - major label bozos Imperial have stepped into the gulf with a series of definitive birthday sets. Alchemism is a massive two-disc overview of the activities of this consistently dazzling underground label complete with a fold-out sleeve that has colour cover shots of all the action, especially noteable for the lovingly executed Modern Lovers and Ash Ra take-offs from Ultra Bide and Christine 23 Onna. All tracks previously released except for exclusives from Tongue favourites Oshiri-PenPenz and Doodles. Also includes: Jojo Hiroshige, Ultra Bide, SS, Inu, Hoburakin, Idiot O'Clock, Sekiri, The Genbaku Onanies, The Continental Kids, Danse Macabre, Sob Kaidan, Genbaku Kaidan, Subvert Blaze, Sperma, Hanadensha, Garadama, Angel'In Heavy Syrup, Auschwitz, Tatsuya Kitajima, Tsumetai Iki No Mama, Miki Sawaguchi, Masonna, Merzbow, Incapacitants, Solmania, Hijokaidan, Seiichi Yamamoto, Omoide Hatoba, Totsuzen Dan-Ball, Christine 23 Onna and Chouzu. Highly recommended, naturally.

Very limited DVD-R on Alchemy, part of their new pirate DVD run, that documents a scorching live set from their 25th year of existence, recorded at Yokohama’s Club 24 on 28th November 2004.

Rarity: original edition of one of the key Japanese noise LPs, Hijokiadan's 1983 Viva Angel LP, their second official album. Viva Angel is a classic primitive noise/rock rite from an early trio line-up featuring Jojo Hiroshige, T.Mikawa and Naoto Hayashi. Hysterical vocals ala Sun City Girls/Oshiri Pen Penz, totally squelchy levels of feedback destruction, formless rock gush at its most ecstatically overdriven, heavy psychedelic rock and moments of almost Lynchian body-horror sonics. Comes with the elusive insert. Vinyl: EX+/Sleeve EX +.

Irresistible new compilation CD from the reactivated Alchemy Records, an all-female psych set curated by Jojo Hiroshige of Hijokaidan. Features fragile, breathless song stylings from a bunch of upcoming femmes including Akiko Hodaka (formerly of Maher Shalal Hash Baz), Mai Mishio of Uzumibi, Hirachin of Oninko! and Totsuzen Danboru, Shiho of Ten-No.5 and Yuka Fujita of the excellent Chozu. “Produced by Jojo Hiroshige of Hijokaidan (The King Of Noise), the godfather of Japanese noise music and the owner of Alchemy Records. He realized the strength, fragileness, delicateness and other elements that only women could have are the keyword for this decade. This album contains 11 tunes from emerging female musicians that Hiroshige picked out from the Japanese underground music scene.” – Alchemy. 

Rumours of the demise of Japan’s Alchemy Records were a little premature: they’re back with a new run of releases. First fruit of the new deal is a Best Of collection from legendary all-female psych guitar group Angel’in Heavy Syrup. Angel were active between the years 1989 and 2000, pretty much the glory years for the first wave of new Japanese psych. Although associated with the Alchemy label their sound is more attuned to the PSF style, with clouds of reverb obscuring high female vocals and fuzz guitar dosed in flashing F/X. The name pretty much sums up the sound. This compilation features tracks lifted from their four albums as well as stray compilation tracks, all produced by Jojo Hiroshige of Hijokaidan. Massively dosed progressive female psych at an early apex.