People - Ceremony~Buddha Meet Rock (1971/2000) {Japanese Heavy Psych-Prog) (Feat. Kimio Mizutani)
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Artist: People
Album: Ceremony~Buddha Meet Rock
Released: 1971/2000
Teichiku (PCD-1414)
Genre: Heavy Psych-Prog
Quite a weird little record -- part psychedelia, but with some really rootsy elements -- and also some odd use of recorded music as well! The sound here is really mindblowing -- experimental and trippy, but never too free or over the top -- and the core instrumentation includes lots of fuzzy guitar, organ, and rough percussion -- plus additional vocals in parts, and even a bit of sitar as well! The production abstracts some of the sounds nicely, but never too much -- and at times a more traditional Japanese style of music lurks in the background, possibly as a brief nod to the Buddha in the title. Most unusually, though, is that the first track on the record features part of a David Axelrod album playing in the background! There's clearly an Axelrod influence going on -- both in the structure and sound of the record -- although the group also take things very much in their own direction too. Titles include "Shomyo (part 1)", "Flower Strewing", "Prologue", and "Prayer (parts 1 & 2)". - By Dusty Groove America, Inc.
Psychadelic rock from Japan. Vinyl release from 1971, from what I hear it's extremely hard to find, but has been reissued. This is the original vinyl rip. I’m not sure if these guys actually existed as a performing band, or if they were only a studio super-session project. Guitarist Kimio Mizutani had previously [or simultaneously, or shortly after?] played with Love Live Life + One and Masahiko Satoh’s Sound Brakers . At any rate, their sole album, the concept piece ‘Ceremony – Buddha Meet Rock’ [Teichiku, 1971], is an absolute classic. The album came with extensive liner notes elaborating on the intended meaning for each track – the whole album flowing more or less as a conceptual whole. As the title would suggest, it was an attempt to fuse a Buddhist-influenced spiritual vibe into an innovative oriental form of hypnotic psychedelic progressive rock. It’s all quite unique and doesn’t sound like any preceding groups that I’m aware of, though some bits are like a much less-heavy Flower Travellin’ Band circa ‘Satori’. It’s a bit jazzy in places, hinting at some of Stomu Yamash’ta’s work with Come to the Edge. There’s lots of nice fuzz guitar leads and overall, a very sanctified vibe that makes this a deep but groovy experience. Following this , Mizutani recorded his equally great solo album. - Chris McLean, Japanese Psychedelic, Progressive, Experimental & Heavy Rock.
Grey-area reissue of this once totally unknown Japanese freak-out album, originally issued in 1971 (previously reissued on LP by Shadoks and legit-CD by P-Vine). This was briefly available a few years back and here it is again; say what you will, but this is an monumental album that is never going to go "out of style". Opening in unique fashion with various street sounds collaged into a sampled excerpt of David Axelrod's "Holy Thursday" (from his 1968 masterpiece Song of Innocence), this flows into exceptionally heavy psych from the group People, led by the pure wah-wah excess of guitarist Kimio Mizutani (Love Live Life, Satoh Masahiko & Soundbreakers). Mixing Buddhist chanting, chirping birds and religious ecstasy, this one beats B.O.R.B. to the doughnut hole by 2 decades plus. - Omega Order.
Excellent reissue from Japan of one of the world's rarest ($4000-$5000)?and strangest?and one of the best?psychedelic albums (Teichiku, 1971), finally getting it's due in recent days; what is it? in essence, it is a Buddhist ceremony, complete with chants and finger cymbals and bells, but with great fuzz guitar chugging away over slide guitar and sitar throughout the proceedings; all this leads up to orgasmic female moaning over fuzz guitar towards the end of the album; luckily, liner notes explain everything in detail. - Rockadrome.
Nice stuff! Meditative and comfortable, slightly reminiscent of Annexus Quam, Yatha Sidhra and other soft kraut acts. Recommended. - By Tovon, Rate Your Music.
Re-issue of original 1971 LP on Teichicku Records. Limited to 450 copies. Heavy card sleeve with paste on picture, blank on rear. Insert which is fold out heavy duty glossy paper with English text by Naoki Tachikawa and a couple of pictures on the inside pages and title information in English & Japanese on the front cover. Rear page has full lyrics in Japanese only. - Discogs
It does sound like ancient religion meets the new religion of the world, which is of course the Rock 'n' Roll music scene. How is that possible? you get monks to chant and prey, thus getting them into a trance state of mind, and at the same time jam with an electric guitar until you've run out power to do so. The result is very compelling, it should've been more crazy and out there, I think. - bilbo1742, Rate Your Music.
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