Kimio Mizutani - A Path Through Haze (1971/2007 Universal/Naked Line Remastered Japanese Limited Edition)
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Artist: Kimio Mizutani
Album: A Path Through Haze (Japanese Limited Edition)
Released: 1971/2007
Universal/Naked Line (UPCY-6348)
Genre: Heavy Psych-Prog, Canterbury Style
Biography: Kimio Mizutani, A renowned electric guitarist who, along with Hiro Yanagida, played in lots of classic ensembles in the late 60’s/early 70’s – such as Love Live Life + One, People, Masahiko Satoh & Sound Brakers, and Hiro Yanagida’s solo album backings. He recorded one great solo album, ‘A Path Through Haze’ [Polydor, 1971], which contains a variety of unique styles broadly akin to some of the music on the other albums he played on around the same time. That is, Japanese-tinged progressive psych with jazzy touches and plenty of variety and evocative moods. The album also featured keyboardist Masahiko Satoh. This has been reissued on both CD and LP. - Chris McLean, Japanese Psychedelic, Progressive, Experimental & Heavy Rock.
Although essentially a session guitarist, Jun ‘Kimio’ Mizutani is best known for his contributions to such classic early ‘70s albums as Love Will Make A Better You by Love Live Life +1, the self-titled Uganda LP and People’s Buddha Meet Rock. Along the way, the ex-Out Cast member also released one star-studded LP of his own in A Path Through Haze. Taking his lead from Masahiko Satoh’s LP of the same name, Mizutani delivered a record of Zappa-styled instrumentals, accompanioed by Satoh himself and Foodbrain’s Hiro Yanagida. The LP was all recorded in a single monster session, in the huge Nippon Gramophon No. 1 Studio, on June 7th 1971, and featured the Toyama String Quartet and Etoh Wood Quartet to further explore the Zappa-meets-jazz consciousness that was so prevalent at the time. Indeed, the record comes across like an album by Glenn Phillips or even something akin to John McLaughlin’s Devotion, though without the supreme euphoria achieved on the latter. Besides Mizutani’s rendition of Satoh’s epic title track, the other pieces were ‘Sail In The Sky’, ‘Turning Point’, ‘Tell Me What You Saw’, ‘One For Janis’, ‘Sabbath Day's Sable’, ‘A Bottle Of Codeine’ and ‘Way Out’. - By Julian Cope, Japrock sampler.com.
Album Reviews:
#1: Kimio Mizutani - A Path Through Haze CD. Recent Japanese compact disc reissue of ultra rare early 70s Japanese underground rock. Kimio Mizutani was the guitarist in the excellent Japanese freak out group Love Live Life +1 and this is a long-desired reissue of his first solo album from 1971, originally issued by Japanese Polydor. Mizutani plays electric and "folk" guitar, leading a largish rock ensemble (bass, drums, organ, Moog, vocals, etc.) through the paces of what is widely regarded as on the true psychedelic masterpieces of the early 70s Japanese scene. Sensitive interludes (with accompaniment by the Toyama String Quartet and Etoh Wood Quartet), tasteful nods to progressive/fusionist extension and lovely psych guitar hover by Mizutani dominate the proceedings. A nice merger of hard rock conceptualization and the complexities that would evolve from it -- and until now just about impossible to hear within the confines of Western society. - Rockadrome.
#2: A Path Through Haze is an almost completely instrumental album, where heavy psychedelic acid guitar rock and Canterbury jazz rock are combined. Strangely these two possibly contradictory styles are integrated quite well. Besides great psychedelic guitar playing, other instruments include flute, sax, drums, bass, and keyboards (mainly moog, organ, and electric piano). Basically the keyboards provide the Canterbury feel, while the guitar playing adds the acid rock vibe. The first three tracks sound a bit like Canterbury jazz rock (maybe like Isotope or Zyma), but always with great acid guitar soloing on top. Several tracks on the second half of the album are much heavier, sounding like Guru Guru or Jimi Hendrix playinging some of the more free jazz tracks from Soft Machine 4. The result is great. There are two quiet tracks as well, one with a string quartet. Overall, a quite original and creative album. - By Sjef Oellers, Gnosis.
#3: Part of a new Universal Japan 70s rock reissue series, called Naked Line. Legit issues, from masters, midline pricing. Classic Japanese underground rock album, previously reissued on P-Vine (and more recently, Walhalla). Kimio Mizutani (not the Rallizes dude) was the guitarist in the excellent Japanese freak out group Love Live Life +1 and this is a reissue of his first solo album from 1971, originally issued by Japanese Polydor. Mizutani plays electric and 'folk' guitar, leading a largish rock ensemble (bass, drums, organ, Moog, vocals, etc.) through the paces of what is widely regarded as the true psychedelic masterpieces of the early '70s Japanese scene. Sensitive interludes (with accompaniment by the Toyama String Quartet and Etoh Wood Quartet), tasteful nods to progressive/fusionist extension and lovely psych guitar hoverings by Mizutani dominate the proceedings. A nice merger of hard rock conceptualization and the complexities that would evolve from it. - Force De Exposure.
#4: Grey-area European reissue of this classic Japanese underground rock album, previously reissued on P-Vine. Kimio Mizutani (not the Rallizes dude) was the guitarist in the excellent Japanese freak out group Love Live Life +1 and this is a reissue of his first solo album from 1971 (not 1991, as typo'd on the booklet here), originally issued by Japanese Polydor. Mizutani plays electric and 'folk' guitar, leading a largish rock ensemble (bass, drums, organ, Moog, vocals, etc.) through the paces of what is widely regarded as the true psychedelic masterpieces of the early '70s Japanese scene. Sensitive interludes (with accompaniment by the Toyama String Quartet and Etoh Wood Quartet), tasteful nods to progressive/fusionist extension and lovely psych guitar hoverings by Mizutani dominate the proceedings. A nice merger of hard rock conceptualization and the complexities that would evolve from it. - Force De Exposure.
#5: Official reissue in mini gatefold LP sleeve of Japanese mega rarity from 1971with amazing psychedelic space rock excursions, killer acid guitar, weird synth passages, drifting orchestrated sections with flute etc, freaked out guitar bass and keyboard jams..... the lot! A superb album.. Freak Emporium.
Track List:
01. A Path Through Haze
02. Sail in the Sky
03. Turning Point
04. Tell Me What You Saw
05. One For Janis
06. Sabbath Day's Sable
07. A Bottle of Codeine
08. Way Out
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