Kousokuya




Kousokuya are a Tokyo-based underground dark psychedelic rock group. They were formed in 1978 by guitarist Jutok Kaneko out of the ashes of an older group called Kokugaiso. The classic trio line-up that recorded the first album, and reformed in recent years was: Jutok Kaneko (guitar, vocals) Ikuro Takahashi (ex-High Rise, Fushitsusha) (drums) Mick (bass, vocals). Other members have included Hiroshi Yokoyama (synth, 1978-1979), Toshiko Watanabe (drums, 1979), Asahito Nanjo (bass, 1982-1983), Munehiro Narita (drums, 1982-1983), Atsushi Ishiguro (drums, 1983-84), Hibari Nagao (drums, 1994-1997), Emily (bass), Sachiko (vocals, synth, bass, 1995-2003) and Michinobu Matsubashi (drums, 2000-).

The group were heavily associated with the Minor scene in the late 70s and early 80s but released only a handful of recordings internationally, and scant more in their local Tokyo underground scene. As far as I am aware, Kousokuya only released one studio album in their 28 years as a trio with the rest of their output being live recordings. Even these were largely unavaiable outside of Japan until recently. This goes a long way to explaining why bands like High Rise, Mainliner, Fushitsusha et al are legendary and rightly lauded whilst Kousokuya slipped under the radar...

Kaneko passed away on January 24th 2007, but the group has since continued as a duo.

1990 - Kousokuya - 1st (2003 reissue) [p.s.f. records]
1995 - Kousokuya - Ray Night 1991-1992 Live [forced exposure]
1997 - Kousokuya & Masayoshi Urabe - The Dark Spot [p.s.f. records]
2001 - Kousokuya - Live Osaka 09.21.01 [bootleg]
光束夜 - Live 逆流虚空 (Live Gyakuryu Kokou) [p.s.f. records]
2006 - 光束夜 - First Live 1979 (Kichijoji Minor) [p.s.f. records]
2007 - 光束夜 - Echoes From Deep Underground [archive]
Echoes From Deep Underground cd
Echoes From Deep Underground dvd
2007 - Kousokuya - Ray Night [ray night music]

16 comments:

elmer68 5 December 2010 at 23:40  

Yes! Bleak Bliss is on a roll. First you provide the varied and widly ignored (including me, I am sorry to say)releases by Maja Ratkje, and now the albums by the both ignored and forgotten Kousokuya, who actually played in Los Angeles once upon a time, albeit to a nearly empty club. But now I get to hear those impossible to find recording.
A million thanks!

-oldmanron

Josh,  6 December 2010 at 02:13  

Yes! Thanks a bunch for this one Badgerstump! You truly are doing an amazing job with this blog.

badgerstump 6 December 2010 at 17:31  

Cheers peeps! That makes me smile! Feel free to throw a request in whenever you like...

J 6 December 2010 at 17:41  

any chance of a Nisennenmondai post Badge?

badgerstump 6 December 2010 at 18:12  

No worries at all on that one stranger! Amps For Christ is good to go, then Wilt part 1 and the People Who Do Noise doc...gimme 10 days.

Gnod are cool with me posting too...saving that for New Years Day!

J 6 December 2010 at 19:09  

Class, if you don't have a rip of that LP I grabbed at Supersonic I can trade you for it ;)

badgerstump 6 December 2010 at 19:26  

What...with the bendy corner! Had a rip and bought myself a copy too. Have a boot of the Nisennenmodai set at Supersonic to throw in, as well as Zeni Geva and Swans for a later date...

:-P

J 6 December 2010 at 19:52  

You love bent stuff man, don't deny it.

I've got that Swans boot already man, long as fuck intro it was weren't it...the guy smacking the tubular bells was a bloody animal!

Also, you fancy doing a Side-A post soon? I've just sold out of my (very) recent Filthy Turd CDr and I think a few people might appreciate it.

badgerstump 6 December 2010 at 20:24  

First off...why have you been selling Side-A Records stuff without letting me know? You know I would have snapped all of that up. What do you think I do...pay attention to shit?

You know where I live...the Side-A is a dead cert ;-)

...and, wish you had seen the Swans gig in Manchester a few days after...last gig on the world tour...totally relaxed...very very special!

J 6 December 2010 at 21:29  

Have a gander on the site man, there's still 2 releases available.

And don't worry, i'll rustle something up for ye regarding the FT ;)

Wish i'd hit that gig man, loved Swans at SS :(

badgerstump 6 December 2010 at 21:33  

Shit...this is turning into Brokeback Bleak Bliss...

Anonymous,  13 December 2010 at 13:06  

Caligari:
fucking great!!!
go on with japanase psychedelia!
thoso guys were rally freaked out
without any substance.
miracles of fujiyama...

LeeBx 13 December 2010 at 17:13  

that 1st reissue is great.

if anyone has cassette rips of their La Musica stuff that would be great too...

Matthew 11 April 2013 at 13:18  

I am a public school teacher in the American South and thus am unable to afford buying any music these days as they keep slashing budgets . . . I appreciate the education you have afforded me over the year. I have been turned on to many amazing artists by this blog. Thanks for that. Is there any chance of a re-up of the Kousokuya material so I can further my education?
Matt

badgerstump 11 April 2013 at 17:20  

I'll put it on my list of things to do! Keep an eye on the History Repeating section on the front page.

Certifiablockhead 2 July 2017 at 21:12  

mah man badger...thank you for the huge reups...