Back catalogue: Psych/Garage Rock

Review: Temporal Drift drop the never-before-heard master tapes from Japanese cult legends Les Rallizes Denudes' legendary second comeback gig in 1993, after an unexpected slew of CD albums dropped in 1991. The band hadn't performed since the 80s, and came back for blood. Eyewitness accounts of the gig said that the abrasive squall of Takashi Mizutani and Katsuhiko Ishii's guitars that night had concertgoers pacing for the lobby to seek respite from the sonic furnace. After 30 years in storage, the multi-tracked recordings from the performance fell into the hands of former band member Makoto Kubota, who lovingly remastered them to give listeners a sense of the transcendental roar which The Rallizes unleashed that night. Highlights include the braindead rockabilly shuffle of 'Eternally now', and the steady, diesel-powered chug of 'Darkness Returns 2', which, like all other tracks on the album, is eventually pierced by the screeching peal of Mizutani's telecaster, which eats the whole mix up in true Rallizes style. A much mythologised live performance by a much mythologised band. Essential!

Review: Japanese psych rock icons Les Rallizes Denudes originally formed in 1967, led by enigmatic frontman Takashi Mizutani and famed for their fearless embrace of distortion as a vital component of their sound. Through the decades the band went through many iterations and pauses, but they made a vital comeback in 1993 after five years of silence. Baus '93 captures the band in full flight at Baus Theatre in Tokyo, with Mizutani joined by Katsuhiko Ishii on guitar, Kiyohiro Takada on bass and Toshiro Mimaki on drums. Restored from original multitrack tapes and audience sources, it's a visceral document of the band's abrasive, hard-rocking sound captured here on red velvet double vinyl.

Review: Formed in 1967 at Kyoto's Doshisha University, Les Rallizes Denudes were pioneering in the same way as The Velvet Underground, but their music remained a cult concern through a lack of official releases and a spread of bootlegged recordings. Fronted by enigmatic singer Takashi Mizutani, they presented an untamed noise-rock approach before the genre existed, fusing furious blasts of intensity, psychedelia and free jazz with melodic, folk informed passages. On this reissue, we're taken back to their time playing at shortlived but seminal rock club OZ, which captures this incendiary, little known group as their musical might was growing.

Review: Les Rallizes Denudes' Yaneura Oct 80 is an almost ritualistic performance that blends dark, nocturnal atmospheres with raw, passionate energy. The addition of guitarist Fujio Yamaguchi brought a bluesy edge, creating a dense, dissonant soundscape that feels both lethargic and hypnotic. This release marks a significant moment in the band's history, showcasing a unique lineup that left a lasting impact on fans. The tight rhythm section provides a solid foundation for the intense interplay between Mizutani and Fujio, resulting in a surreal and ethereal sonic experience. Makoto Kubota's meticulous mixing and mastering ensure that this performance is preserved in its raw, psychedelic glory, making the world of Les Rallizes Denudes an intriguing piece of Japanese music history.