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Emperor Morphetine · Screen Legend Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 3576

I finally finished reading this today, and it's quite interesting actually! It's Julian Cope's history of post-war Japanese music- very well researched and he's clearly passionate about his subject. It all starts out as a general history of modern music in the Land of the Rising Sun, with chapters on the immediate aftermath of wartime, the creation of an 'experimental' music culture between 1961-69, the 'eleki' (electric guitar) boom and the 'Group Sounds' trend, inspired by the visit of the Beatles in the late Sixties.

Then he moves on to case studies of some of his favourite Japanese bands/artists- Come Together 1969, Flower Travellin' Band, Les Rallizes Denudes, Speed Glue & Shinki, Taj Mahal Travellers, JA Caesar, Masahiko Satoh and Far East Family Band.

And for the extra curious there are author's 'top 50' and 'ones to avoid' lists in case you feel like trying to import any of the records mentioned! I must admit the idea of going there and sampling all that musical culture appeals, maybe its something for after graduation...and I also want to get hold of his earlier ( and similar) book 'Krautrocksampler' which deals with the German music scene.

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The Dark Side is a pathway to many abilities, some considered to be..unnatural.

Catnapper · Site Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 8912

Julian Cope seems to have a great love for all kinds of musical influences so I'm surpried he hasn't been snapped up to present music progs on tv?

Emperor Morphetine · Screen Legend Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 3576

It's probably because he isn't 'mainstream' enough for the likes of MTV, although he's very knowledgeable about music and a great many other subjects- the kind of bloke music TV should be crying out for!

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The Dark Side is a pathway to many abilities, some considered to be..unnatural.