kawabata makoto's mainliner: revelation space

One of the most celebrated Japanese underground bands have returned. It may have taken over 12 years, but Kawabata Makoto, guitar guru and head honcho in Acid Mothers Temple, has finally decided to get his celebrated "psychedelic solid free attack group" back together. Joining original Mainliner members Kawabata Makoto (motorpsycho guitar) and Koji Shimura (drums) is new recruit Kawabe Taigen (bass/vocals) and the trio still kick up one hell of a sonic racket. Confusion surrounds the exact details of the recording, but they seem to date from December 2011, and from Kawabata's mountain-top temple studio-cum-home. The man himself, as always, is shying away from sharing too many of the magick details about the Mainliner rebirth. And the stark, minimal black-with-gold sleeve keeps the mystery intact, apart from the grainy band photo on the rear. All said, Revelation Space is a comeback statement of intent. And it's firmly in the same in-the-red/raw camp as the original trio's classic Mellow Out. From the initial speaker-shaking feedback burst of opener "Revelation Space," right through to the closing 20-minute epic "New Sun" (which showcases Taigen's otherworldly howl perfectly) there is no let-up in the brutal delivery. This will no doubt delight those Mainliner diehards who never thought they'd see the day again, and all those with a love of guitar howls and punishing feedback levels, but always underpinned by some righteous grooves.

KAWABATA MAKOTO'S MAINLINER 'Revelation Space' (13/05/13 Riot Season Records)