solmania: erosion

Reissued for the first time on vinyl. Formed in 1984, Solmania is a music experimental project of Masahiko "Masaki" Ohno and is one of the earliest amazing noise projects out of Japan. Pushing far beyond expectations of free improvisation, Masahiko weaves blistering passages that incorporate touchstones from progressive, punk, metal, noise, and drone, into more intricate movements of dystopian avant-gardism, culminating as a strikingly forward-thinking expanse of sonic creativity that pushing toward uncharted ground. Erosion captures an astounding concert at Eggplant, in Osaka May 15th, 1987, recorded at the venue, using guitar, tape, radio, metal, turntable, and voice and published on cassette by Solmania own legendary label Fatagaga Tapes the same year in very limited edition. Vinyl is comprising a single, extended work over two sides, for about 30 minutes where the artist dives into one of the most joyous and tense musical expressions to have emerged during that decade, generating dense, trance-inducing guitar drones that seem to touch the eternal, washing the ear in rich overtones and harmonics embellishments that transcend their sources -- the original instrument -- in uncanny ways. While unquestionably a work of free improvisation, bordering on noise, Erosion is particularly noteworthy for how far it often strays from the expected tropes and syntaxes of that idiom. Intricate and delicate movements, the artist weaves moments of profound catharsis into moody passages that are permeated by images of dystopian sci-fi - driven by the sounds of guitar -- creating a soundtrack for an ever darkening world, while managing to retain all the hope and optimism embodied by a creative territory and language that activates conversation and the communication of ideas across distinctions of cultural, individual practice, and time. Erosion is a masterpiece of guitar drone, its dense harmonics and overtones induce trance-like states, providing one of the most creatively thrilling, immersive experiences that we can call to mind. Fully remastered from the original analog tapes. Edition of 199.