Pulsation [LP]

Masahiko Togashi & Masayuki Takayanagi - Pulsation [LP]

On May 27th 1983, drummerMasahiko Togashi and guitaristMasayuki Takayanagi, twopivotal figures in the Japanesefree jazz scene that had beenworking together since the1960's, performed and recordthis unique set at Zojoji Hall inTokyo. At the time, Japanesejazz musicians were trying to findtheir own voice, welcoming creative elements coming in from the USA and Europe.The two musicians were at the fore-front of this generation, with Takayanagideveloping his own guitar style through influences of mainstream and moreextreme jazz, and drummer Togashi had developed a unique approach to drumsand percussions, using silence as an integral part of music making, also due to anaccident that forced him on a wheelchair after 1970.The record is divided in two tracks ("Inner Pulsation" and "Outer Pulsation"), eachone about 22 minutes in length, mirroring the original LP sides. The performancecan be regarded as a single piece though, with a clearly symmetrical structure,even if the musicians cover much musical ground over the course of the album. Theextreme abstractness of the music guarantees many possibilities, but the mainthemes here are pure sound and space, investigated through a massive use ofsilence, ever-changing dynamics and slow structural developments unfolding with amysterious musical logic.Originally released on iconic Japanese label Paddle Wheel and out of a print for avery long time, the album has become a very sought after collector's item and weare glad to bring this back on vinyl in collaboration with King Record Co.