| Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. | |
|---|---|
Kawabata Makoto in performance in London in 2005. |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | (See groups section) |
| Origin | Japan |
| Genres | Psychedelic rock, space rock, experimental, Drone rock improvisational, noise rock, ambient |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | Various |
| Associated acts | Gong Afrirampo Ruins Guru Guru |
| Website | acidmothers.com |
| Members | |
| (See groups section) | |
Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. (and subsequent offshoots) is a Japanese psychedelic band, the core of which formed in 1995.[1] The band is led by guitarist Kawabata Makoto and early in their career featured many musicians, but by 2004 the line-up had coalesced with only a few core members and frequent guest vocalists.
The band has released albums frequently on a number of international record labels as well as the Acid Mothers Temple family record label, which was established in 1998 to document the activities of the whole collective.
Kawabata initially formed Acid Mothers Temple (originally "Acid Mother's Temple")[2] with the intention of creating "extreme trip music" by editing and dubbing previous recordings, being influenced by progressive rock, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and krautrock.[3] Kawabata, along with Koizumi Hajime, Suhara Keizo, and Cotton Casino formed the original Acid Mother's Temple lineup as a group; however, the first recordings released were Kawabata's own mixes and overdubs.[3] The band released two self-titled tapes on their eponymous label in 1997 before dropping the apostrophe from their name. They soon released their first self-titled album (see Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O.).[2] The group began to tour overseas in 1998.[4]
The band continued to tour and record, adding to the lineup drummer Ichiraku Yoshimitsu and guitarist Higashi Hiroshi. Several non-Acid Mothers shootoff bands formed, including Floating Flower, Nishinihon, and Tsurbami,[4] while The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. played at sold-out shows and festivals all over North America, Japan, and Europe in the 2000s (decade). In 2002, the band released four albums and two EPs in a three-month span while touring the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, including South by Southwest in Austin, being selected as one of the top three groups performing.[2]
Kawabata began his own solo offshoot, called Kawabata Makoto & the Mothers of Invasion, in an attempt to create music with a more jazz feel. In 2002, along with Tsuyama Atsushi and Ichiraku Yoshimitsu, the group released their only album under this name.[5]
In 2003, an incarnation of the band called "Acid Mothers Temple mode HHH" was formed to tour Europe, consisting of Kawabata, Tsuyama, and Yoshida, a group who had played together as Seikazoku long before Acid Mothers Temple was formed.[3] The same year, a collaboration of Acid Mothers Temple and Gong called "Acid Mothers Gong" performed at the Royal Festival Hall in London.[2]
Soon after, in 2004, long-time vocalist and synthesizer player Cotton Casino left the group to concentrate on her own group and family while Acid Mothers Gong continued to tour. The group again released four albums in a three-month period, while another collaboration between Acid Mothers Temple and Afrirampo, Acid Mothers Afrirampo, released an album as well. Meanwhile, Acid Mothers Temple mode HHH renamed itself to Acid Mothers Temple SWR and released its own album.[2]
In 2005, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Acid Mothers Temple, a new group called Acid Mothers Temple & the Cosmic Inferno was formed, starting their first European tour in June, and consisting of Higashi Hiroshi, Tabata Mitsuru, Okano Futoshi, and Shimura Koji and releasing several albums. Acid Mothers Temple SWR continued to tour as well. Acid Mothers Temple & the Incredible Strange Band was formed in 2006 by Tsuyama Akiko, Suhara Keizo, Aiko, and Kawabata Makoto. Kitagawa Hao joined The Cosmic Inferno as vocalist, though he left the band after touring the United States in mid-2007. Tsuyama and Kawabata formed another offshoot in December 2006, Acid Gurus Temple, with Mani Neumeier of Guru Guru, which quickly changed its name to Acid Mothers Guru Guru.[2]
The band has also hosted its own yearly festival in Japan, appropriately titled Acid Mothers Festival, since 2002, which has been attended by Yamazaki Maso of Masonna, Afrirampo, Yoshida Tatsuya, Mani Neumeier, Kuriyama Jun, Ohpia, and Seiichi Yamamoto of Boredoms.[2]
With regards to the often-confusing array of names for the different bands, Kawabata has explained:
| “ | Though we shall henceforth be Acid Mothers Temple & the Cosmic Inferno, the new group will also be known in short as Acid Mothers Temple and this will no doubt sow confusion in the minds of many. But the true manifestations of Acid Mothers Temple are many—Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O., Acid Mothers Temple & the Cosmic Inferno, Acid Mothers Temple SWR. The future may see yet other groups bearing similar names. But each and all of them will be true manifestations of Acid Mothers Temple. | ” |
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—Kawabata Makoto[6] |
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The most prolific and widely-known of the various Acid Mothers Temple collectives, Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. is a quartet that plays mostly psychedelic, space-rock type music. Their pieces are often improvised, free-form or experimental, while incorporating elements of American psych rock, drone and world music.
Acid Mothers Temple & the Cosmic Inferno differs from the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. not only in line-up but also in style of music. The Cosmic Inferno generally plays much heavier, hard-rock inspired psychedelia, and experiments more with effects pedals.
Acid Mothers Afrirampo is essentially the core three members of Acid Mothers Temple plus the two members of Afrirampo. Acid Mothers Afrirampo's music is closer to free jazz with experimental elements. There is also a strong focus on the drums.
The Pink Ladies Blues is another Acid Mothers Temple side-project, notable largely because it does not include Kawabata Makoto. In fact, that trio mostly consists of ex-members from the early, formative years of Acid Mothers Temple. Their music is traditional blues and psychedelic.
SWR is an experimental, free-jazz trio composed of Tsuyama, Kawabata, and Japanese experimental rock guru Yoshida Tatsuya of Ruins.
Acid Mothers Guru Guru was founded on a concept similar to SWR, but instead features the drumming of Krautrock drummer Mani Neumeier of Guru Guru.
to release debut LP/CD on Manimal Vinyl in October 2009
Listed alphabetically by band.
| Year | Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | July 19 | Just Another Band from the Cosmic Inferno | Important Records (USA) |
| - | Anthem Of The Space | Ektro Records (Finland) | |
| July 18 [7] | Demons From Nipples | Vivo Records (Poland) | |
| September 20 [8] | IAO Chant From The Cosmic Inferno | Ace Fu Records (USA) | |
| 2006 | February 21 | Starless and Bible Black Sabbath | Alien8 Recordings (Canada) |
| 2007 | December | Ominous From The Cosmic Inferno | Essence Music (Brazil) |
| 2008 | September 8 [9] | Journey Into The Cosmic Inferno | Very Friendly Records (UK) |
| September 15 | Pink Lady Lemonade ~ You're From Outer Space | Riot Season (UK) |
| Year | Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | August 12 [10] | Hotter Than Inferno ~ Live in Sapporo 2008 | Vivo Records (Poland) |
| 2011 | June 10 | Acid Maso Temple/Kill Kill Kill - The Electric Koolaide Results | White Noise Records (USA) |
| Year | Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | January 15 [11] | 2006 Summer Live! (Live at Enban Jamboree) | Enban (Japan) |
| - | Hardcore Uncle Meat | AMT (Japan) | |
| 2008 | - | Hotter Than Inferno ~ Live in Osaka 2007 | AMT (Japan) |
| Year | Date | Title | Type | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | May [12] | Cosmic Funeral Route 666 | European tour CD | AMT (Japan) |
| - | Trigger In Trigger Out | US tour CD-single | Nokahoma Records (USA) | |
| 2007 | - | The Load Is A Virgin Killer | 12" Split EP | Nokahoma Records (USA) |
| 2008 | November [13] | Sonic Attack (Psychedelic Warlords) | 7" Split EP | TRENSMAT (Ireland) |
| Year | Date | Title | Catalog # | Copies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | April | Acid Mother's Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. | 10 | |
| 1997 | February | Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. 1 | AMT-001 | 50 |
| February | Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. 2 | AMT-002 | 50 | |
| 1997 | November | Tanjohen | AMT-003 | 40 |
| 1999 | May | Live + Studio | AMT-004 | 44 |
| 2000 | November | In WFMU 2000 | AMT-005 | 40 |
| Year | Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | May [18] | Monster of the Universe (2x7") | Static Caravan-Resonant |
| September [19] | Grateful Head / Whopping Wild Freaks (7") | Wabana | |
| - | "We Are Here" UK tour October 2001 (Split 7" w/ Nishinihon) | Caravan-Resonant | |
| 2002 | - | Electric Love Machine (7") | Fractal Records |
| - | The Tombstone Phantom Drifter (Split 7" w/ Circle) | Verdura Records | |
| 2003 | October 7 [20] | KINSKI, ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE (Split EP w/ Kinski) | Sub Pop |
| - | A Thousand Shades of Grey (Split EP w/ Escapade) | FÜNFUNDVIERZIG | |
| 2004 | - | Hello Good Child (7") | Ochre |
| Year | Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | - | Ziggy Sitar Dust Raga | Important Records |
| - | Diamond Doggy Peggy | Important Records | |
| September 8[21] | Cosmic Funky Dolly | Important Records |
| Year | Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | - | Live in Occident | Detector[22] |
| 2002 | - | Born to Be Wild in the USA 2000 | Wabana |
| October [23] | Live in Japan | AMT | |
| 2003 | November [24] | Last Concert in Tokyo | AMT |
| - | The Day Before the Sky Fell in America Sept 10, 2001 | Galactic Zoo Disc | |
| 2004 | - | In G (with ultrasound) | Time-Lag |
| - | The Night Before the Sky Fell in America Sept 10, 2001 | Mandarinas | |
| 2005 | October 21[25] | Goodbye John Peel: Live in London 2004 | Dirter Promotions |
| 2006 | - | Power House of Holy | AMT |
| 2011 | - | Live as Troubadour | Important Records |
| Year | Date | Title | Label | Copies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | December | USA (CDR) | AMT | 30 |
| December | UK #1 (CDR) | AMT | 25 | |
| December | UK #2 (CDR) | AMT | 25 |
| Year | Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | - | Do Whatever You Want, Don't Do Whatever You Don't Want!! (Compilation) | Ear Worm Records |
| 2007 | November 26 | The Early Acid Mothers Temple Recordings 1995-1997 | Synesthetic Recordings |