TUNDRA

Korekyojinn is a trio from Japan led by drummer Yoshida Tatsyuda of the Zeuhl / Avant group Ruins. Joined with guitarist Kido Natsuki from Bondage Fruit and bassist Nasuno Mitsuru, this project sounds nothing like Zeuhl and instead is a very fresh take on jazz fusion. All of the instruments are active and each has a raw tonality that makes the recording have a very live feel. Though precise, the music grooves hard, and clearly very little has been done to doctor the performances for the album. The band that this most closely reminds me of is LA fusion trio Ohm:, though Korekyojinn is both more composed and more raw.

All of the pieces are carefully composed and deliberate which I confirmed by checking out video of the band. Though the songs may have evolved out of jams, the central melodic lines were identical. Korekyojinn is able to retain a very spontaneous vibe and energy, almost to the point of feel spastic. At the same the music on Tundra never feels out of control or random. In fact, it isn't particularly Avant-Garde to my ear, except in a few very specific spots. Instead, it's just a trio of very gifted musicians getting together to make some great instrumental music.

There are a few quirky surprises. The acoustic, jazzy guitar free time intro to "Vanishing Point" gives us a nice respite before dropping into a bass-heavy prog that brings to mind Anglagard. "Xenon" does dabble a bit more in the noise realm, much like a drugged nightmare. "Abandoned" actually beings in an almost loung-y vein, before ending the album closer to the band's core sound.

I am a relative newcomer to the Japanese scene so the strange genre choices maybe make sense for more experienced fans. Certainly, this album has some similarities with my only Bondage Fruit record. It is, however nothing like Koenjihyakkei's Magma-on-speed sound. However you choose to categorize the niche of this band and its parents, there is clearly both great skill and emotion in the performance of this hybrid.

For lovers of slightly experimental, slightly raw, slightly proggy fusion, Tundra might be just what you're looking for. 4/5

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