MUSHIKUI MANDALA

LUNAPARK ENSEMBLE were a Japanese avantgarde-experimental sound project and simultaneously might be Rorie's self-expressionism. This reissued album "Mushi-kui Mandala" (in English, "A Vermiculated Mandala") is not simply reissued one but something like a compiled one with the mini-album plus their debut EP, the 7-inch single donut, and some extra or unreleased tracks. What I can say through the entire album, Rorie should be a strong and self-asserted or centered girl, with her loud voices and original way on singing songs. Do not know why she has left the music scene but it's a pity without any suspicion.

Anyway, the main part of this album (from Track 2 to 10) sounds like Avant Folk (not Rock) to me, with some junk percussive stuffs or light-sounded instruments (like a soprano recorder). This music style can remind me Maher Shalal Hash Baz by Tori Kudo - maybe because LUNAPARK had recorded a single "Kawaii Watashi No Doppelgänger" with collaboration from Tori's trombone two years before? Very simple but eccentrically scattered songs are in, where only Rorie did Rock by her voices centering herself. In 1986 this avant-folksy music style could be very original and unrivaled, but sadly not enough for every progressive rock freak I guess.

Oh rather, the latter part of this "compilation" is their eponymous EP itself, that can be more of progressive rock than the chief manager here. Suppose Tetsuto might push pop & ROCK elements into them, and their EP could be well-balanced as an Avantgarde Progressive Rock one.

And the most impressive song for me is the first track "The Scramble Suite" ... featuring a strange pop, an ethnic shower, a funky rock, mystic fruits ... produced by Fred Frith (wow!). This song can include almost all of LUNAPARK essence surely. Wataru's sensitive Acid Folk, Rorie's mysterious tour, Tetsuto's hard-edged granite Rock ... all are excellently shining.

You can see various appearances of LUNAPARK ENSEMBLE in this "compilation". Please enjoy.