Description
The emergence of Japan's acid folk scene in the late 1960s was deeply intertwined with the turbulent political climate of the time. This movement was driven by a mix of Dadaists, communists, pharmacists, and cult leaders, united by a generation of rebellious students, artists, and dreamers determined to upend their world.
Taking root on university campuses in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, the scene revolved around the newly established independent label URC, a left-wing hub. This distinctly Japanese folk expression allowed musicians to move away from merely imitating Western sounds, finding fresh ways to sing in Japanese and incorporate traditional forms into contemporary music.
At the forefront of this revolution was Haroumi Hosono of Yellow Magic Orchestra. His earlier band, Happy End, released the first Japanese-language rock album, a groundbreaking move that would influence Japanese music for decades. Along with key figures like Kansai scene’s Takashi Nishioka and Happy End collaborator Ken Narita, they experimented with the nuances of the Japanese language, paving the way for others to explore their own psychedelic folk interpretations.
Chansons