Tundra

Of all Tatsuya Yoshida's projects, Korekyojinn might just be the most accessible: no weird zeuhl vocals and tunes that open up and make room for some soloing and just plain rock out. OK, maybe accessible isn't quite the right word because these are ferocious, odd-meter, polyrhythmic power trio instrumentals at their finest. Anyone familiar with the Japanese underground music scene knows Tatsuya Yoshida is a monster drummer. Well, Kido Natsuki is certainly one of the best guitarists you've probably never heard of and Nasuno Mitsuru is an excellent bass player. These guys have been playing together a long time, and it shows. They negotiate some hyper-technical passages with ease but can lay back and get spacy too, as in "Xenon." Try to imagine Red-era King Crimson with no David Cross (and a more rock & roll-oriented Fripp) and nearly a decade of playing together and you're in the ballpark. There's a great bass solo on "Swan Dive" and Kido Natsuki is amazing throughout. Of course, it's Tatsuya Yoshida's band and he wrote all the material, drummed his ass off, and mixed the album, so he ultimately deserves the bulk of the credit. Bottom line: Tundra is a great album by a great band. If you like hard-edged rock instrumentals, check this one out.