Japan’s LSD March are best known for their thunderously loud and trippy music. Empty Rubious Red shows a softer and more melodic side as the group is stripped back to Shinsuke Michishita alone. The white hot power is still there but only rarely bubbles to the surface. Instead the focus is on building the same power and tension through quieter and less overdriven playing.
Archive
Empty Rubious Red was originally self-released by Michishita last year in a tiny edition of about 200 copies. This reissue gives the album a much nicer sleeve and a bonus alternative take of the title track. “Empty Rubious Red (Take 3)” is tacked on to the start of the album where it sits comfortably. It is loose in structure, mainly random guitar and percussion with echo. It sounds nice but doesn’t go anywhere. “As Many as Stars in the Sky” follows it and is quite a departure in style. Michishita sings softly over a clean electric guitar; it’s bare and beautiful. The album continues in this vein.
However despite the soft side, there are still some extreme sounds on it. On “I Have Been Saving My Love for You” there is a bass playing in the right speaker that packs a mighty punch, listening on headphones was like getting my ear syringed. Empty Rubious Red sounds like it was recorded quite rough and ready but the music is clear and the dynamics are incredible. The different instruments and Michishita’s voice feel like they are all around me in the room giving an intimate and warm feeling.
The original version of “Empty Rubious Red” is far superior to the bonus version. There is a strong bass drone underlying the song. The guitar sounds more confident and Takahashi (one of two appearances) on drums provide more punch, especially during the last two minutes when the song turns into the aural representation of a cosmic orgasm. This fades out into “I only Have Hands for Hold You,” a plodding song that finishes off the album and leaves a relaxed feeling hanging in the air. Empty Rubious Red is as much of a gem as the title suggests. I hope that Archive will consider reissuing more of LSD March’s mainly out of print back catalogue as this and the recent live album have whetted my appetite for more.
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