Taku Sugimoto Recommendations

[crawjo]

I've really been getting into Sugimoto's work over the past few months. I enjoy drifting into his world from time to time, and I can't say there has been an album of his that has disappointed me. There have been performances within albums that I haven't cared for, but that's about it. Anyway, I know there are a couple people here who collect Sugimoto releases, so maybe they can help me figure out what I'm missing that I should get. Let me give the rundown of what I already have:

Amplify Box Set
The World Turned Upside Down
Futatsu
An Old Fashioned Duet
Eine Gitarre ist Eine Gitarre...
Live in Australia
Nikos Veliotis Quartet on Hibari
Principia Sugimatica
Opposite

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[MRS]

I really love his recent Cut (well, it's his composition w/Jason Kahn on amplified cymbal) and I've never been able to explain why. I just picked up his split w/Drumm off BOXmedia (turns out that strange duck had another copy after the auction, Jon) and his duo w/Drumm off Meme, will report.

Oh, and I Am Happy If You Are Happy has long been one of my most treasured recordings in this branch

[walto]

I like Ajar, with Otomo and Rowe. I also like Opposite. Don't care so much for World Turned Upside Down, though.

[MRS]

lethally spot-on, Baxter from Wire: "this sounds as thought it were recorded in a balloon drifting away from fireworks display"

[saltwatersnow]

i think italia is one not mentioned that is really great

[Richard Pinnell]

Aaah, one of my favourite subjects!

I have recently brought my Sugimoto collection to 99.5% complete with the addition of a couple of eBay purchases; Myshkin Musicu (very lovely) on Slub and an early Sugimoto/Akiyama duo cassette 'The Logic of Exception' (not so lovely) also on Slub.

Sugimoto's discography is pretty up to date at the IMJ site.

My favourite solo Sugimotos are probably Tori on OffSite Records, Italia on A Bruit Secret and Opposite on Hat.

Fave collaborations would be W.T.U.D, I am Happy..., the Krebs duets, The Ezaki/Sugimoto/Unami recording on Hibari and the Mon:Goose disc of Sugimoto/Akiyama/Kawasaki.

Michael I am sure you are aware but there is another duo disc with Drumm, named Den on the Sonoris label, similar stuff to the Meme release, and worth grabbing in my opinion if you are lucky enough to spot it someplace.

[Richard Pinnell]

Originally Posted by walto

I like Ajar, with Otomo and Rowe. I also like Opposite. Don't care so much for World Turned Upside Down, though.

Yes I forgot Ajar, another gem

[MRS]

Originally Posted by Richard Pinnell

Michael I am sure you are aware but there is another duo disc with Drumm, named Den on the Sonoris label, similar stuff to the Meme release, and worth grabbing in my opinion if you are lucky enough to spot it someplace.

I've been on the case for some time!

[Jon Abbey]

we're getting copies of that Sonoris disc in the near future, it's a good one.

[Sergio Zamora]

Originally Posted by Richard Pinnell

...there is another duo disc with Drumm, named Den on the Sonoris label, similar stuff to the Meme release

Better, imo. It's good as a gauge of where these two were about half a decade ago, but not very indicative of where either musician is at now.

[Jon Abbey]

Originally Posted by Richard Pinnell

Fave collaborations would be W.T.U.D, I am Happy..., the Krebs duets, The Ezaki/Sugimoto/Unami recording on Hibari and the Mon:Goose disc of Sugimoto/Akiyama/Kawasaki.

yeah, these are mostly from my fave period of collaborative Taku, which is roughly 2000-2002, before he moved into his more recent superminimal phase (which I also find personally rewarding, just less consistently).

one of my favorite aspects of balance beams is that it captured Taku on both sides of this turning point within a week, barely playing in three sets in the main festival, but still quite active in some of the other shows surrounding the fest, particularly the duo with Stangl. the six Richard recommended above are all very strong, with my least favorite being the duo with Muller.

one personal fave not mentioned so far is this:

http://www.japanimprov.com/indies/outone/hautes.html

you can hear the film projector rolling the whole time, really beautiful record. not sure if it's still possible to find or not, I'll try to remember to ask Otomo when he's here soon.

[Jesse]

At this point, all the Sugimoto I own has been referenced, so I can only offer my preferences:

Frequently Returned To:

Sugimoto Opposite
Sugimoto/Stangl An Old Fashioned Duet
Sugimoto Italia
Sugimoto/Drumm Den
Sugimoto/Rowe/Muller The World Turned Upside Down
Sugimoto/Krebs A Duo In Berlin
Sugimoto/Ezaki/Unami Trio At Off Site

Also Enjoyable:

Sugimoto/Krebs Eine Gitarre Ist...
Sugimoto Guitar Quartet
Sugimoto Tori
Sugimoto/Malfatti Futatsu

[Gary Sisco]

My favorite is "Opposite" for solo, though a close second favorite is the 2nd of "Live In Australia." I think his ultraminimalist releases are inconsistent, to my ears, but that's a good one. My favorite collaborations are "The World Turned Upside Down" and "Les Hautes Solitude...."