TIMMM

Day 2 celebrating 4 years of Polaris. Acts include: Takashi Kashikura, Yuji Katsui Kengo Matsumoto, Sugar Yoshinaga, Dairo Suga, Risa Takeda, Rubii Nakamura, mito, Jan Urila Sas and others.

I’m a big fan of Ayami Suzuki’s work, so much so that I released a cassette of hers with Takashi Masubuchi on my label Union Pole: see Featherland. Her vocal work is stunning: Celtic energy running through cryptic codes. Is that a language? Probably not. Does it matter? Probably not. Is it better that way? Probably yes. Tonight is the first of two nights at Ftarri, where Ayami’s ambient folk meets up again with Florence Cats, who she toured France with last September. They’re new to me, but I put this on earlier today and got spun. Everyone who attends gets a free CD from Ftarri: Florence Cats’ arch or We are now approaching Mo i Rana,

Night two at Ftarri with Ayami Suzuki and Florence Cats from Belgium, and this time compositions will be played. I’m guessing individual sets from everyone, though I’d welcome some collaborations too: Yoko Ikeda’s plucked violin, Leo Okagawa’s synthy soothe, and Jesus Weekend’s Riley-ish riffs on keys, all welcome additions. Everyone in attendance gets a free copy of eye ear soul say by Masaya Ozaki and Florence Cats, on Ftarri.

Miss this 90s post-hardcore group from Kansas the first time around? Now’s your chance. Some resissues of their grungey stompers have surfaced over the past few years, and 2025 album BELIEVEYOUME received an album of the week accolade from tinnitist.com. Two deades off can sometimes be just what the doctor ordered!

First of two Tokyo nights at Nanahari for David Grubbs, hailing from Squirrel Bait to Bastro on through to Gastr del Sol and then decades of solo work. He’s joined by Tadahiko Yokogawa on violin, electronics and voice.

Opening day of “pray,” a nine-day group show by Shinobu Hashimoto, Soudai Arisaka, Ema Nakano and Kuriwo inside the former-sake-hut on the grounds of SupernaturalDeluxe. Doors open at noon, with ambient and experimental DJ sets from Chris SSG and David Dicembre. Swiss trio Schnellertollermeier play later in the evening.

Final night of two Tokyo appearances at Nanahari for David Grubbs. He’s joined by Fumi Endo, a pianist who is comfortable with quiet and knows how to use it.

Experimental metal band from Montreal with releases on Southern Lord and Thrill Jockey. 12 years since their first lp and still carving out new sounds and spaces leaning into some doomy psychedelic folk. Last date in their five show tour of Japan supporting universally praised album “in grief or in hope”.

Shrimper BLOOD in the house, and back at Nanahari again! Amps for Christ first came into these ears as a three-dollar cassette years ago, landing at PO Box 1832 in Olympia. And Gun Outfit came out of that same Olympia years after that ship sailed. Henry Barnes plays in both, so you get him twice in one night. Rob Noyes, Tokyo’s own 12-string maestro, as good as it gets, opens things up with a hummmmm.

The “pray” exhibition wraps up with two days of duos by Jim O’Rourke and Eiko Ishibashi. Every performance is a bit different than the one before, so why not stick a stake in the ground and call the eastern Chiba seaboard home for the weekend. Keiji Yamabe from Los Apson? and DJ Kayo are on the decks.

Last day of “pray,” and the second of Jim O’Rourke and Eiko Ishibashi’s two closing duos. A midday affair, so doable as a day trip from Tokyo. Catch the morning bus, wander around the sea, yell across the wall at the imprisoned dolphins, wander back to the show, eat some pizza, enjoy the set, and be back in Tokyo by dinner. Keiji Yamabe from Los Apson? and DJ Kayo are on DJ duties once again.

Tabla player U-zhaan meets up and plays with guitarist Yoshihide Otomo in this Encounter. Disciples of Zakir Hussain and Masayuki Takayanagi, they hadn’t met until this year, and this event marks their first performance as a duo. Otomo can get pretty darn percussive on that guitar, so get ready to dance.

Holy fucking shit this is actually happening. Two of free improvisation’s most combustible players: Ken Vandermark (saxophone outta Chicago, USA) and Paal Nilssen-Love (drummer outta Norway) meet up and Otomo Yoshihide and, as if that was not enough, bring in the Incapacitants! Some call it noise, some call it free-jazz, some call it just breaking shit. GET IN.

Noise-master Toshiji Mikawa (Incapacitants, Hijokaidan) meets Risa Takeda (ebony and ivory) and Akio Jeimus (subtle-but-punk drum massager) in the basement of Bar Isshee. Not sure if the walls of the bar called Isshee are ready for what might ensue. Show up and find out.

The Greatest comes to Tokyo, ahhh dude. This record played all the way through will be meltingly good.

Line up to see what happens when Tatsuhisa Yamamoto’s gentle-but-smashing percussion bumps up against Rai Tateishi’s burbling bamboo flute. Look for it to propel, shuttle and bump. Tripped and spun, ready for fun.