Yumiko Morioka – Resonance (Metro Records)

Brian Eno and Erik Satie records must have sold like gangbusters in 1980’s Japan. Here’s another brilliant disciple from the environmental/ambient scene that was happening over there. Morioka weaves perfect piano drift with real chops behind it. I will listen to anything like this, so maybe I’m not too discerning when it comes to gentle “Satie-esque” ‘80s explorations. File alongside Hiroshi Yoshimura’s Music for Nine Postcards and the Sound Process label.

Carola Baier – The Story of Valerie (Concentric Circles)

Here’s a true lost gem, literally rescued from a Goodwill charity shop bin. It was reissued back in 2018, but I am just now hearing it. Early ‘90s 4AD/Dead Can Dance worship or maybe if Sinead made a minimal synth record, either one will do it for me. It sounds like 4-track, an early digital synth, and strong vocals sung through a cheap reverb box, but it takes you on a real emotional journey. Painful love letters, this thing just aches. This is one of the more arresting lost recordings you will encounter.

Zeel – Hard Rock on Easy Street (Tall Texan)

The compass spins wildly from serenity to 4AD to basement weed noise. I have been jamming this a lot. Zeel is from Boston and plays SST/Homestead Records late ‘80s dirtbag pop with psychedelic colors splashed on muddy riffs: Das Damen, Green River, Dinosaur (pre-jr). Milk Music made a masterpiece with the Cruise Your Illusion LP exploring similar territory back in 2013. I can smell the filthy shag carpet and stale beer, then the acid kicks in. There are damp copies of Vincebus Eruptum and A Catholic Education on the floor. (Full disclosure: Tall Texan has released some records by me)

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

If you appreciate what we are doing here on Free Form Freakout, please consider making a small donation via Ko-fi. All donations received go towards paying our guest contributors and covering our website hosting fees.