Tori Kudo Vinyl, CD & tapes by Tori Kudo at Norman Records

Je Est Un Autre - taken from a Rimbaud quotation - is a double 10” vinyl collection showing the evolution of Japanese composer Tori Kudo and his Maher Shalal Hash Baz alter ego/group, taken from various points of a mammoth concert at the finale of his March 2018 tour. It’s the sound of spontaneity and improvisation welded to the discipline of a large, well-rehearsed ensemble. 

A collaboration between DJ and archive curator Kayo Makino and underground artist Tori Kudo, featuring mastering work by a certain Jim O’Rourke, Ein Traum Fur Dich is a thing of extreme beauty. It consists of two side-long pieces, both soundscapes of digitised ambience cut through with Kudo’s haunting piano. 

Gala-Kei is a multi-layered work from cult Japanese musician Tori Kudo, an avant-folk kind of character who has been operating in the shadows for many years. Gala-Kei is made up of live recordings from Tori’s band Maher Shalal Hash Baz, voicemail recordings from Hashizaka Ai, and some further material from Tori. Quite a listen. On Bruit Direct Disques.