TIME019
Heavy Way
Niningashi
A long-lost Japanese acid folk gem, Niningashi’s 1974 private press debut Heavy Way shimmers with originality, deft song writing and a dream-like groove.
FORMAT
LP + Digital
ORIGINAL YEAR
1974
ORIGINAL COUNTRY
Japan
RELEASE DATE
GENRE
Rock, Folk, World, & Country
STYLE
Folk Rock, Acid Rock, Folk, Psychedelic Rock
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STORY
Although he was training as a pharmacist, Kazuhisa Okubo was much more interested in prescribing musical medicine. A coming-of-age album, Heavy Way captured a turning point in Okubo’s life and in Japanese society, where nostalgia for pastoral calm met the cosmopolitan thrill of the big city. Niningashi was his first band and Heavy Way was their only album. Across nine tracks, the six-piece combined witty lyrics, electric guitar solos and crisp, understated grooves. Self-released in 1974 in very small numbers, the album slowly developed a cult following before its Time Capsule reissue.
TRACKLIST
1. Ameagari (After the rain) (6:08)
2. Semai Boku No Heyade (In My Small Room) (2:51)
3. Ososugite (Too Late) (2:36)
4. Miyo Chan (Miyo) (2:39)
5. Oraga Murano Soncho San (Our Village Chief) (2:49)
6. Restaurant (4:10)
7. Natsu (Summer) (5:44)
8. Chikan No Uta (Molester Song) (3:26)
9. Hitoribotchi (On My Own) (4:14)
CREDITS
Kazuhisa Okubo (Vocal, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Harmonica, Washer board)
Kazuyuki Mikami (Vocal, Piano, Banjo, Blockflöte)
Junpei Murakami (Electric Bass, Laugh)
Tatsuya Ishioka (Electric and Acoustic Guitar, Vocal, Flat mandolin)
Masakazu Kitamura (Drum, Vocal, Trumpet)
Kei Nakamura (Bongo, Tambourine)
Producer: Akito Nonaka
Director: Tatsuo Hiramatsu
Illustration: Toshikuni Okubo
Recording Engineer: Yasuhi Koga, Akitto Nonaka, Shigeo Taniguchi
Music Advisor: Yoshinori Iguchi, Yasuo Wada
YOMIN: Sanae Tanabe
All songs are written & composed by Kazuhisa Okubo
Remastered by Andy Baldwin at Metropolis Studios, London, UK
Liner notes by Anton Spice & Kay Suzuki
Artwork by Leon Moh-Cah
