Get ready to dive into new psychedelic music from Japan with Yaryu’s For Damage, due for release on October 25th. Centripetal Force (North America), Cardinal Fuzz (U.K.), and Ramble Records (Australia) will release the record on vinyl and digitally, bringing us a work that blends the meditative qualities of New Age music with the improvisational ethos of psych-jazz.
Yaryu is a Japanese musical collective founded in 2022 that makes music of genre-blending brilliance. Their mission is to unite people through music, transcending boundaries and elevating experiences from the every day to the extraordinary. Yaryu’s workshops and live events invite musicians of all skill levels to contribute their unique voices, fostering a collaborative spirit where creativity thrives in the moment.
As Hyzo, the keyboardist and harpist, puts it:
“Yaryu is about awakening ideas and bringing them to life. We focus on collective expression rather than individual prowess, creating an environment where everyone can contribute to the music. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced player, our ensembles celebrate the sound itself, embracing the diversity of our participants. Anyone who resonates with this philosophy is part of Yaryu.”
With over 200 performers having graced their sessions, Yaryu’s latest album, For Damage, distills their vast experiences and eclectic influences. This release is a love letter to their favorite sounds: spiritual jazz, electric Miles Davis, Can’s experimental grooves, and traditional Japanese folk’s timelessness.
Initially a duo featuring keyboardist/harpist Hyozo (De Lorians) and Indian flute/harpist Hajime Orikawa, Yaryu’s lineup for For Damage also includes luminaries such as Shota Mizuno (Sunday & Cybele), Takuro Okada (Carlos Niño, Sam Gendel, Nels Cline), Makoto Kawabata (Acid Mothers Temple), Ryo Fushimi (Dhidalah), and Hyozo’s sister Jou.
Beyond their live performances and workshops, Yaryu’s commitment extends to recording and sharing their sonic explorations. With seven documented sessions to date, For Damage stands out as their most widely distributed work, thanks to the support of Centripetal Force, Cardinal Fuzz, and Ramble Records.
For Damage weaves together the rich blend of New Age and jazz, crafting an auditory escape that invites listeners to find inner peace and reflection. The album unfolds with lush ambient soundscapes (“Up the Creek” and “Asobe”), delicate instrumentation, rhythmic nuances (“Utena” and “Gandhara”), organic song structures (“Nagare”), and subtle psychedelic touches (“Shirabe”).
The record starts with the brief “Up The Creek,” featuring the shimmering keys of an electric piano, electronic flourishes from a guitar synthesizer, and the gentle sounds of Wakana Ikeda’s flute. It melds seamlessly into “Asobe,” where you may most notice the mesmerizing chanted vocals. Everything is light and airy, making you feel like you’re drifting weightlessly through the clouds.
“Nagare” leans heavier into psychedelic free jazz, with a liquid groove and delicate hypnotic guitar. The interplay between the guitar, trumpet, and ambient textures evokes a dreamlike state, inviting listeners to lose themselves in a labyrinth of sound. Picture yourself in a Tokyo jazz lounge with this one.
“Utena” features some interesting click-clacking percussion punctuated by Hyozo’s rhythmic melodica. The song is a serene sanctuary where worlds collide, the old merges with the new, and barriers are broken.
“Gandhara” is the first song to transition into more of a rock format, with pounding drums and Ton Ton Tomato Chang’s howling vocals. The track evolves organically, capturing the essence of Yaryu’s spontaneous creativity.
“Sacrifice” brings the melodica back and combines it with a grooved- and psyched-out electric guitar and piano. It is perhaps the most psychedelic song on the record, blending into a free-flowing cosmic jazz.
The album closes with the epic, nearly twenty-minute-long “Shirabe.” The field recording playing softly in the background places us squarely in the group’s Zen garden, working our way toward inner peace with the music. The track is an excellent, soothing way to end a supremely relaxing record.
The Third Eye loves to explore Japanese psych rock and acid folk, so we were thrilled to hear this new record. For Damage is a metaphysical journey through the diverse realms of sound crafted by Yaryu. With its fusion of New Age serenity, psych-jazz improvisation, and ambient textures, For Damage takes you on a musical trip deep into the Far East, and you likely won’t want to return.
Pre-order For Damage by Yaryu on Bandcamp here.
Centripetal Force: Bandcamp | Official Website | Instagram | Twitter
Cardinal Fuzz: Bandcamp
Ramble Records: Bandcamp | Instagram | Official Website
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