In August 1969, visionary Japanese guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi formed his first New Direction group and embarked on an unparalleled musical journey that would forge a radical new musical language. Comprised of himself on acoustic and electric guitar and joined by Motoharu Yoshizawa on bass and Yoshisaburo 'Sabuoz' umi on drum s, Takayanagi's group created a new unconstrained form of music; It expanded on the most radical, fiery elements of American and European Free Jazz, while refracting them through an avant-garde prism. Harmonic and melodic development were rejected in fof feedback and complete spontaneity. With New Direction, Takayanagi had achieved a "decisive break" the past, creating a ferocious, often violent sound that paradoxically took both musical movement and stillness to their extremes. In the process, he helped set off a musical revolution that has resonated in the decades since, both in the Japanese underground and the wide world of adventurous music. As influencial as he was, it was not until 25 years later that a wide audience would finally hear ayanagi's vision With the group in it's most explosive and unmitigated realization; Japan's P.S.F. records released two CD's which featured unearthed, previously unheard 1970 recordings made at the legendary Shibuya Tokyo venue, Station '70. The recordings were revelatory; They presented nascent, jarring versions of the "Gradually Protion" and Mass Mass Projection" mod. alities in uncut, unvarnished long form. Joined on some tracks by saxophonist Mototeru Takagi, the performances are intensely physical and visceral creating something entirely new and beautiful. Black Editions is proud to present the entirety of the recordings presented on both P.S.F. albums as well as a previously unreleased side-long Mass Prodelin a jection e, remastered 3 LP box set. The set features the stark photography of the late Yuji Itsumi and presents the original liner notes by key Japanese music critics and historians Yoshiyuki Kitazato and Toshihiko Shimizu newly translated into English as well as in the original Japanese.
