A dreamlike dispatch from mid-80's Japan, the first and only Hallelujahs album is an entrancing and gentle work of psychedelic pop brilliance. In a series of informal studio sessions between 1985 and 1986, Shinji Shibayama (Nagisa Ni Te) gathered a group of friends, emerging luminaries from the burgeoning Kansai underground rock scene including Naoki Zushi (Hijokaidan, Spiral Stairs / 螺旋階段), Ken Ichi "Idiot" Takayama (Idiot O'Clock) and Chie Mukai (Ché-SHIZU) to form what would become known as Hallelujahs. The result was a music of deep feeling and wonderment created through simple song craft and imbued with a sort of guileless magic. Their sole album presented a set of unvarnished songs, filled with vulnerable, intimate moments, caught on reel to reel, most often in single takes never to be repeated.
The album was self-released in 1986 in a micro-edition of 300 copies. It was the first record by Shibayama's now revered ORG Records which would go on to introduce the world to the likes of Maher Shalal Hash Baz, Reiko Kudo as well as his own group, Nagisa Ni Te.
With affinities to the sounds of the Rough Trade and Flying Nun labels, the Paisley Underground and Galaxie 500, the Hallelujahs' "Eat Meat, Swear an Oath" is an utterly unique masterpiece that remains a touchstone for generations of like spirited artists in Japan and around the world.
Black Editions is proud to present this all-time classic in a deluxe vinyl edition, remastered from the original tapes and presented in a heavy tip-on jacket with textured paper, mounted high quality print, foil stamped finishes and spot colors.
Recorded at Town House, Kyoto and Neo Music Shop, Osaka
between August 1985∼June 1986, except “Green lovers” December 1984.
Originally released in 1986 by Org Records, Japan (ORG-001) Edition of 300.
Personnel:
Shinji Shibayama – Vocals, Guitar
Idiot – Guitar (1,7), Drumkit/Percussion (3,4)
Chie Mukai – Erhum two-stringed Chinese violin (8)
Koji Saga – Bass (1)
Kaco Sanada – Piano (5)
Takahisa Watanabe – Guitar (1,6,7), Bass (2-4)
Naoki Zushi – Vocals, Guitar (2-5)
Engineered by Shunji Tsuji
Executive producers: Idiot o’clock and Yakeppachi no Maria
Produced by Shinji Shibayama
Cover by Yoshizo Sonoda
Graphics by Kumiko Yoshioka
Vinyl Mastering by Kevin Gray, Cohearent Audio
Black Editions Executive Producer: Peter Kolovos