Long form twisted blues from the Japanese Seijaku Trio of Keiji Haino (guitar, voice, violin & flute), Mitsuru Nasuno (bass) and Yoshimitsu Ichiraku (drums), performing live at Club Goodman in Tokyo in 2012. The music is profoundly introspective and dark, with spacious sections leading to vocal interventions from Haino, either melodic speaking to urgent shouts. His guitar work shimmers and distorts, and the band punctuates or creates powerful grooves below. It's an album to take time with, as the music unfolds slowly, taking turns into demanding and disturbing territory, but always returning to the blues.
The liner notes from Yoshimitsu Ichiraku explain that this is Ichiraku's last tour, hence the title of the album. Sadly he has been diagnosed with physical issues that will prevent his playing drums in the future. A fitting end to this trio, where pain and dark beauty meet to create something ardent and lasting.
