About

Shortly after the breakup of Flower Travellin’ Band, guitarist Hideki Ishima released his first and only solo album in 1973—a hauntingly beautiful work that stands apart in the landscape of ’70s Japanese rock. Known for his later work as a sitar player, Ishima showcases a signature floating guitar sound throughout the album, blending psychedelic rock, acid folk, and introspective singer-songwriter elements into a deeply personal and atmospheric record.

Contributing to this richly textured sound are some of the most notable names from the era: fellow Flower Travellin’ Band member George Wada (drums), future Transam collaborators Chito Kawachi (drums) and Nobuhiko Shinohara (keyboards), and Katsuo Ohno (keyboards) of PYG.

Now reissued with a bold, powerful remaster by Makoto Kubota, this overlooked gem captures a vital moment in Japan’s underground rock evolution and demands a fresh listen from those exploring the outer edges of the genre. — (via Light in the Attic)
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Recorded in 1973, just after the dissolution of Flower Travellin' Band, guitarist Ishima Hideki's lone solo album stands as a quietly radical artefact of Japanese rock. Where his former group chased volume and spectacle, here Ishima turns inward - letting psychedelia dissolve into something more searching and intimate.

"We're Just Tryin' My Way" drifts between acid-folk reverie and loose blues phrasing, whilst "Lady Bird" pairs fragile melody with uneasy calm. Instrumentals like "Artificial Flowers" and "Unbalance" trace his early experiments with sitar, already hinting at the meditative tone that would later define his work. With its mix of restraint and volatility, it remains a deeply personal document and the sound of an artist learning to disappear into his own sound. — (via Juno)

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Label: Nipponophone
Series: J-Digs
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
Country: Japan
Reissued: 2025 / Original: 1973
Genre: Rock, Funk/Soul, Folk
Style: Prog Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Folk Rock,  Japanese

File under: Japanese Folk / Rock
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