SECOND PHASE

Description

Two years after Introducing, this 1977 release—the second installment in Toshiba EMI’s acclaimed “Pro Use Series”—returns on clear green vinyl. Joining the returning rhythm section of Shuichi “Ponta” Murakami (drums) and Ray Ohara (bass), percussionist Nobu Saito and others further strengthen the album’s rhythmic foundation. Highlights include the classic “Left Handed Woman”, where Jun Fukamachi explores new possibilities for the analog synthesizer while engaging in electrifying solo exchanges with the song’s composer, Kenji Ohmura, as well as “Take It Easy Mr King Kong”, which makes inventive use of a talk box. More accessible, more thrilling, and even more refined than its predecessor, this album stands as a superb showcase of Fukamachi’s evolving musical vision.