Yamasuki - Les Monde Fabuleux Des Yamasuki
[Finders Keepers]

'Les Monde Fabuleux Des Yamasuki' is the second release for the Finders Keepers label - a company set up by a team of esteemed crate diggers (Andy Votel, Dominic Thomas and Doug Shipton of Cherry Red) who search high and low for those rare, ground-breaking records that were either never given a full release, or were destined to live a life of obscurity.

Originally released in 1971 on the French label Biram, due to it's difficult nature and "comedy" approach, the record was never going to reach a mainstream status. Yamasuki fell under a throwaway, gimmick style reception, due mainly to their concept of music making; a French / Japanese crossover choreography project, whose aim it was to bridge the gap between European and Eastern-Asian culture.

The album is an assortment of styles that throws together contasting genres; flutes and recorders sit atop proto hip-hop beats, wah guitars and funk basslines. Vocals are Japenese lyrics sung by French musicians, with each track introduced by an authentic agressive judo master. Ye-Ye is met with Asian music, as French pop tracks are composed with Oriental influences in mind.

A genuinely freakish release that for once actually defies categorisation or loose pigeon-holing; call it avant-French pop, vintage Asian hip-hop or culture-crossing post prog rock, you'll never find a record so bizarre, forward-thinking and exciting as 'Les Monde Fabuleux Des Yamasuki'. Baffling and entertaining in equal measures - reissue of the year thus far.