Keiji Haino

Keiji Haino is a Japanese musician whose work has included rock, free improvisation, noise, singer-songwriter, solo percussion, psychedelic, minimalism and drone styles, and covers. He has been active since the 1970's and continues to record regularly and in new styles. His main instruments of choice have been guitar and vocals, with many other instruments and approaches incorporated into his career's work. Haino is known for intensely cathartic sound explorations, and much of his work bears an insular singularity, but his output has been so varied as to not always be recognizable as him.

Related Topics:
Rock - Free improvisation - Noise - Singer-songwriter - Percussion - Psychedelic - Minimalism - Drone - Covers

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Haino's initial artistic outlet was theatre, inspired by the radicalism of the Antonin Artaud-influenced Shuji Terayama. An epiphanic moment came when he heard The Doors' "When The Music's Over" and changed course towards music. After brief stints in a number of blues and experimental outfits, he formed improvised rock band Lost Aaraaf in 1970. In the mid 1970s, having left Lost Aaraaf, he collaborated with psychedelic multi-instrumentalist Magical Power Mako and film soundtrack composer Toru Takemitsu.

Related Topics:
Antonin Artaud - Shuji Terayama - The Doors - Magical Power Mako - Toru Takemitsu

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His musical output throughout the late 1970s is scarcely documented, until the formation of his rock duo Fushitsusha in 1978 (although their first LP did not surface until 1989). This outfit initially consisted of Haino on guitar and vocals, and Tamio Shiraishi on synthesizer. With the departure of Shiraishi and the addition of Jun Hamano (bass) and Shuhei Takashima (drums), Fushitsusha operated as a trio. The lineup soon changed, with Yasushi Ozawa (bass) and Jun Kosugi (drums) performing throughout the 1990s, but returned to a duo with Haino supplementing percussion with tape-loops.

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Haino formed Aihiyo in 1998, principally playing a diverse range of covers (including The Rolling Stones, The Ronettes, and the Jimi Hendrix Experience), transforming the original material into Haino's unique form of garage psychedelia.

Related Topics:
The Rolling Stones - The Ronettes - Jimi Hendrix Experience

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Other groups Haino has formed include Vajra (with underground folk singer Kan Mikami and drummer Toshiaki Ishizuka), Knead and Sanhedolin (both featuring members of noise rock outfit Ruins) and a solo project called Nijiumu. He has also collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including Faust, Jim O'Rourke, Derek Bailey, Peter Brotzmann, Lee Konitz, Charles Gayle, Musica Transonic, and Fred Frith.

Related Topics:
Faust - Jim O'Rourke - Derek Bailey - Peter Brotzmann - Lee Konitz - Charles Gayle - Musica Transonic - Fred Frith

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Haino cites a broad range of influences, including troubadour music, Marlene Dietrich, Iannis Xenakis, Syd Barrett, and Charlie Parker. His recent foray into DJing at Tokyo nightclubs has reportedly reflected his eclectic taste. He has had a long love affair with early blues music, particularly the works of Blind Lemon Jefferson, and is heavily inspired by the Japanese musical concept of 'Ma', the silent spaces in music (see Taiko for more information). He also has a keen interest in Butoh dancing and collecting ethnic instruments.

Related Topics:
Troubadour - Marlene Dietrich - Iannis Xenakis - Syd Barrett - Charlie Parker - Blind Lemon Jefferson - Taiko - Butoh

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