Acid Mothers Temple - Kawabata Makoto Interview

added: 6 Nov 2011
interviewed by: Ross Cotton

Email this interview Printable version Japanese psychedelic collective Acid Mothers Temple have been bringing back to life the spirit on the 70s for quite some time now, mystifying their constantly strengthening British fan-base each time they tour the UK in a word-of-mouth compendium.

With a firm connection to Birmingham, consisting of album releases through the likes of labels Riot-Season, Static Caravan and even Swordfish records, it's clear that Acid Mother's return to Hare & Hounds on 5th November couldn't have been anymore warmly welcomed.

?[In 2001] Geoff Dolman from Static Caravan and both Andy's (Smith & Slocombe) from Resonant proposed me to make an album for their labels?, says lead guitarist Kawabata Makoto.

The two Midlands based labels combined to become 'Staticresonance'.

?It was Acid Mother's first release for UK. Up until then, we were a totally unknown band. Then when Absolutely Freak Out (Zap Your Mind) was released, (The title a parody of Frank Zappa's first and second albums Freak Out!, and Absolutely Free), we had a plan to tour the UK?.

As for their latest album, The Ripper at the Heaven's Gate of Dark, it seems a real treat for local label Riot-Season to release such a corker.

?This new album is very classical rock 'n' roll?, says Makoto.
?Our music is not new, it's very old school, old fashioned. People say we are the first Japanese band to be touring the UK since the 70s. The last Japanese band, Sadistic Mika Band, they toured with Roxy Music.
?So after them, no Japanese band like us has toured in the UK. We've been touring here for eleven years now!?, he says.

And how does Makoto and the other members of Acid Mothers create such a hypnotic psychedelic sound?
?We improvise?, he says.
?Each time, we have no idea what will happen. My cosmos soul is always telling me what to do. I channel it; so it's very easy?.

While the future of Makoto's music is looking even more exciting.
?I have a new project?, he says.
?This is not announced yet, but I played in a band called Mainliner in the early 90s. Now, people seemed to be discovering them again, so I want to reform that band?.

The new Acid Mothers Temple album 'The Ripper at the Heaven's Gate of Dark' is out now.

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