I/O(I・O)

(LP)
(Japanese pressing, Official reissue) Brilliant synth prog weirdness from the late 1970s Tokyo. Recorded by the guitarist Akio Niitsu who was compared, not without reason, to Manuel Göttsching. Niitsu has a fairly small discography of only three full-length albums, but his second one - “Pet Step” - was on Tomita’s label and supposedly with the involvement of Haruomi Hosono (this is according to Chee Shimizu who lists it in his “Obscure Music”).
Genre Electronica
StyleAmbient, Experimental, Fusion, Japanese
FormatVINYL
Cat. noTJJA10061
Label TOKUMA JAPAN COMMUNICATIONS
Artist AKIO NIITSU
Release Date14/06/2024
CarrierLP
Barcode4988008093513
PressingJapan
Akio Niitsu's first album, "I/O(i?o)" released in 1978, was produced in a homemade studio that had been converted from a storeroom in his home, and he spent three years doing everything from composition to engineering by himself, using overdubbed guitar recordings. 's first analog re-release has been decided.

As a guitar multi-recording album, the idea was realized six years earlier than the album "E2-E4" released in 1984 by Manuel Göttsching, the central figure of "Ash La Tempel", but it was too early. A hidden experimental/ambient gem!

The paradoxical sound that makes you feel as if you are lost deep in a labyrinthine forest, combined with Tadanori Yokoo's artwork, is a piece that allows you to enjoy Akio Niitsu's worldview with your ears and eyes.

Side A
1. Orange Paradox
2. Wonder Land
3. Music Box Of Sparkle
4. From Eternity To Schaffhausen Information

Side B
1. Black Hole
2. Tenkiame
3. Cosmic Train
4. Forest Of Maze

Full album stream here