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PoiL Ueda – Yoshitsune (Dur Et Doux) – The second episode in terms of the collaboration between the musicians of PoiL and musician/performer/composer Junko Ueda, singer and player of Satsuma Biwa. “It’s an unprecedented experience in which PoiL’s wild, experimental rock blends with Junko Ueda’s sinuous, calm voice, narrative power and charisma”. The second album as a result of this collaboration 

“After a successful international tour to critical acclaim, PoiL Ueda are back in force with Yoshitsune. The Heike-Monogatari tells the epic story of the hero Yoshitsune, who brought victory to his Genji clan in their epic war with the Heike clan. After years of war, the Heike clan was finally defeated at the naval battle of Dan-no-Ura Bay. The Genji took power in Kamakura, south of present-day Tokyo, and ruled Japan from 1192 to 1333, establishing what is now known as the Kamakura period. Minamoto-no-Yoritomo was the general of the Genji and the elder brother of Yoshitsune, who swore allegiance to Yoritomo. Despite Yoshitsune’s heroic service and solemn oath, Yoritomo suspected him of secretly intending to seize power and ordered his assassination. Yoshitsune is forced into exile”.

“Rediscover the fusion of PoiL’s cosmic rock and Junko Ueda’s medieval epics in this second opus” so reads the strap line. Now we’re big fans of Lyon’s properly progressive PoiL, we’ve been championing them for a dozen or more years now, 2019’s Sus is surely one of the vital albums of this century? Not really sure about these PoiL Ueda collaborations though? Sure, the playing is brilliant and yes there are some excellent moments, some glorious details, tracks listened to in isolation are quite wonderful when the wind is blowing in the right direction, PoiL are both a prog rock band and a properly progressive experimental band. PoiL are clearly a band who need to challenge both themselves and their listeners, but, whisper it, as much as I respect Junko Ueda, his voice does kind of drone on just a little too much. Yes, I get that’s kind of the point, the tradition and yes, the coming together of the two parties is something to applaud, indeed to celebrate, but, and I am sorry to say it, it sounds awfully disrespectful, but that voice does kind of drone on and you do really have to be in the right mood for it all. There are some glorious bits, some truly forward looking passages and pieces, thrilling details, it is damn good, but…    (sw)

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Meanwhile back in 2019… ORGAN THING: Even more PoiL, is there a more exciting band around at the moment? Non…