Mshukai “Yama no Kawa”

Effects pedals/Japanese flute/Electric guitar by Imao
Percussions by Pedal
Bonfire by Ijaku
Mastered by Taku Unami
Cover design by Studio The Future
Text on the cassette sleeve by Imao
English proofreading of the text by Zefan Sramek
Released by ato.archives
ata 006

Mshukai is an improvisation group that revolves around Imao Takuma, known as a contemporary artist and percussionist Pedal. The group performs in unconventional spaces such as baseball fields or inside closets, responding playfully to the environment.

This tape documents their performance in the headwaters of a river in Koga, Shiga Prefecture, where they brought equipment and played around a campfire. Additionally, recordings capture their studio session in Kanazawa, where they listened to the above recorded performance while playing with Imao’s studio doors open. They also recorded a performance where Imao and Pedal interacted across a road, simulating a dialogue. This project serves as the debut album for Mshukai.

M集会は美術家として作品を発表するImao（今尾 拓真）、パーカッショニストのペダルを中心として、不定形に活動する即興グループです。このグループは野球場や押入れの中など、普段演奏には使われない場所で、その場所に対して遊び心をもって反応し、演奏するという活動を行っています。

今回の作品は滋賀県甲賀の川の源流に機材を持ち込み、焚き火を焚きながら演奏した記録と、その演奏の記録を聴きながら金沢のImaoのスタジオを開け放って演奏した様子や、道路を隔ててImaoとペダルの二人が対話をするように演奏した様子を記録しています。なお、この作品はM集会のファースト・アルバムになります。