Black Blues (Acoustic)

by François Couture Beware, as this is a bit unusual, even by Keiji Haino standards. DSA has simultaneously released two Haino CDs titled Black Blues. They have the same track list and the same cover, except than on one of them Haino is facing right, and left on the other one. This review focuses on the "left" edition, also known as the "unplugged" album. His guitar is actually plugged, but played without distortion, and he sings very quietly. Compared to the so-called "plugged" version, this one is actually extremely quiet and sedate. Black Blues is Haino's tribute to Afro-American blues. The six songs performed here are blues covers sung in Japanese and mostly made unrecognizable. Haino strums very slowly, stretching out every syllable, giving every note a melancholic turn. His take on "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" is simply one of the most psychedelic pieces he has recorded of late: completely spaced-out, hypnotic, alien, and profoundly moving. Other highlights include "Black Petal" (frighteningly quiet) and "I Don't Want to Know." Some people will find the album monotonous as a whole, but it makes a very convincing exercise in style -- and a disturbing late-night listen. When Haino sings quietly, his voice becomes haunting, immaterial. Here it occupies the whole spotlight (the guitar strumming never rises beyond mere accompaniment), which is a rare feature in Haino's discography, especially on something this quiet. If you don't care for Haino's histrionic screams, there is no point in getting both the plugged and unplugged incarnations of this album. Stick to the quiet one and enjoy it as one of the Japanese Black Prince's most soft-spoken efforts.