There were a handful of record labels from America in the 1970s who tried desperately to bring what was happening over in Europe over to these shores. All without exception were met with apathy and commercial failure. Peters International probably had the best go at it via their thriving import business, but even they didn't really do all that well here. While there's always been a dedicated fan base on our shores, and especially a large following for the bigger name British groups, progressive rock / Krautrock - or what was once known as Euro Rock (you'll still see this term used by the older generation of US record dealers) - is just not something that captured the nation at large. Why this is, I really cannot say. As I - of course - am one that was most enamored, even at a young age. But the masses can be pretty dumb'd down sad to say. Enter the All Ears label, a California based concern, that may have been indeed the last great hope during the original LP era. Unfortunately for Tony Harrington and team, their arrival came at the tail end of the progressive rock movement, and many of the marquee names they signed, were indeed well past their prime. And All Ears met the same fate as the others: Boarded up and remembered only by a loyal few.
That paragraph sets us up for Tenkujin. Far East Family Band had just released their best album - by far in this author's opinion - with Parallel World, only to disappoint with Tenkujin. As you will often read from others, just because it's disappointing, doesn't mean it isn't any good. In fact, if you like earlier Far East Family Band albums, then Tenkujin might sound quite comfortable. They have reverted back to this sort of dazy Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon sound, and since I consider that album dull (I'm not alone here), then certainly a copycat isn't going to delight either. Still there's plenty of wonderful phased guitar, synthesizers, and even mellotron to enjoy. The vocals parts are where the music drags. And on the title track, it gets a bit late 70s lounge like, where one expects a hairy chested Paul Anka to take over the microphone.
Ownership: LP: 1979 All Ears (USA). Single sleeve. Light blue vinyl purchased many years ago (from a local record show I think). The original was pressed in both Japan and also here in the States in 1977. Album comes with a lyric insert, with the flip side containing a letter from label owner Tony Harrington detailing his experience with Far East Family Band. All good stuff. The images you see are this exact copy as we just added the entry to Discogs.
new entry; 1/19/22
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