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Japrocksampler

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Japrocksampler

by Julian Cope

Bloomsbury, HK$121

Naked Japanese men, wearing nothing more than their afros, riding Honda motorcycles. This photograph of the Flower Travellin' Band on the cover of Julian Cope's Japrocksampler will surely grab the attention of bookshop browsers looking for something different. The trouble is the book tackles a topic not so much unusual as obscure. Billed as 'a cult deconstruction of Japanese [1960s and 70s] rock music', it will test the staying power of most readers, music lovers included. Although the former Teardrop Explodes frontman has obviously devoted much time to researching Japan's post-war music scene, he sabotages his efforts with dense writing and a non-user-friendly format. There are fascinating pockets, including a section on Yoko Ono. In his account, after a disastrous performance at a joint event with composer John Cage, she 'took an overdose of sleeping pills and woke up in a mental institution under extreme sedation'. Cope also contends Japan's rock pioneers never really extended themselves fully owing to their fear of mind-altering drugs. A good editor would have improved this book, but it would still have been relegated to the fringes.

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