Guitarist Keiji Haino has been a radical pioneer in the Japanese free-form noise scene for close to thirty years, and has been at the bleeding edge of the movement for the duration. Haino is known for loud, marathon drone sessions with electric guitar and vocals; his insular sound explorations testing the limits of even the most devoted noise fan. Haino is prolific, with more than seventy albums in his back catalogue ranging from jazz-rock to cathartic black noise.

In 1971, inspired by the writings of Antonin Artaud and free-jazz master Takayanagi Masayuki – arguably Japan’s first noise musician – the young Haino founded avant-jazz outfit Lost Aaraaff. Then, after absorbing the influence of Krautrock and British psychedelia in the 70s, Haino formed the psychedelic-space-rock-noise group Fushitsusha. The group would come to occupy the same Japan-psychedelica niche as Acid Mothers Temple in the 90s. Fushitsusha formed in 1978, and from then the ever-changing line-up oscillated around Haino. The band didn’t release an album until 1989. In the 90s, they moved into a prolific period releasing music on several labels including John Zorn’s Avant, Blast First, Japanese psychedelia imprint P.S.F. and one of Japan’s biggest major labels, Tokuma. Fushitsusha has been inactive since 2001.

In the late 90s, Haino developed a cover project, Aihiyo, recording wild interpretations of the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and others for the albums Aihiyo (1998) and Live (PSF, 2000). Haino is now well known for solo electric guitar and vocals performances that are infamous for their volume, jagged waves of feedback and an intensity that is barely muted when working with others. He has collaborated on albums with a range of free-jazz luminaries including Bill Laswell and Rashied Ali.

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