Makoto Kubota’s Mixtape

Jennifer Lucy Allan shares a mixtape crafted exclusively for Late Junction by the cult musician, film-maker and producer, Makoto Kubota, who shares the songs and sounds that he has treasured most over the years.

Born in Kyoto, Japan in 1949, Makoto Kubota is one of Japan’s true musical innovators. Over his long career, he began leading a musician’s life initially in the ‘60s as a central part of the mystery-riddled, cult underground Japanese psychedelic rock band, Les Rallizes Dénudés. As students responding to the post-war occupation of their country, from the beginning Les Rallizes were pioneering in their commitment to the Japanese-language in their work. Under the leadership of the enigmatic Takashi Mizutani, they spent decades making deep, hypnotic psychedelia and playing high volume concerts, a sonic assault - according to Kubota - loud enough to “send your consciousness flying”. While still in LRD, Makoto formed The Sunset Gang with Haruomi Hosono, Minako Yoshida and Taeko Ohnuki, a group whose sound met somewhere between Japanese folk, Okinawan rock and New Orleans jazz, with a healthy dose of cool Hawaiian surfer vibes. Kuboata's mixtape offers a snapshot of his vivid musical universe.

Elsewhere in the show: slow-motion saxophone workouts courtesy of former Late Junction session guest Michaela Turcerová; time-shifting minimalist piano inspired by a moment of silence held by an orchestra from American Daoist composer Michael F Hunt; and music conjured from the foundations of the 13th Century songs of Cantiguas de Santa Maria performed by violinist Clara Levy & violist Victor Guaita Igual.

Produced by Cat Gough
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3

To listen on most smart speakers, just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Late Junction”.