Underground Japanese all time classic from Osaka, originally on Vanity Records in 1979. In my opinion the best album on the label, probably an opinion that is now widely shared. Reissue on CD by KYOU RECORDS in 2020. The brainchild of dental student Junko Tange, composing vocals and keyboard, with contribution from guitarist Masami Yoshikawa, the music of Tolerance is eerie and surreal. Fragile, dreamy and ominous, throbbing detuned music somewhere in the no-wave and psych cannon. Really, listening back to this, there is a terrifying intensity, with song titles like ‘I Want To Be a Homicide’ suggesting some sorta misanthropy. I have no idea if a contrarian reaction to the happier electrofunk of the time like YMO is a reason for the uneasy sound of this. As story has it, the whereabouts of Junko and Masami have been unknown since 1981. Not judging based on the title, the album itself aurally has the vibe of someone detached from surroundings, and perhaps from themselves, so much happening in the periphery of these strange songs that whir violently. Yes, altogether it’s gorgeous, but also creepy and morose. Compelling listening, there’s nothing really like it. One of my favourite albums.
LOCAL PICKUP AVAILABLE FROM THORNBURY, MELBOURNE
