And the award of the most unexpected reissue of 2020 goes to Ningen Isu’s ‘Mugen No Junin’. Fans of manga and anime – which I am not – may have predicted it because the animated series based on the manga with the same title was released in late 2019, but it was a surprise to me. Due to its relatively mellow nature, ‘Mugen No Junin’ generally is not a fan favorite. And since it was released on a label not affiliated with Tokuma, it was not part of the band’s recent reissue campaign. It’s good that it’s available again, however, as ‘Mugen No Junin’ is better than it gets credit for.

‘Mugen No Junin’ is generally referred to as Ningen Isu’s most folky album and while there is some truth to that, that description also gives off a slightly wrong impression. The music on ‘Mugen No Junin’ is still as riff-driven as Ningen Isu always was and despite the generally more laid-back feel, it is heavier as a whole than its predecessor ‘Odoru Issunboshi’. When the album turns more folky, it is generally the type of folk that British prog rock bands from the seventies would attempt, with the tranquil, decidedly eastern ‘Mokko No Komoriuta’ being the only exception.

Where ‘Odoro Issunboshi’ occasionally sounded too laid-back for its own good, I actually think Ningen Isu nails the laid-back seventies hardrock and heavy metal grooves really well here. Opening track ‘Sarashikubi’ spends most of its time in a leisurely gallop – which would technically make it a trot – which really enhances the melancholic atmosphere of the song. It would not have worked quite as well had it been faster. Another track in which the relaxed pace works wonders is ‘Katana To Saya’. The interaction between the three musicians is really highlighted during these mid-tempo compositions, aided by the remarkably organic production. The slightly more uptempo ‘Tsujigiri Kota Mushukuhen’ marries a cool folky, yet distorted guitar line with almost nonchalant seventies rock riffing very effectively.

Of course, we are dealing with Ningen Isu here, so there will always be some crushing Sabbath-inspired riffs. ‘Bakkasu Kuruhi’ is easily the heaviest, most doomy track on here, although it does have some interestingly contrasting faster sections. ‘Jigoku’ and ‘Kuroneko’ feature some incredible riff work as well, though both songs feature a surprising amount of jumpy riffs and start-stop tricks. Shinji Wajima emulating a crying cat on his guitar in ‘Kuroneko’ (which translates to “black cat”) is a cool bonus. The spacey ‘Uchu Yuei’ is the closest Ningen Isu has ever sounded to Hawkwind.

However, what really makes the reissue of ‘Mugen No Junin’ worth the purchase even if you already own the original album are its bonus tracks. ‘Sakurashita Ondo’ is a unique entry into Ningen Isu’s oeuvre and can only be described by a Japanese power trio trying to play Turkish psychedelic funk from the seventies. This track may not be for everyone, but I love it. Especially that fuzzy lead guitar line over Kenichi Suzuki’s proto-disco bass line is incredible. Rounding out the reissue is the brand new ‘Mugen No Junin Buto Hen’, which after its brilliantly monumental intro transforms into one of Ningen Isu’s trademark near-speed metal tracks with a perfect blend of melody and intensity. Definitely worth getting the album for.

Ultimately, ‘Mugen No Junin’ is one of the most creative albums Ningen Isu released to date. Most of the risks taken on the album are very successful experiments. As a disclaimer, I do have to point out that to me, this was one of the Ningen Isu albums that needed the largest number of spins to finally sink in, but once it did, there wasn’t a single song worth skipping. Its replay value is greatly increased by the fact that it is so full of character, almost to the point of being an anomaly in Ningen Isu’s body of work. But those afraid that a folky Ningen Isu album would not contain enough monolothic riffs should not worry either. ‘Mugen No Junin’ is still more seventies rock and metal than folk rock.

Recommended tracks: ‘Kuroneko’, ‘Tsujigiri Kota Mushukuhen’, ‘Jigoku’, ‘Bakkasu Kuruhi’

 

Order ‘Mugen no Junin’ from nearly anywhere in the world at CD Japan below