3/3 (Sanbun No San) - 3/3 (Japan 1975)

(Many thanks to Mr. Attic for this gem!)

3/3 are Reck (guitar, vocals), Higo Hiroshi (bass) and Chiko Hige (drums). The name was inspired by a Japanese comic (4/4). In February 1975, 3/3 (Sanbun No San) released this album in a tiny pressing of 15 copies only to get a record deal. The cover was homemade and the recording sounds live but without audience. The music is ultra heavy guitar-dominated psychedelic rock like a mixture of Blue Cheer / Randy Holden/MC5 and early punk/new wave bands. The sound quality is mediocre but the music is a blaster. 3/3 has never released another recording. Both Reck and Hige then moved to New York where they stayed for over a year and played with James Chance & the Contortions, Lydia Lunch (Teenage Jesus & The Jerks) and others (No New York movement). They returned to Japan in 1978 to start a new group which became very famous: Friction. In 1979 Friction appeared on a compilation and in 1980 they recorded their first album. Friction released more than 10 albums in Japan. Friction has certainly had a heavy influence on the late 1970s Japanese punk and new wave scene. Reck is again active on the Tokyo scene and has teamed up with Haino Keiji and hardcore drummer Pill, with whom he performs under the name Head Rush. This album of 3/3 is the rarest underground album ever released in Japan. (Shadoks)
An absolute monster from Shadoks, unearthing live 1975 recordings from a wild proto-punk trio led by Reck of Friction/Head Rush (w/Keiji Haino) et al. Sanbun No San was originally released in a mind-bending run of only 15 copies in February 1975 in order to secure a record deal but soon afterwards Reck and guitarist Higo Hiroshi split for NY and dropped head-first into the No Wave scene, playing with James Chance & The Contortions and Teenage Jesus & The Jerks before fully infecting the Japanese underground with alla the moves they had so convincingly osmosed by forming the legendary Friction on their return. As well as being possibly the rarest Japanese underground release of all time, Sanbun No San works as a vital missing link in the whole Japanese underground saga - indeed, it could well be the blueprint for Nanjo Asahito’s later experiments with High Rise. The sonics are totally thrilling, with the A-side dominated by moves that are somewhere between Peter Laughner’s post Velvets amphetamine garage and blistering power trio moves ala Blue Cheer, Hendrix and Human Instinct that could’ve just as easily dropped offa the Spectator label roster circa 1970. It’s punk, but there’s a whole lot more string-flash than Slaughter And The Dogs. B-side is more straight ahead narcotic punk, albeit cut with a beautiful ballad that seems to combine themes from “Oh Sweet Nothing” and “Burning Of The Midnight Lamp” (two songs that I have always somehow associated in my head). (via Volcanic Tongue) (BUY IT!)

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3/3 - Always