Black Noise Volume 017

At the Edge of Broken Worlds, Music Persists.

A Haircut and a Reset: Tuning Into Something New

I’ve been thinking about rituals lately. Little things we do to mark change, to move forward. For me, it was giving myself a sharp, chic Amélie bob this week. It felt like shedding a layer, letting go of places, relationships, and habits that no longer serve me. As I was straightening my hair, Ghad Bolad shuffled onto my playlist, and suddenly, I knew where this week’s newsletter was going: a deep dive into psychedelic rock from across the globe.

Music has this uncanny way of acting as a bridge between worlds. These albums—each a product of its time, place, and culture—feel both deeply personal and universally resonant. They carry stories of resilience, rebellion, and sonic experimentation, blending local traditions with global influences to create something utterly timeless.

This week’s eight selections explore the richness of ’60s and ’70s psychedelic rock from Iran, Korea, Thailand, Japan, Nigeria, and beyond. These aren’t just records; they’re soundscapes full of history, texture, and emotion.

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But first, a reminder of the Black Noise Rating System:

🔥🔥🔥🔥 Absolute Fire - modern classic, must listen. These albums are my top recommendations. They are modern classics that you absolutely must listen to.

🔥🔥🔥 High Heat - potential classic, highly suggested listen. These albums have the potential to become classics and are highly suggested listens for any fan of the genre.

🔥🔥 Warm Glow - for any fan of the genre. These albums are great for any fan of the genre and will definitely keep you warm and satisfied.

I only talk about albums I liked in this newsletter, so even the “Warm Glow” albums are still good. 😉

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Kourosh Yaghmaei – Back from the Brink: Pre-Revolution Psychedelic Rock from Iran (1973-1979)

Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Persian Pop, Folk Rock
Released: 2011 (Recorded 1973-1979)
Listen: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Bandcamp

Kourosh Yaghmaei’s Back from the Brink isn’t just an album; it’s a historical relic. Recorded in Iran before the 1979 revolution, this collection blends Western psychedelia with Persian folk traditions in a way that feels both groundbreaking and deeply haunting. The shadow of political upheaval looms large over this music. After the revolution, pop music was banned, and Yaghmaei’s voice was silenced for decades. His songs, hidden away and preserved, only resurfaced years later, offering a glimpse into a world that once was.

Tracks like “Gole Yakh” are dripping with nostalgia and melancholy, combining delicate piano with Yaghmaei’s plaintive, soulful voice. But it’s “Hajme Khali” that truly grabs you—a stormy, blues-infused track that opens with thunder and builds into an emotional crescendo. This album is not just music; it’s a testament to the resilience of art in the face of cultural erasure.

Standout Track:“Hajme Khali” – A hypnotic blend of Persian blues and psychedelia.
Why Listen? It’s a poignant reminder of how music can endure even under the harshest of regimes.

Black Noise Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Absolute Fire

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Kim Jung Mi – Now (1973)

Genre: Psychedelic Folk, Baroque Pop, Folk Rock
Released: 1973
Listen: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube

Kim Jung Mi’s Now is an album I hold close to my heart. I found it in my late father’s cassette collection, a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Listening to it for the first time felt like meeting a younger version of him—a glimpse into his soul through the music he loved.

The album is an exquisite blend of soft folk melodies and psychedelic flourishes, anchored by Kim’s enchanting voice. Tracks like “Haenim” are serene and pastoral, with acoustic guitars and orchestral strings creating a dreamlike atmosphere. But beneath its beauty lies a quiet defiance. Produced by Shin Jung-hyeon, the father of Korean rock, the album was created during a time of strict censorship under Park Chung-hee’s dictatorship. Its standout track, “Beautiful Rivers and Mountains,” was a bold protest disguised as a love song to Korea’s natural beauty—a decision that led to Shin’s arrest and torture.

Standout Track: “Haenim” – A sunlit reverie that feels like a warm embrace.
Why Listen? It’s an enchanting blend of beauty and resistance, perfect for moments of introspection.

Black Noise Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Absolute Fire

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Erkin Koray – Elektronik Türküler (1974)

Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Turkish Folk Rock
Released: 1974
Listen: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube

Erkin Koray is often called the godfather of Turkish rock, and Elektronik Türküler shows why. This album blends the hypnotic scales of Turkish folk music with the fuzzed-out energy of psychedelic rock. The result is a sound that’s as timeless as it is boundary-pushing.

Tracks like “Cemalım” are steeped in tradition, with the bağlama’s haunting tones weaving through groovy guitar riffs. But the standout is “Türkü,” an eight-minute epic that layers poetry by Nazım Hikmet over sprawling, meditative instrumentation. Listening to this album feels like walking through an ancient bazaar, where every corner reveals something unexpected.

Standout Track: “Türkü” – A transcendent, genre-defying masterpiece.
Why Listen? It’s a bridge between East and West, tradition and rebellion.

Black Noise Rating: 🔥🔥 Warm Glow

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Various Artists – The Sound of Siam: Leftfield Luk Thung, Jazz, and Molam (1964-1975)

Genre: Luk Thung, Molam
Released: 2010
Listen: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube

This compilation feels like stepping into the beating heart of Thailand during its golden era of musical experimentation. The Sound of Siam is an electric fusion of luk thung (Thai country music), molam (a folk style from Isan, near the Laos border), and the infectious rhythms of jazz, funk, and surf rock. It’s playful and hypnotic, blending local sounds with global influences to create something entirely unique.

The standout track, “Lam Toey Chaweewan,” combines the khaen (a bamboo mouth organ) with driving, funky basslines, reminiscent of a Booker T. & the M.G.’s jam session. But what truly sets this compilation apart is how it seamlessly incorporates traditional Thai scales and instruments into these groovy, danceable frameworks.

Take “Soul Lam Plearn” by the Petch Phin Thong Band—it’s like a fever dream of psychedelic funk and molam. Its meandering melodies feel both whimsical and hypnotic, pulling you into a swirling soundscape that’s as experimental as it is rooted in tradition. The Viking Combo Band’s “Ding Ding Dong” will have you grinning with its surreal, Pink Panther-esque bassline paired with increasingly unhinged vocals.

Standout Track: “Soul Lam Plearn” – A groovy, genre-bending exploration of funk and molam.
Why Listen? It’s a celebration of cultural hybridity that will transport you to another world.

Black Noise Rating: 🔥🔥 🔥 High Heat

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Toshiaki Yokota & Primitive Community – Primitive Community (1971)

Genre: Jazz Fusion, Avant-Garde Jazz, Raga Rock
Released: 1971
Listen: Apple Music, Youtube

If music could paint a ritual, Primitive Community would be its soundtrack. This experimental album by Toshiaki Yokota is a whirlwind of jazz fusion, tribal percussion, and psychedelic chaos. Yokota, a virtuoso flutist, leads an ensemble of percussionists, guitarists, and organists in crafting a sound that feels both deeply spiritual and anarchically wild.

The opening track, “Kinjirareta Gishiki” (A Forbidden Ritual), sets the tone with hypnotic tribal drumming, eerie chants, and Yokota’s piercing flute solos. It feels like being swept into a transcendental ceremony, where the lines between music and mysticism blur. Tracks like “Tears of Satan” mix avant-garde jazz with bluesy grooves, while “Hare Krishna” offers a hauntingly serene moment of spiritual chanting juxtaposed with rhythmic intensity.

The instrumentation here is bold and layered. Yokota doesn’t just play the flute—he wields it, coaxing out otherworldly sounds that seem to dance and clash with the acid-drenched guitar riffs and Hammond organ. At times, the music feels chaotic, like it’s about to unravel completely, only to snap back into focus with an almost meditative precision.

Standout Track: “Kinjirareta Gishiki” – A sprawling, hypnotic masterpiece that feels like stepping into a sacred ritual.
Why Listen? It’s a daring, genre-defying album that’s both chaotic and deeply spiritual.

Black Noise Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Absolute Fire

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Cosmic Invention – Help Your Satori Mind (1997)

Genre: Kosmische Rock
Released: 1997
Listen: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube

There’s something magical about discovering an album like Help Your Satori Mind. It’s the kind of record that feels like stumbling into a late-night jam session at a dive bar, where the musicians are playing for themselves, lost in the music—and you just happen to be lucky enough to witness it.

Cosmic Invention is a Japanese supergroup made up of members from bands like Ghost and Acid Mothers Temple, and their sound is deeply influenced by ’70s krautrock. Tracks like “Ryujin” pay direct homage to Can, blending hypnotic rhythms with whispered vocals and ethereal piano lines. The music is both expansive and intimate, creating a sense of space that’s perfect for getting lost in.

The album’s title track, “Help Your Satori Mind,” is a sprawling jam session full of swirling guitar riffs and cosmic synths. It feels like a love letter to the kosmische sound of bands like Ash Ra Tempel and Tangerine Dream, but with a distinctly Japanese twist.

Standout Track: “Ryujin” – A mesmerizing blend of krautrock grooves and astral melodies.
Why Listen? It’s a dreamy, immersive album that’s perfect for fans of experimental, late-night listening.

Black Noise Rating: 🔥🔥 Warm Glow

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Brush – Brush (1971)

Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Folk Rock
Released: 1971
Listen: YouTube

Brush feels like a time capsule from the early ’70s Japanese underground scene. Recorded as a one-off project, this album veers wildly between pastoral folk ballads and avant-garde psych freakouts, creating a listening experience that’s as unpredictable as it is intriguing.

The standout track, “Mother Nature’s Son,” is a raw, sprawling psych jam that captures the youthful optimism and chaos of the time. The instrumentation is rough around the edges, with the musicians seemingly competing to see who can finish the song first. And yet, there’s something undeniably charming about its imperfections—it feels earnest and unfiltered, like a diary entry set to music.

The album’s quieter moments, like “The Eternal Scene,” showcase a more introspective side, with delicate acoustic guitars and wistful melodies. But it’s the chaotic energy of tracks like “Freedom Suite” that make this album stand out.

Standout Track: “Mother Nature’s Son” – A chaotic, heartfelt anthem of youthful energy.
Why Listen? It’s an imperfect gem that captures the spirit of a bygone era.

Black Noise Rating: 🔥🔥 Warm Glow

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Various Artists – Wake Up You! The Rise and Fall of Nigerian Rock (1972-1977)

Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Funk Rock, Afrobeat
Released: 2016
Listen: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube

Nigerian rock in the 1970s wasn’t just a genre—it was a movement. Emerging from the ashes of the Biafran War, this music was a powerful expression of resilience, creativity, and defiance. Wake Up You! is a two-volume collection that captures the raw energy and innovation of this era, blending rock, funk, and Afrobeat into something that feels both timeless and revolutionary.

Tracks like Aktion’s “Groove the Funk” are electrifying, with searing guitar solos and driving rhythms that demand your attention. Wrinkar Experience’s “Ballad of a Sad Young Woman” showcases the genre’s more introspective side, pairing soulful vocals with melancholic melodies.

What makes this compilation so remarkable is its range. You’ll find everything from acid rock freakouts to groove-heavy funk jams, all tied together by the indomitable spirit of Nigerian musicians pushing boundaries in a post-war society.

Standout Track: “Groove the Funk” – A blistering, high-energy anthem that will leave you breathless.
Why Listen? It’s a powerful snapshot of a vibrant, revolutionary era in Nigerian music history.

Black Noise Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Absolute Fire

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This week’s selections remind me of the power of music to transcend borders, languages, and time. These albums aren’t just records; they’re windows into other worlds, stories of defiance, and testaments to the resilience of creativity.

So here’s my challenge to you: listen deeply. Let these sounds take you somewhere unexpected. Then come back and share your journey—whether it’s a favorite track, a memory it triggered, or just how it made you feel.

And as always: STAY NOISY, FRIENDS! ✌️ —Saint Virgil

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