A “freak-out group for the 21st century,” Japan's Acid Mothers Temple and the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. were founded in 1996 by members of the Acid Mothers Temple music-art commune. Led by electric guitarist/violinist/sometimes-bowed peacock player/visionary Kawabata Makoto, the group has released entire galaxies of ultrapsychedelic albums that vary quite substantially in quality, including the truly epic glories of In C, its radical reworking of Terry Riley's famous minimalist piece (which includes their own “In E,” and, on the CD reissue on Squealer, the 19-minute bonus track “In D”). AMT pays wicked tribute to the halcyon days of the late-'60s to mid-'70s English/American progressive and avant-rock bands and new-music pioneers, including but not limited to Sun Ra, Gong, Hendrix, Floyd and Soft Machine.

Its earlier Hawkwind-meets-Zappa improvised hippie crud has thankfully evolved into more heavyweight conceptual works like the brutal monster sludge of Starless and Bible Black Sabbath (Alien 8), and last year's Pink Lady Lemonade — You're From Outer Space (on Riot Season). The band's various lineup transmutations are pretty hard to keep track of, though the faithful know that the live event will be a guaranteed major mind meltdown.

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