New band formed by Soul Flower Union's Nakagawa Takashi and ex-Heat Wave singer Yamaguchi Hiroshi, who together wrote SFU's great song 'Mangetsu no Yube'. This side project is the result of their jamming together since Heat Wave split. Those looking for more cracking songs like that had better stick to Nakagawa's excellent work with Soul Flower. Azadi (the name means 'freedom' in Pashto, the Afghan language) is short, noisy and rather uninspired. Half the album comprises American covers (Dylan, Lou Reed, Dead Kennedys) but these versions add nothing to the originals while the rest is a mixed bag. They must have had a good time making it but it might have been wiser to have kept it to themselves.
(June 2002)
Nakagawa Takashi's prolific band switch to their own label for the latest addition to the Soul Flower roller coaster ride. First up it must be said this is some way from being their best album. It's shortish and of the nine songs, only three are Nakagawa compositions. The remainder are various covers already familiar from their live shows, many with new Japanese lyrics. There's a powerful sanshin-riffing band version of Dylan's 'Shelter From the Storm' as well as songs by Gram Parsons and The Clash, and the lilting Irish classic 'On Raglan Road'. Maybe they're making too many albums and there's a shortage of original material. Whatever the reason, this set is still very well done and is best seen as a nice diversion to be enjoyed by SFU fans and others alike.
(August 2002)
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