Sound Of Turning Earth: A Wild Ride Through Avantgarde Rock and Folk Vibes
Kumio Kurachi’s Sound Of Turning Earth is not your run-of-the-mill rock album. Released in 2019 under the Bison label, this UK-born gem smashes together avantgarde weirdness and folk rock soul like it’s got something to prove. And honestly? It kinda does. With production credits from Jim O’Rourke (yeah, THAT Jim O’Rourke) and mastering by Daichi Tokunaga, this thing feels both raw and polished at the same time—a paradox that works better than you’d expect.
Let’s cut to the chase. Two tracks on this record stuck with me hard: “Don’t Bully The Nine-Tailed Foxes” and “Glittery Lip Sticks In Spring.” Why these two? Because they don’t just sit there—they punch you in the face musically and emotionally.
“Don’t Bully The Nine-Tailed Foxes” hits different because it sounds like a fever dream dipped in acid. The guitar work by Kumio himself is jagged but melodic, like he’s trying to fight his own instrument while whisper-screaming about mythical foxes getting bullied. I mean, what? The lyrics are cryptic as hell, but somehow it clicks. You can feel the tension building up until the track explodes into this chaotic outro that leaves you breathless. It’s messy, unpredictable, and absolutely unforgettable. Kinda like life itself when you think about it.
Then there’s “Glittery Lip Sticks In Spring,” which flips the script entirely. This one sneaks up on you with its bittersweet vibe. Imagine walking through an empty park in springtime, hearing birds chirp but feeling kinda lonely inside. That’s this song. Kumio’s vocals here are haunting yet tender, almost like he doesn’t want you to hear how vulnerable he feels. The melody lingers long after the track ends, sticking to your brain like glitter—annoying at first, then kinda beautiful once you stop fighting it.
The rest of the album isn’t bad either, though some songs blend together if you’re not paying attention. Tracks like “Rejuvenating Shinkansen” and “Instant Dramatic Rain” have their moments, but they don’t hit as hard as the ones mentioned above. Still, props to Maja Larrson for the design; the cover art matches the chaotic energy of the music perfectly.
So yeah, Sound Of Turning Earth is a wild beast of an album. It’s imperfect, experimental, and occasionally pretentious—but damn if it doesn’t make you feel something. Listening to it feels like being invited to someone’s private art exhibit where everything’s slightly off-kilter but undeniably human.
Here’s the kicker though: If aliens ever invade Earth and ask us to explain our culture via music, I’d throw this album at them and say, "Figure THIS out." They probably wouldn’t get it, but hey, neither do we sometimes—and maybe that’s the point.
