After Dinner- "Editions" and "Souvenir"

Artist: After Dinner (Japan)
Album: Editions (released 1983)

I don't know much about this band, but from what I know, After Dinner can be described as an avant-folk band. Very underground, very cult, very weird. I've heard a little before, and I definitely got that impression. Well, let's start.

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.....
... I'm not sure what to think. Um. What is this? It's not bad. It's just... next track, maybe I won't be as confused.

.... I still am. Sepia-Ture just the woman vocalist singing very softly with very quiet guitar, bass, violin and drums that sound really toned out. I'm not sure what to think.

The third track (An Accelerating Etude). So far, it's just the vocalist singing, "Ahhhhh" with forest sounds in the background. Um, now she's singing with some kind of answering machine, a siren... little girls breathing and singing... This is the most bizarre song I have ever heard. And that's saying a lot. I kinda like it... Let's go to the next song. I'm obviously going insane.

....
.... It keeps on getting weirder!!
What am I listening to?!?
Pots and pans... synths... some sound going in reverse... child-like vocals... bubbling water... a baby-creature-thing cooing... Yes, that is what I'm listening to. That makes up all of Soknya Doll.

Shovel and Little Lady starts off with a narration that sounds like Microsoft Sam. I don't know why they chose now of all times to tell me what this track was recorded with... Especially because this song is a melody-less horn tooting, the singer singing a tune in the distance while banging a tambourine. There are some random sounds thrown in here and there, and her voice fades in and out, sometimes leaving the tambourine the only remaining sound in the song.
This is... bizarre. So bizarre.

Cymbals at Dawn... Please, please make sense. I'm so confused.
So far, a peppy little marching song. Dare I say, it's rather cute. I really love it, it's quite fun.

Glass tube starts out with... something that sounds like someone blowing into a hollow plastic tube (it should sound like a glass tube, though, shouldn't it?). Um. This one is rather interesting too. Her voice is skipping all over the place in pitch, it sounds like the random plucks on the guitar in the background. I'm.. not sure what to think.

With Dessert, I'm beginning to notice a pattern... All the instruments are random!! This sounds like an elementary class's jam session!! Ahhh! I feel like I'm losing my mind! And that's honestly all this song is to the very end. I don't even think it has a melody. It's weird.

Here appears to be the second part to Sepia-Ture. Again, the random bursts of instruments that make no sense.

Okay, okay... This song is called "A Walnut"... Great.. What a normal title.
A Walnut seems to be performed live? There are dogs, though, I don't think they would allow dogs in the venue. It has that same middle eastern flair as After Dinner. I really, really like it. I... really, really... like it? Peculiar.

Umm... It seems that there's another track named Cymbals at Dawn? Is this one different than the other one, or did I just add it twice somehow? Oh, well... the vocals on this version are nearly inaudible. I wonder if this is a live?

Oh! Re begins with a male vocalist! I had no idea there was more than one. Not too much to say other than that, it's normal (in comparison).

Kitchen Life sounds kind of polka-ish, maybe... I'm just trying to compare this to something. I can't explain any of this in words. I like this song, too. Don't know why, I just do. Even if the vocals are so low at parts.

Again, there is another Glass Tube. Is this one different? It's much quieter and softer, I can barely hear most of it. To be honest, it's kind of giving me the creeps. It just sounds rather haunting and unsettling.

The 'would You Like Some Mushroom' Variation....
The 'would You Like Some Mushroom' Variation.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!?!
I didn't think it could be any stranger... (slump) I'm getting worn out.

Well, Ironclad Mermaid really is similar to the rest of it. Equally strange, confusing, quiet, etc.

So, here is the track, After Dinner. This song really just represents who After Dinner are. Very middle eastern with quick bursts of.. loudness. I'm not sure how to explain it. At least the guitar solo is very "normal".

The last track on this 18 track album is The Room of Hair Mobile. I don't even... Let's just end this review, it's already an essay.

Really, the only thing you need to know is that this is the strangest album I have ever, ever come upon. I don't know why I love it... but I feel slightly crazy after listening to it. I think I'd actually really recommend getting this album. The members of After Dinner are obviously very creative people, because this is easily one of the most interesting records I have ever heard, and it leaves a very big impression on me. Not one I'll be likely to forget. And yes, it is very good.

4 out of 5.

... What? I have another album by After Dinner?
Well, kind of.

Album: Souvenir (1988)

It seems as if all eight tracks on Souvenir also appear on Editions, except they are much better quality. I'm not sure if any of them are different other than that. That's how poor of quality Editions was in, haha.
Anyhow, the tracks are After Dinner, Kitchen Life, The Room of Hair Mobiles, A Walnut, Sepia-Ture, Cymbals at Dawn, Glass Tube and Soknya Doll.

Because of how radically improved the audio quality is, I'd also recommend this album, but Editions includes An Accelerating Etude, Shovel and Little Lady, Dessert, Sepia-Ture II, Re, The 'would You Like Some Mushroom' Variation and Ironclad Mermaid, so get that one too.

Hell, I love After Dinner now.