SABOTEN

Members (on Kuttsuite Anshin tracks)

Atsuko Sakai : drums
Satomi Makino : vocal, guitars
Izumi Imazawa : bass, chorus

Saboten page managed by Satomi Matsumoto [was Satomi Makino] with a history, discography.

Matsumoto reports that the band never received a final copy of the record, nor payment for its tracks.

Saboten contributed "Low Chair" to the 1986 Fred Frith compilation of Japanese bands, Welcome to Dreamland.

Calvin Johnson in his article on Japanese bands in the "X" issue of Op, describes them as follows:

"Saboten are three women who make progressive music....I like Saboten because they don't show off, concentrating on their pleasant little ditties.  Most of the songs (or pieces if you prefer) are sans vocals, unusual for an all-female ensemble. Instrumentally, their sound is similar to New York's Y-Pants.  Their live set is sprinkled with compositions by Erik Satie."

D-DAY

Members (on Kuttsuite Anshin tracks)

Yoshiko (Kawakita): vocals
Kyoko (Hideshima): guitar
Maru (Kuniko Nozawa): drums
Ohmomo (Shuichi): keyboards [male]
Mario (Sakurai): bass [male]

Their major release is a 1990 CD All Leaves released by Balcony/Chop Records collecting various pieces by the band recorded between 1983 and 1987. (The tracks from Kuttsuite Anshin are included).  Self-styled idol singer Yoshiko Kawakita is the key member and main songwriter.  Yoshiko apparently retired from the band in order to start a family (or so reports a 1990 newsletter from Fujiyama Records that I got when I bought the CD).  Most of the tracks are in a fairly clear "New Wave" mode (one early song, "Dust," makes a pretty direct reference to The Cure).  According to the Kuttsuite no Anshin booklet, some of their songs appeared in a "Pink Eiga" with homosexual themes directed by cult figure Ryuichi Hiroki titled "Bokura no Jidai" [Our era].

Calvin Johnson, in his article on Japanese music in the "X" issue of Op magazine, describes them this way:

"This dreamy pop band is reminiscent of the Young Marble Giants, but their sound is more layered and driving. The little girlish vocals are sad, optimistic."

There is a review of All Leaves in Doll #58 (June 1990)

COCK c' NELL

Setsu Nogata: vocal, synthesizer
Yoichiro Ikeda: bass, guitar [male]
Takanori (?)Shimane: violin, synthesizer [male]
Hideki Yamagiwa: guitar, rhythm program [male]

I have little information about this band apart from the information provided in the booklet itself. They released one noteworthy album in the early 1980s pictured in the 1992 Takarajima book, Bokura no Jidai Dainenbyou [A large-scale yearbook of our era, Showa 30 (1955) to Showa 60 (1985).] The record was released on the indie Pinakotekare label.  According to the booklet, they also appeared on a compilation released by the Belgian label Crepuscule.

ITAKURA BUN

Fairly well-known artist, operating in relatively experimental vein. Best known for work as a member of "Chakura" [Chakra] and for producing records. Still works with BA NA NA.  He was only 26 when he produced Kuttsuite Anshin.  His work contains many pan-Asian elements.

Contributed a track ("Lotus") to the 1990 WAVE compilation, "Drive to Heaven, Welcome to Chaos."

"MA*TO"

Self-styled hyper experimental digital artist.  His web page displays this side well.