Various: Pinch and Ouch! 12″

Description

Reissue of this killer 1985 Japanese punk compilation including Gai, Kuro and more! Brazil import limited to 188 copies.

Our take: Fan Club reissue of this 1985 Japanese punk / hardcore compilation with great sound and questionable graphic design, as is the way these days. While were all into Japanese hardcore here at Sorry State, none of us claimed to be too familiar with Pinch and Ouch. While I might have mp3s sitting on a hard drive somewhere, its not a compilation Ive spent much time with. It does feature three bands I likeGai, Kuro, and Aggressive Dogsand three others I dont know, and none of them are un-punk outliers you sometimes get on old compilations. All of the bands recorded their tracks for Pinch and Ouch in the same studio, so theres a consistent sound and high fidelity throughout. While the production is cleaner than on Gai and Kuros other records (and, consequently, not quite as powerful), its interesting to hear them so clearly. Its disorienting but fascinating, like finding a high-resolution photograph of a historical figure youd only seen in paintings. I wouldnt say any of the bands I already knew deliver their best material here (Gais songs are a little silly, including a cover of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Kuros are powerfully played but too clean), but its all worth hearing. The three bands I didnt knowNo-Cut, Gedon, and Gessarent undiscovered gems, but are interesting, all of them having a UK punk and oi! influence. The punkiness of Pinch and Ouch sets it apart from most Japanese punk compilations. While I wouldnt start my journey into Japanese hardcore with Pinch and Ouch, its a solid comp that is a little more noteworthy because of its great recording quality.