The Black Editions label continues to do the lord’s work. In recent years, they’ve been digging through the archives of legendary Japanese psych label P.S.F., giving new life to some truly great and often lesser-known records. The latest is Heavenly Persona, the only studio album from Shizuka, which was released on CD back in 1994. A remarkable record — try to imagine Les Rallizes Dénudés making a record with Hope Sandoval and you’re somewhere in the ballpark.
The LRD reference is obvious; guitarist Miura Maki did time in that pioneering band (not to mention Fushitsusha). And indeed, Heavenly Persona opens with shards of raw, piercing feedback, initially tricking the listener into thinking Shizuka is a heady noise band. But once Shizuka Miura…
…enters on ghostly vocals, we’re transported somewhere else entirely. The noise is often lurking dangerously in the background of the album’s seven transfixing tracks, but it’s sculpted into a new and atmospheric shape. It’s a deep mood, beautiful and elegiac, often achingly pretty but never precious.
Once again, Black Editions have gone above and beyond in presenting this music. Heavenly Persona makes its vinyl debut in an appropriately heavenly double LP package with hauntingly gorgeous visuals, translated lyrics and a revealing interview with Shizuka herself, who passed away in 2010. “I have a strong desire to escape from the darkness because I have suffered from the darkness,” she said. “I wish for people who have struggled in the darkness to try to escape from it and look for the light.” With this necessary reissue, the light is definitely shining again.