Carmen Maki Blues Creation

Originally released in 1971, this self-titled collaboration between vocalist Carmen Maki and the heavy blues-rock band Blues Creation represents a pivotal moment in the early Japanese underground rock scene. The album emerged during a period of experimentation when local artists were increasingly blending Western blues and hard rock influences with a distinctively Japanese sensibility. It was recorded following Maki’s pivot from folk to a more aggressive, psychedelic sound, capturing a raw energy that was characteristic of the era's counterculture movement.

This 2020 reissue, catalog number HMJA-135, serves as a high-fidelity restoration of the original Denon pressing. The design remains faithful to the original LP aesthetic, which sought to convey the gritty, atmospheric nature of the performances. Upon its initial release, the record was noted for Maki's emotive, powerhouse vocals and the band's improvisational guitar work, eventually earning a reputation as a cornerstone of Japanese hard rock that has influenced subsequent generations of psych-rock and blues enthusiasts.