Makoto Kubota鈥檚 Mixtape
Jennifer Lucy Allan shares a kaleidoscopic mixtape crafted by cult musician, film-maker and producer, Makoto Kubota. Plus breathy sax workouts and a moment of orchestral silence.
Jennifer Lucy Allan shares a mixtape crafted exclusively for Late Junction by the cult musician, film-maker and producer, Makoto Kubota, who shares the songs and sounds that he has treasured most over the years.
Born in Kyoto, Japan in 1949, Makoto Kubota is one of Japan鈥檚 true musical innovators. Over his long career, he began leading a musician鈥檚 life initially in the 鈥60s as a central part of the mystery-riddled, cult underground Japanese psychedelic rock band, Les Rallizes D茅nud茅s. As students responding to the post-war occupation of their country, from the beginning Les Rallizes were pioneering in their commitment to the Japanese-language in their work. Under the leadership of the enigmatic Takashi Mizutani, they spent decades making deep, hypnotic psychedelia and playing high volume concerts, a sonic assault - according to Kubota - loud enough to 鈥渟end your consciousness flying鈥. While still in LRD, Makoto formed The Sunset Gang with Haruomi Hosono, Minako Yoshida and Taeko Ohnuki, a group whose sound met somewhere between Japanese folk, Okinawan rock and New Orleans jazz, with a healthy dose of cool Hawaiian surfer vibes. Kuboata's mixtape offers a snapshot of his vivid musical universe.
Elsewhere in the show: slow-motion saxophone workouts courtesy of former Late Junction session guest Michaela Turcerov谩; time-shifting minimalist piano inspired by a moment of silence held by an orchestra from American Daoist composer Michael F Hunt; and music conjured from the foundations of the 13th Century songs of Cantiguas de Santa Maria performed by violinist Clara Levy & violist Victor Guaita Igual.
Produced by Cat Gough
A Reduced Listening production for 麻豆社 Radio 3
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 鈥渁sk 麻豆社 Sounds to play Late Junction鈥.
On radio
Broadcast
- Fri 31 Jul 2026 22:00麻豆社 Radio 3
Is the synth the ultimate feminist instrument?
Five pioneering women and the technology they made their own...