PSF Records

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Originally uploaded by rawhite.

My music mecca in Tokyo. Armed with some sketchy directions from the internet I attempted to find this world famous record store and label. I took the Odakyu line from Yoyogi to Shinjuku and from there I had to fine the Keio line. Well it was quite a bitch finding the Keio line! Shinjuku is a massive train station with several levels and what seemed like 10 or so exits. Around 2 million (!) people a day pass through here. In rush hour this enormous place is literally elbow to elbow.

Well, after many wrong turns and staring at maps and attempting to go through gates that wouldn't let me pass I found the Keio line and took it to my station. It was an interesting little neighborhood. My directions were not very good but I found the record store by just wandering around a bit. It was on the second floor of what looked like an apartment building. You had to get buzzed in. So I keyed in the number indicated and a voice answered in Japanese and the door clicked open. I went in and went up the narrow staircase.

If you have ever heard music from the PSF label you know it is some of the most avant garde and intense music made anywhere. Some of this stuff is seriously freaky. But it's all done for love of music, not any weird subculture. Anyway, I had no idea what to expect when I walked in, but two friendly looking middle aged men in glasses was not it.

They spoke not a word to me beyond a nod of the head and a smile. So I just started browsing. There were literally shelves full of cds I had been trying to find in the US forever! I ended up getting about 15 or so. Don't even ask how expensive it was. I was standing at the cash register while taking this picture. Directly to the right is the Japanese section, which I examined closely. The left is American garage and psych, while the right is European. Pretty simple arrangement.