Swathed in an impenetrable fog of mystery and extremism, the Japanese group Les Rallizes Dénudés exist more as a myth than as a real band. But what is a real band anyways? Accounts of Rallizes live shows tell of overwhelming sensory experiences fueled by excesses of volume and light – musical performance so intense that the body can’t escape. That sounds real enough, but everything else about the band pulls a blank: no proper studio albums, interviews, press photos – press anything. LRD’s agenda, both artistic and philosophically, hinged on radio silence.

AQUARIUM DRUNKARD.