Conatala twins with Portland-based imprint Incidental for their maiden release, the first vinyl pressing of mysterious Japanese duo Pale Cocoon's cassette-only release from 1984, now compiled with fine detail into a two disc set. Given the provenance, Pale Cocoon share some obvious common ground with the Vanity Records set, and the general spirit of unique experimentation and playfulness that defines a lot of Japanese post-punk music of the era. However, where Vanity acts like Kiiro Radical and Salaried Man Club favoured a proto-industrial abstraction and abrasion, Pale Cocoon move more consciously towards beauty. This is at times very pretty, delicate music, minimal in terms of composition, but rich with atmosphere and emotion. Comparisons with Durutti Column make sense, though I'm also strongly reminded of Young Marble Giants (in spirit at least) and, most obviously, the seminal Les Disques de Crepuscule comp, Fruit of the Original Sin, finding a sweet spot in that magical interzone where the experimental outliers of post-punk meet the formative origins of a yet to fully ossify indiepop sensitivity. In a landscape abundant with reissues, this is a truly vital one. Keep shining that light into lost corners...
