On his myspace page, Tabata Mitsuru continues the time-honored tradition of proclaiming himself to be "from another solar system." In reality, of course, he is from Japan and We All Gonna Face the Rising Sun does a great job of reflecting the planet he lives on. Utilizing his guitar, amplifier hum and oscillator manipulation, Tabata-san is able to generate compelling soundscapes that often complement the misty, seagull-laded piers photographed in the packaging. Guitar loops on the opening track mimic the rusty whine of a seaside weathervane; a guitar drone on "Slave March" suggests a passing freighter; synth squawks are carefully reigned in to resemble bird calls; backwards guitar licks fondly recall the earthy Topographic-era tones of Steve Howe. Tabata-san has an ear for simple, pleasant melodies and cleanly plucks them over the motifs. The weathervane guitar even returns in a different melodic context during the closing track. The four strongest compositions on Rising Sun pair off and bookend the collection nicely.

If the high points on this record weave a compelling web in the listener's ear, other tracks cut the web down the middle. On its own, "Annihilation" is bound to please any fan of haywire guitar layering. Whether or not such a jarring interlude is welcome boils down to individual taste, but its inclusion definitely kills the mood that the first third of the record lays out. "Cobweb and Cantrip" features some snicker-inducing vocal moans; the willingness to incorporate his pipes as an additional instrument is appreciated, but Tabata-san is limited as a vocalist and compared with the other tools in his arsenal, these sounds are not very compelling.

No one is denying experimental artists the right to have a little fun. But in inexperienced hands, synthesizers and looped guitars generate little more than goofball space sounds. When an artist has transcended these limitations by sculpting something as beautiful as "Seagulls," or "Homing Instinct," it's a little tough to swallow lesser tracks in the same sitting. We All Gonna Face the Rising Sun is an often beautiful, sometimes frustrating record that is ultimately an enjoyable listen (with a bit of track skipping).