Jim O'Rourke/Eiko Ishibashi

When Jim O'Rourke exchanged a life of international touring with Sonic Youth for a low-key expat existence in Tokyo, it seemed to suggest a diminishing of ambition. However, his activities in the ensuing years have rubbished any such notion: much as he might prefer to keep a low profile here, O'Rourke is constantly popping up at gigs around Tokyo and in the production credits for albums. This double-header finds him hooking up with a kindred spirit, multi-instrumentalist songwriter Eiko Ishibashi, whose Carapace album he also produced last year. O'Rourke will be tackling some of his own songs with new band Geigai, as well as playing in Ishibashi's support group, the wryly titled Mou Shinda Hitotachi (literally, People Who Are Already Dead).