Tokyo Yanaka, Kanonji
観音寺は、正式には蓮葉山妙智院観音寺といい、慶長十六年（1611）に江戸神田北寺町に、長福寺として尊雄和尚によって建てられました。関ケ原の戦いに勝利した徳川家康が、征夷大将軍となって江戸幕府を開いた頃のことです。場所は現在の皇居のすぐ近く、千代田区神田錦町のあたりといわれています。
江戸が日本の首府として動き始めると、江戸の町は急速に発展し、江戸城を中心とした区画整理がおこなわれ、その中にあったお寺や神社、町家はつぎつぎと移転を命ぜられました。
慶安元年（1648）、観音寺（長福寺）も境内地が御用地となり、谷中清水坂に移転し、延宝八年（1680）に再び現在地に移転しています。※１
文久板（1862）の小川町絵図をみますと、一ツ橋御門外、神田橋御門外との間の北方の道に「錦小路」とあります。その近くは武家屋敷ばかりで町屋はなく、御用地となったのちに武家屋敷地となりました。ちなみに錦小路、錦町等の名は、かつて一色家の屋敷が二つあったことから、二色小路、二色町と呼んだことにはじまったといわれます。
谷中清水坂とは東叡山寛永寺清水門坂のことで、『延宝図』（1679）の護国院の西のところに「しみず丁ノあと」と記載され、『寛文図』（1671）では空き地になっています。門の脇に清水が湧出していたことから、清水門、清水町、清水坂の名が生まれたといわれ、現在の台東区池之端四丁目あたりになります。
※１
「― 慶長年中、神田北寺町に寺地を拝領、のち谷中清水坂に、延宝八年替地移転す」
（『東都歳事記』）
「― 境内拝領地、権現（家康）様御代神田北寺町拝領仕候 ― 大猷院（家光）様御代御用地ニ相成被召上代地谷中清水坂 ― 厳有院（家綱）様御代御用地ニ相成候而延宝八庚申年只今之場所代地拝領仕候 ―」
（『文政寺社書上』）
観音寺（長福寺）が現在地に移転した頃、観音寺周辺は次々と寺院が引き移り、元禄年中（1688～1703）も中頃になると、谷中の地は江戸府内有数の寺町となり、寺町特有の静けさと賑わいを見せはじめます。この元禄の頃は、江戸幕府の治政も比較的安定した時代で、庶民のあいだに物見遊山をかねた寺社詣が盛んになります。弘法大師霊場巡拝や観音霊場巡拝が盛んになったのもこの頃のことです。 観音寺（長福寺）の「― 表間口三十五間余、奥行三十五間余、総評数、千三百二十一坪七合 ―』の境内地には、大師堂、護摩堂、観音堂、稲荷社がつぎつぎと建てられ、人びとの厚い信仰が当寺へ寄せられたことをものがたっています。
享保元年（1716）、紀州の徳川吉宗が第八代の将軍職を継承すると、長子の長福丸（家重）が世子となります。次の将軍位を継ぐ世子の名と寺号が同じになってしまったわけです。これらのことを配慮した朝海和尚は寺号を観音寺と改めました。江戸時代、将軍の子や側室の名と同名となった寺院は、「公儀に恐れ多い」といい、すべて寺号を改称しています。
観音寺の『寺社書上』は、文政九年（1826）十三世教阿和尚によって書き上げられていますが、これによると、朝海和尚を中興開基と称し、朝海和尚の代に真言宗江戸四箇寺であった本所弥勒寺（墨田区）と本末関係を結んだと記しています。※２
諸堂宇の建立をはじめ、寺号の改称、新しい本末関係の確立等が、すべて朝海和尚によって行われたわけで、観音寺史のなかでも最も特筆される歴代僧といえましょう。
朝海和尚は、享保元年十月二十二日、すべての後事を朝山和尚（文良）に託して遷化しました。吉宗が将軍位についてから六か月後のことで、寺号の改称、新しい本末関係の確立は、すべてこの六か月間で遂行されたことになります。
※２
「― 中興開基 当寺第五世朝快（海）住職中本所弥勒寺之末寺ニ相成申候 ―」
（『文政寺社書上』）
明和九年（1772）、目黒行人坂の大円寺から出火した火災は、日本橋、神田、千住まで燃えひろがり、現代では考えられないほどの広範囲にわたる大火災となり、谷中の諸寺院も大半が焼けてしまいました。※３
観音寺の諸堂宇も焼けてしまい、歴代住職によって書き記された貴重な文書も、そのほとんどがこの大火によって焼失しています。しかしながら、当時の住職たちがただちに堂宇を再建し、時代も文化・文政（1804～1829）の頃になると江戸文化はいよいよ花開き、観音寺の檀家区域もますます拡がり、観音堂に安置された如意輪観音の信者たちが寺運隆昌への一助を担っていたと伝えられています。
※３
「二月二十九日、乾より西南の風烈しく、土烟天を覆い日光朦朧たり ― 午の刻、
目黒行人坂大円寺より出火して ― この火事長さ六里幅一里 ― 大小名藩邸寺院
神社町屋の類夥しく、焼死怪我人其の数を知らず ―」
（『武江年表』）
慶応四年（1868）、十五代将軍徳川慶喜の大政奉還によって、二百六十余年にわたった江戸幕府が崩壊し、明治新政府が樹立されると、神仏分離令が公布され、廃仏毀釈運動が起こります。観音寺も境内地をすべて官有地とされ、宗教活動にまで支障をきたす状態になりました。その様な時代背景の下で、より一層の寺運繁栄に邁進したのが十五世賢恭和尚です。
大正十二年（1923）、関東大震災が起こり、観音寺の本堂も倒壊こそまぬがれましたが、ひどく損傷してしまいました。そこで先代住職である智廣和尚が本堂の建てかえを発願し、昭和十八年（1943）、第二次世界大戦中という大変きびしい世相のもと、現本堂を完成させることができました。そこには観音寺檀信徒の大変なご支援ご助力がありました。また、現本堂完成にともない、当時は境内に安置されていた江戸時代作である唐銅（）製の大日如来像と阿弥陀如来像を本堂内に遷座頂き、以来、観音寺のご本尊とさせて頂いております。戦時下の日本では鉄をはじめとした金属が不足し、一般家庭の鍋はもちろん、寺院の鐘も供出の対象となっており、その様な時代背景から、改めてご本尊として本堂内にお迎え入れたとされています。
このように、観音寺は創建以来四百余年、激動する時の流れの中にあって、その法灯を一度も絶やすことなくともしつづけ、由緒ある古刹として今日に至っています。
観音寺のご本尊は、大日如来と阿弥陀如来です。江戸時代に作られた尊像で、像高三尺八寸と三尺四寸の唐銅(胡銅)製の座像です。かつては濡れ仏として境内に安置されておりましたが、現本堂完成にともない、ご本尊として本堂内に遷座いただきました。
それまでの観音寺のご本尊は、如意輪観音菩薩と不空羂索観音菩薩です。こちらも江戸時代作の木製座像の尊像で、蓮台から光背も含めた像高は三尺となります。この観音菩薩像は、当初は明和の大火後に建てられた観音堂に安置されておりましたが、その後ご本尊として旧本堂に安置されておりました。現在では本堂内位牌堂に安置されています。
また、観音寺創建当時はご本尊として五智如来像（金剛界五仏）が安置されていました。観音寺を開創した尊雄和尚が師子相承していたものです。五智如来とは大日如来を中心に阿閦如来（東）、宝生如来（南）、阿弥陀如来（西）、不空成就如来（北）の五仏のことで、大日如来が法界体性智を、以下順に大円鏡智、平等性智、妙観察智、成所作智を具現するということから五智如来と言い、観音寺に安置されていた五智如来像は「木座像 丈一尺四寸斗」（『文政寺社書上』）の像でした。有名な五智如来像としては、京都の東寺（教王護国寺）講堂に安置されているものがあります。
この五智如来像は、火事によってうしなわれ、残念ながら現在は伝承されておりません。
真言宗は、平安時代の初めに中国に渡り、真言密教のすべての教えを恵果阿闍梨から授かった、弘法大師空海（774～835）によって開かれました。弘法大師は、すべての人がそのままの姿で少しも変わることなく仏さまになれるという「即身成仏」の教えと、すべてのものに価値を認め、すべてのものに真実を見いだし、無駄なものは一つもなく、それらはすべて共通の原点である大日如来によって結ばれているという「曼荼羅」の教えを説かれました。
真言宗は高野山を中心に教えを広めました。しかし、様々な理由は有りますが、高野山は平安時代の終わり頃に一時衰退してしまいました。そのような状況を打破すべく、高野山の高僧であった興教大師覚鑁（1095～1144）が、弘法大師の教えに新しいエネルギーを吹き込み、高野山を、そして真言密教を復興されました。その後、興教大師は紀州根来寺を開き、「教学の山」と呼ばれるほど大変栄えましたが、戦国時代に豊臣秀吉による焼き討ちにあい、壊滅状態となってしまいました。その時に専誉僧正と玄宥僧正という二人の優れた学僧がおられ、専誉僧正は奈良の長谷寺で豊山派を興し、玄宥僧正は京都の智積院で智山派を興しました。
江戸時代、長谷寺は豊山派の総本山として、「教学の山」と呼ばれた根来の流れを汲み「学山豊山」として栄え、現在も、四季折々の花が山を彩る「花のみ寺」として、また、西国三十三観音の八番札所に数えられる、長谷観音（十一面観世音菩薩）さまの霊場として多くの人がお参りに見えています。
Justice (the French electronic duo) has released four main studio albums
. For a high-quality FLAC listening experience, here is a feature breakdown of their core discography: The Justice Studio Album Discography † (Cross)
(Released: June 11, 2007): Their debut landmark album, featuring heavy distortion and disco influences. Essential Tracks : "D.A.N.C.E.", "Genesis", "Waters of Nazareth". Audiophile Note
: A 15th-anniversary edition was released in late 2022 with six additional tracks, including rare demos and remixes. Audio, Video, Disco
(Released: October 24, 2011): A shift toward a progressive rock-inspired sound with live instrumentation. Essential Tracks : "Civilization", "Audio, Video, Disco", "New Lands".
(Released: November 18, 2016): A more soulful, disco-heavy record with lush vocal arrangements. Essential Tracks : "Safe and Sound", "Randy", "Alakazam!". Hyperdrama
(Released: April 26, 2024): Their latest work, blending gabber, disco, and heavy synth-pop. Essential Tracks
: "One Night/All Night" (feat. Tame Impala), "Generator", "Neverender". Quality & FLAC Recommendations For listeners seeking FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)
versions of these albums, there are several official and high-fidelity options: Official Digital Stores : Major lossless retailers like offer the entire discography in 16-bit or 24-bit FLAC. : Many artists under the Ed Banger Records
umbrella (Justice’s home label) host their catalogs here for direct lossless download. Apple Music & Tidal
: While streaming, these platforms offer "Lossless" (ALAC/FLAC equivalent) and Hyperdrama specifically supports the Dolby Atmos spatial audio format. Physical Media : If you prefer ripping your own files, the Justice Discography on Wikipedia
confirms all four albums are available on CD, which can be ripped to 1411kbps FLAC for perfect fidelity. Woman Worldwide ) to complete your lossless collection?
Justice Discography: A Sonic Exploration of Electronic Music
Justice is a French electronic music duo composed of Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay. Formed in 2003, the duo has been a significant force in shaping the sound of contemporary electronic music. With a discography spanning four critically acclaimed albums, Justice has consistently pushed the boundaries of the genre, experimenting with new sounds and styles. This piece will delve into the duo's discography, highlighting their unique approach to music production and their impact on the electronic music scene.
† (2007) - A Debut Album of Unbridled Energy
Justice's debut album, † (pronounced "cross"), was released in 2007 to widespread critical acclaim. The album's raw energy and playful use of distortion, filtering, and reverb set the tone for the duo's future work. Tracks like "Genesis" and "D.A.N.C.E." showcased the duo's ability to craft infectious, dancefloor-friendly anthems while maintaining an edgy, avant-garde spirit. The album's success can be attributed to Augé and de Rosnay's meticulous production, which yielded a cohesive and captivating listening experience.
† (2007) FLAC Tracklist:
† (2007) FLAC File Details:
Audio, Video, Disco (2008) - A Companion Piece
The following year, Justice released Audio, Video, Disco, an EP that expanded on the sonic themes introduced in †. This collection of tracks further refined the duo's sound, showcasing their ability to create rich, layered productions. The EP's title track, "Audio, Video, Disco," is a prime example of Justice's skill in crafting mesmerizing, atmospheric soundscapes.
Audio, Video, Disco (2008) FLAC Tracklist: justice discography 4 albums flac work
Audio, Video, Disco (2008) FLAC File Details:
† Alive (2008) - A Live Album Capturing the Duo's Energy
In 2008, Justice released † Alive, a live album documenting their high-energy performances. This double CD set captured the duo's dynamic stage presence, showcasing their ability to reimagine and recontextualize their studio work in a live setting. † Alive served as a testament to Justice's reputation as a captivating live act.
† Alive (2008) FLAC Tracklist:
Disc 1:
Disc 2:
† Alive (2008) FLAC File Details:
Audio, Video, Disco II (2011) - A Sequel to the Original EP
In 2011, Justice released Audio, Video, Disco II, a sequel to their 2008 EP. This collection of tracks continued the duo's exploration of new sounds and textures, while maintaining their signature blend of melodic hooks and sonic experimentation.
Audio, Video, Disco II (2011) FLAC Tracklist:
Audio, Video, Disco II (2011) FLAC File Details:
Hyperion (2018) - A Matured Sound
Justice's third studio album, Hyperion, was released in 2018 to critical acclaim. This album marked a new chapter in the duo's career, as they explored more mature and introspective themes. Tracks like "Electricity" and "1050" showcased the duo's continued ability to craft infectious, dancefloor-friendly anthems, while also pushing the boundaries of electronic music production.
Hyperion (2018) FLAC Tracklist:
Hyperion (2018) FLAC File Details:
† Transmission (2020) - A Live Album Celebrating 15 Years
In 2020, Justice released † Transmission, a live album celebrating 15 years of their debut album †. This double CD set captured the duo's live performances, reimagining and reinterpreting their extensive discography.
† Transmission (2020) FLAC Tracklist:
Disc 1:
Disc 2:
† Transmission (2020) FLAC File Details:
Justice's discography is a testament to the duo's innovative approach to electronic music production. With four critically acclaimed albums, they have consistently pushed the boundaries of the genre, experimenting with new sounds and styles. The FLAC files provided offer a high-quality listening experience, allowing fans to appreciate the intricate details and nuances of Justice's productions. As a result, Justice has solidified their position as one of the most influential and respected electronic music acts of the 21st century.
Justice’s four studio albums trace a radical arc from digital distortion to refined "disco-opera," maintaining a signature French identity while evolving through prog-rock and psychedelic funk. For audiophiles, the FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) format is the gold standard for this discography, as it preserves the intricate "microsampling" and high-frequency textures that lossy MP3s often flatten. 1. † (Cross) — 2007: The Distortion Manifesto
Their debut redefined electro-house by treating synthesizers like overdriven rock guitars.
The Sound: Built on an "opera-disco" concept, it features maximalist production with hundreds of microsamples.
Why FLAC? The heavy distortion on tracks like “Waters of Nazareth” and the sharp percussion in “Genesis” can easily become "muddy" in lower bitrates. Lossless files preserve the specific digital "grit" that makes this album iconic.
Availability: You can find vinyl editions at stores like Vinyl People Records. 2. Audio, Video, Disco — 2011: The Prog-Rock Pivot
Justice famously pivoted from the club to the arena, trading drum machines for 70s-style prog-rock and live instrumentation.
Justice is a cornerstone of French electronic music, and their four studio albums represent a high-water mark for production quality. If you are looking to appreciate their work in FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec), you are choosing the best way to hear the intricate textures of their "distorted" disco-house sound.
† (Cross) (2007): The debut that changed electronic music. Known for its aggressive, slap-bass funk and heavy distortion, tracks like "Genesis" and "D.A.N.C.E." benefit immensely from FLAC's high bit depth, preserving the intentional "crunch" without adding digital artifacts.
Audio, Video, Disco (2011): A shift toward 1970s arena rock and progressive influences. This album features dense layers of synthesizers and analog guitar sounds that are much more expansive in a lossless format compared to standard MP3s.
Woman (2016): A more polished, celebratory exploration of disco and pop. The production is "hi-fi" and lush; listening to "Safe and Sound" in FLAC reveals the depth of the live orchestral elements and slap-bass groove.
Hyperdrama (2024): Their latest work, blending dark, cinematic electronics with shimmering disco. As their most modern production, the soundstage is incredibly wide, making it a perfect candidate for high-resolution listening. Why FLAC for Justice?
Justice’s "work" is famously meticulous. They often use compression and distortion as an instrument. In lossy formats (like 128kbps MP3s), these intentional textures can often turn into "mush." FLAC ensures:
Dynamic Range: Preserves the punchy transients of their drums.
Texture: Keeps the "grit" of their synths sounding organic rather than static.
Archival Quality: As a bit-perfect copy of the CD, it is the definitive way to own their history.
For official high-quality versions, you can find their full catalog on high-resolution platforms like Qobuz or Bleep.
The discography of the French electronic duo (Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay) is a masterclass in evolving soundscapes, moving from aggressive, distorted "blog house" to polished, psychedelic disco. To truly appreciate the density of their production—layered with slap bass, heavy compression, and analog synth textures—listening in a lossless format like is essential.
As of 2026, their studio discography consists of four primary albums, each representing a distinct era of their creative "work". 1. † (Cross) – 2007 Justice (the French electronic duo) has released four
The debut that defined an era. This album is famous for its "maximalist" approach, utilizing heavy distortion and micro-sampling to create a sound that felt more like heavy metal than traditional house. Audiophile Note:
In FLAC, the separation between the crushing basslines and the delicate string arrangements (as heard in "Genesis") is much more pronounced, preventing the intentional distortion from becoming a "muddy" mess. 2. Audio, Video, Disco – 2011
A sharp pivot toward 1970s arena rock and progressive pop. This album traded the "crunch" of their debut for cleaner, guitar-driven melodies and soaring synths. Audiophile Note:
The intricate layering of analog gear and live instrumentation on tracks like "Civilization" benefits significantly from the high dynamic range of lossless audio, revealing the "air" around the instruments that MP3 compression often flattens. 3. Woman – 2016 A celebration of disco, funk, and choral arrangements.
is arguably their most "organic" sounding work, featuring the London Contemporary Orchestra and a focus on uplifting, soulful energy. Audiophile Note:
Lossless files are vital here to capture the nuances of the live choir and the punch of the slap-bass performances that drive songs like "Safe and Sound." 4. Hyperdrama – 2024 The duo's most recent evolution, Hyperdrama
blends the dark, cinematic electronics of their early days with futuristic, hyper-polished pop. It features high-profile collaborations (such as Tame Impala) and a production style that pushes modern digital limits. Audiophile Note:
Given the complex, often chaotic textures of this album, FLAC is the preferred medium to ensure the "surgical" precision of the mix is preserved without digital artifacts. The "Work" of Finding FLAC
For collectors, finding the complete Justice discography in true FLAC often requires sourcing from high-quality storefronts like
or official digital retailers to avoid "transcodes"—files that are merely up-converted MP3s. live albums
, which are often considered equally important to their studio "work"? AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
While they have remixes ( † , Woman Worldwide , and Planisphère ), the canonical studio discography consists of four distinct chapters.
Before dissecting the albums, we must address the keyword: FLAC work. Justice’s production style is notoriously "hot." They famously use intentional digital clipping and side-chain compression that pushes the red zone.
For a proper Justice discography FLAC work, you need files with a bit depth of 16-bit (CD quality) or 24-bit (Hi-Res), a sample rate of 44.1kHz or higher, and proper metadata tags.
For the better part of two decades, the French electronic duo Justice (Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay) has stood as a monolithic force in the world of dance music. Emerging from the mid-2000s Ed Banger Records wave, they didn't just make music; they engineered a sonic architecture of crushing distortion, classical sampling, and disco-fuelled groove.
For audiophiles and serious collectors, however, streaming via MP3 or standard AAC simply doesn't cut it. The intricate clipping, the analog warmth, and the sheer dynamic range of Justice’s production demand the FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) format.
This article serves as the ultimate guide to the Justice discography: their 4 studio albums in FLAC format, exploring why each album requires lossless quality and how to properly manage this digital work.
The Hi-Fi Audiophile Dream
Woman is Justice at their cleanest. Gone is the intentional grit; replaced by lush strings, funk bass, and pristine mixing by French engineer Julien Delfaud. This is the album that benefits most from FLAC.
"††† (Cross) Workflow" – A smart playback mode that: † (2007) FLAC File Details:
