DOPPLER 444

The only studio album of Japanese short lived band. Very high level of technical excellence, combining some symphonic prog elements with jazz rock and heavy fusion arrangements. Fully instrumental work, it is heavily influenced by UK's (band) music.

Guitarist Hirofumi Mitoma is very Holdsworth-like musician (he participated on another Japanese band NOA during late 80-s, where he played pure guitar jazz-rock fusion, heavily influenced by Allan Holdsworth), so you can expect Holdsworthian guitar sound there. Total sound is based on keyboards passages, but all musicians has their time.

The main problem with this music is composition. Being very competent technically, all songs have not too much structure or melody, so sound as one long composition. Musicianship is very dynamic, almost aggressive, so I don't think this album could be boring. But too often the music sounds as techniques demonstration.

Another problem is originality. Excellent musicians has quite faceless style. Great UK imitators? In all, still enough pleasant album to be listened ( especially for aggressive heavy fusion fans as well as for those with interest to UK - like music). Not too original, but very competent and energetic album.