Japanese Progressive Rock presented by DamoX

Seconded, BaronVonCruzer!

BaronVonCruzer wrote: I'm a huge ELP fan. So, I like the Made In Japan roster of artists, since almost all of them are heavily influenced by ELP as well other keyboard-led classic Prog bands like Goblin, Balleto Di Bronzo, etc. My favorites are Ars Nova, Gerard, and Teru's Symphonia. Teru's is the least ELP-like of those three since they're led by a guitarist (guess what his name is), but they're still ELP influenced. Other bands I have: Bellaphon, Deja Vu, Social Tension, Happy Family.

Almost all of Japanese symphonic outfits should be influenced basically by British symphonic and RPI.
Particularly ELP has much influence on Japanese three-piece progressive bands including a keyboardist, a guitarist, and a bassist...as you've said, such as in Made In Japan label.

honganji wrote: kazuhiro wrote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioPSgYgI9b4 大高清美さんの演奏する姿は初めて見ました。

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioPSgYgI9b4

Oh, thanks mithrandir!

mithrandir wrote: I absolutely love ROVO, completely underrated IMO, sadly most of their material is nearly impossible to get stateside Mutyumu, is another great new band

Yea, I think 'Condor' is a dramatic and visualized album...my love.
'NUOU' is a bit weaker...Yuji's violin is crazy and strong, though.

honganji wrote: Mutyumu is very great. Ilya is the 2nd favorite Japanese prog album I bought in this one year between September 2008 and September 2009. (No.1 is ExhiVision / Beyond The Earthbound) Recent additions into my Japanese albums collection: Acid Mothers Temple & Melting Paraiso U.F.O. / Are We Experimental? 岸倫仔 (Kishi Linnko) /  Go Places! Linnko! 星連船バンド (Seirensen Band) / S.T. Kishi Linnko's 4th album is the best for me. In comparison with previous 3 albums, it is less oriented jazz rock. Also it may be the calmest album among all 4 albums. ...

honganji, your comments always make me happy.
Linnko, as kazuhiro has recommended here, I've listened and been amazed.
Her eccentrically jazzy taste with Oriental spice is indeed great.

I absolutely love ROVO, completely underrated IMO, sadly most of their material is nearly impossible to get stateside

Mutyumu, is another great new band

I don't know if it qualifies, but the japanese experimental/noise/hardcore band melt banana released some interesting albums, among which 'charlie', which should appeal to progsters.

http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=24796

http://www.myspace.com/linntetra

I am very happy to finally be able to participate in this thread, since in the past couple of months I have got to know a few excellent Japanese bands - some of whom haven't yet been added to the PA database. I know Keishiro is a big fan of Asturias, and I'm glad to say that their latest release, In Search of the Soul Trees, is an excellent album that was a real pleasure for me to listen and review. Another find was Fantasmagoria's Day and Night - the band is led by violinist Miki Fujimoto (a woman), and they are a wonderful example of violin-led instrumental prog. They are not yet on PA, but I'll be happy to submit them for addition as soon as I decide which subgenre is best.

I also have CDs by TEE and Qui waiting to be reviewed. The first impression of both was very good, but I need more listens in order to actually 'get' the album. Qui played at ProgDay last week, and I read some very positive comments about them. Anyway, I will post a link to my reviews of Japanese bands here, if no one minds the shameless plug.

Folks, please lean against this electro-analogue spark by HOSOME!



HOSOME were formed as a four-piece outfit in Osaka, Japan in 2007 by Hayato Nakajima(guitars, voices), Yoshifumi　Kuwano(bass), Shikiko Osawa(keyboards, voices), and Ryohei Toda(drums, percussion). Their musical style is, in a phrase, progressive hybrid rock with electronically avantgarde, industrially noisy, and pleasantly analogue one. Through some gigs and much experience all around Japan, HOSOME dropped their debut bomb "New Fascio" simultaneously in the U.S., Europe, and Japan on December 12th, 2007 - that could absorb many fans and reviewers into HOSOMIC stomach. The stage is like a toy box, and the four players always pop up from the stage and amaze the audience like toy soldiers. Keeping their activity full, HOSOME released the second work "Jakamashi Jazz" ornamented with more twinkling stars on September 9th, 2009.



LISTEN TO THE JAKAMASHI JAZZ WITH FULL VOLUME...AND BREAK AWAY.

Their musical style is like a bowl of rice with various toppings. Yup, you can feel so with listening to the first track. Lots of electronic noises and sounds can attack and immerse you into the deep rice. Furthermore, they can play more speedy than AxCx!...hahaha, kiddin'. :-P
As plenty of rubbish (sorry!) flow from the upper side of a river, they can squeeze plenty of noises into your ears and brain. Whatever they do, Hayato's lyrics are hard for you to hear and realize, and their rhythm kaleidoscope is difficult for you to follow completely. (Not kiddin'!)
I guess they might not well reckon how the sounds should go - however, the sounds can directly and naturally flow into your brain - this phenomenon is exactly beyond expression. I've watched their stage (and bought this album) and felt as well - Hayato's spelling (!) and their play both were very loud, quick and absurd. Wait wait very exciting and enthusiastic! His sweat and spit flew around us in front of the audience, and the keyboardist Shikiko hopped and jumped on the stage with playing - as a pretty toy pop up from a toy box.
I consider the important point is, they can add their analogue elements on the digital basis. Believe me, their style and sounds are not well polished - because of their ground-smelled action and anarchy. Consequently, I cannot call them simply an electronic rock outfit but a mixed hybrid one.

Listen and laugh out loudly, recommended.

Thank you for reading this blog.