A-Z of Japanese Psych & Prog Rock

A-Z of Japanese Symphonic Prog & Neo Prog

A-Z of Japanese Symphonic Prog & Neo Prog

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 16 2025 at 10:53

verslibre wrote: Psychedelic Paul wrote: A-Z of Japanese Symphonic Prog & Neo Prog MAGDALENA      Glorious classically-inspired Symphonic Prog with operatic soprano Megumi Tokuhisa (Japan's answer to Kate Bush) raising the rafters. All of the lyrics are in Japanese, but that only adds to  Magdalena's oriental charm. Domo arigato.  <span style=": rgb248, 248, 252;"> </span><span style=": rgb248, 248, 252;">1987: Magdalena - Magdalena - </span>http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lhX49XwUgDT5dvTE5lb_HPjEYotG4q9c0 A low-key classic. If Megumi Tokuhisa is Japan's Kate Bush, their answer to Ann Wilson (with shades of Haslam) is Hiroko Nagai of Pageant (one of my favorite Japanese groups).

verslibre wrote: Psychedelic Paul wrote: verslibre wrote: A low-key classic. If Megumi Tokuhisa is Japan's Kate Bush, their answer to Ann Wilson (with shades of Haslam) is Hiroko Nagai of Pageant (one of my favorite Japanese groups). I've had a quick preview of Pageant and they sound great, so I'm looking forward to hearing them in full sometime soon. Please experience La Mosaique de la Reverie sans interruptions from the townsfolk: Fill the moat, bar the doors, shutter the windows!

Logan wrote: Psychedelic Paul wrote: A-Z of Japanese Symphonic Prog & Neo Prog MAHOUJIN     You may not know the meaning of Mahoujin, but if they were an English band they'd be called Magical Circle Guru Guru - an ideal name for an ELP-style prog band, I think you'll agree. With a name like Magical Circle Guru Guru, I would think of some psychedelic and folky Krautrock Indo-Prog/Raga Rock band.

A-Z of Japanese Symphonic Prog & Neo Prog

^I've always liked their name.

A-Z of Japanese Symphonic Prog & Neo Prog

Was thinking a lot about this band recently. While they had an extensive influence on the local scene, and mainly some VGM composers like Sakuraba, I don't think that their style was ever properly emulated by any other act.
I mean there are both Symphonic and Neoclassical bands out there, but Outer Limits handsomely combines the two branches (with the neoclassical sound actually properly having orchestral elements), and adds the odd more technical rhythmic features of the modern tradition on top.
Most of their older demos (like the 1982 version of The Scene of Pale Blue) were re-issued in the 2006 edition of Marionette's Lament, but same cannot be said about the new stuff. As far as I know, promotional stuff such as the Organ Works was never re-issued in any kind of form.
One song by the name of Discoloured Ice managed to evade the plight of obscurity. A live performance of it can be found on Youtube, and it has also appeared in a compilation album called Jap's Progre by YggrDrasill Records.


Edited by KorgC3 - 14 hours 6 minutes ago at 08:41

Psychedelic Paul wrote: A-Z of Japanese Symphonic Prog & Neo Prog PAGEANT      Some of the most delightful music you'll ever hear in the wonderful world of Japanese  Prog! Pageant's three beautiful albums are jam-packed with more rich splendour and glorious jubilation than the Trooping of the Colour and Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March combined. They're the gold standard of  what other far better-known Symphonic Prog bands could aspire to in the 1980's, not just in Japan, but around the whole world. It's time now to find the nearest charity shop to dump by 1980's Genesis albums.    1986: Pageant - La Mosaique de la Reverie - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k--kLKn03ZWGHQ49EpvOTECGhs7rI0Em4   1987: Pageant - Abysmal Masquerade - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kroTekwLeEZVDizfqDeKxA_rNF0el7ztw   1989: Pageant - The Pay for Dreamer's Sin - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR1o2mdItm8 Thanks to Verslibre for the recommendation.

One of the best prog rock bands to ever come out of Japan. Hiroko Nagai's vocals are heavenly.