AN ANXIOUS OBJECT

I try and write reviews mainly on albums that I feel are great, but are overlooked on the site, thus I have chosen to be the first to review this completely unique record from Japan. I don't know what is going down in Japan at the moment, but they seem to be producing a lot of top notch math rock oriented bands, such as Toe and indeed Mouse on the Keys.

The music on this album is effectively a cross between math rock and Jazz fusion, performed primarily by a drummer and two piano/keyboard players. The drumming ranges from minimalist, to almost funky (see 'Double Bind' or 'Unflexible Grids'), to literally inhuman (see 'Spectres De Mouse') but is always inventive and engaging. Clean and wonderful interlocking piano parts provide the focus of the album, these being as effective and emotionally powerful in the subdued parts as in the frenzied ones. Keyboard embellishments and the occasional incredible sax improvisation complete the picture.

This is an album that sounds full, fresh and completely modern. The most impressive thing about the record's sound for me is it's duality. On the one hand, the album sounds a bit like the equivalent of modern art; fragile, angular, sparse and in parts downright threatening (see the intro to ' Forgotten Children'). However, on the other hand, the music manages to still maintain an accessibility and intimacy that sticks with the listener. There are parts, such as the 'chorus' section of 'Seiren' that have a lot of emotional impact. Ultimately, I think this achievement is down to the pure genius of the melodies, and the balance of the tracks both internally and across the record.

I would completely recommend this album to fans of math rock or jazz fusion, and definitely encourage all prog fans just to check it out, as it is such a unique record. I would recommend the track 'Seiren' if you want a flavor of the album, which you do.