AMYGDALA

This is very well done, especially for a two man band. A lot of programmed sounds though including the drums, but I swear if I didn't know the drums weren't real I wouldn't know. They are extremely well done. The music is dark and heavy with a Zeuhl flavour.

"Utrecht" opens heavily with slow pounding drums and scorching guitar. A lot of bottom end. The guitar really rips it up in this one and there are flute-like sounds as well. An intense ending to this one. Great opening track. "1998" opens with keys as a clarinet-like melody comes in. Drums and heaviness follows. Some nice bass lines early followed later by some scorching guitar. The melody stops before 5 minutes as synths and programmed sounds wash in for 1 1/2 minutes. The melody returns led at first by keys, then guitar and heaviness comes back.

"Bernoulli's Organ" opens with bass, keys and drums. After 3 minutes it's hard to believe again that the drums aren't real, they are so well done. We get xylophone-like sounds and mellotron-like sounds,and organ too. Angular guitar after 5 1/2 minutes. The tempo slows down before 7 minutes as it gets darker. Back to the intensity to end it. "Low Life" is fairly slow going for the first 3 minutes reminding me of UNIVERS ZERO, then strange sounds come as the tempo picks up with background spoken words. Synths and drums end it. "-DB" opens with slow paced keys and bass before a clarinet-like melody comes in. Still slow paced. Drums and guitar 3 1/2 minutes in adds some life with guitar leading the way 4 minutes in. "Under Utopian Universe" is pastoral with running water, bass and flute-like sounds. The bonus track "Theme Of Unteleported Man" features some orchestral-like sounds along with what sounds like mellotron. It gets darker before 3 minutes. More orchestral-like sounds follow.

3.5 stars. A worthy debut from this Japanese band who are only going to get better.