BARREN DREAM

''Barren Dream''is a really interesting album by a not widely-known Japanese progressive rock group.When I first listened to this album I felt overwhelmed with strong emotions and feelings, as I have to say that several melodies it contains are indescribably wonderful.In my opinion it is a four star album, with the whole atmosphere bringing in mind something of Canterbury Scene music (which although I can't exactly explain) The first track called ''All the fallen people'' is absolutely wonderful with admirable vocals by Hiroka Nagai and some signs of traditional japanese music.What I also like at this first track is the flute which gives a feeling of Symphonic Prog.''Sweet Revenge'' is a track that mostly plays a connecting role between the first and the third track.''Step into Easter'' is my favourite song of this album.It begins with flute and a melody reminding soundtrack music.Then come the vocals giving an ethnic colour to the track accompanied by a gentle guitar play.At the sixth minute the flute makes its appearance again in order to bring softly this wonderful track to an end after some more really unique vocals by Hiroka Nagai.''Intermezzo'' is a track based firmly on classical music with the vocals giving an even more tempting colour.''Eternal jealousy'' starts with the prelude which is a wonderful piano play by Fumiaki Ogawa and goes on with the Intake where the song takes a much quicker rhythm till the end with two more pieces Stillglow & Return.This album ends up with two more tracks, Lagrima (which is basically a repetition of ''Step into Easter'') and ''Barren Dream'' which is a well-designed combination of all the previous songs and probably the most suitable in order to put an end to this highly recommended progressive rock album!