A FLOATING PLACE

A Japanese rock septet STELLA LEE JONES founded Satoshi HIRATA as a frontman / guitarist / composer have released a superb debut album "A Floating Place" in late 2011. Based upon jazz rock, experimental, and artistic music, they played complex music structure sometimes with mysterious atmosphere, sometimes with pungent rhythm lines, and sometimes with heartwarming story telling. Guess their musical fundamentals have got formed mainly with 70s British progressive rock, but around them is not only the scene but also various essence and innovation that he's got from his rock experience especially on stage.

Although this album has no attraction as a unified complete fairy tale, each tune has well- constructed structure with magnificent battles amongst all instruments and three rhythm creators get crystallized perfectly. And amazingly, regardless of polyrhythmic, complex and bizarre melody / rhythm lines, their play battle sounds tremendously matured and intriguingly intersected without any annoyance ... this sound phenomena remind me their shoegaze pattern with playing a lone hand, and cannot let me feel sentimental journey enough for my palpitation.

Suppose it's great for us to enjoy their playing on stage as the audience, but I cannot help feeling a bit regret this album doesn't have dramatic appearance but completely harmonized sessions with splendid skills, all of which should make me look forward to their newer creation. A great debut shot, nonetheless.