Japanese Progressive Rock presented by DamoX

Hey, I"m now travelling for getting great natural water and Japanese Sake.
Now I"m in Okuizumo where various Sake are produced continuously.

Anyway mates, which alcoholic drink do you like? I"m very curious ...

Just picked up on Gerald's covers album from 2004 -
 


Interesting takes on some well known numbers originally by KC, UK and ELP - really enjoying 21st Century Schizoid Man

wow looks beautiful

Thanks Ken and Uwe.
The ground and road there were very hard for us to walk but green shower and water sound were very comfortable ... and Sake was very good (whoomp).

Again let me recommend a versatile Japanese Psychedelic Progressive Rock outfit to you all.


LENINGRAD BLUES MACHINE, one of pioneers in Japanese Psychedelic Progressive Rock scene

In 1987, a guitarist TABATA had searched aggressively his original way for rokc music after leaving from Boredoms. He had repeated lots of sessions with various players in studio, and could seize the opportunity to form LENINGRAD BLUES MACHINE in Kyoto. Around 1990s they had changed the members or hibernated over and over, but never had any official releases. (EDIT: they have released two live albums in 90s - "Leningrad Blues Machine" (1993) and "LBM II Fandango" (1998) - so the last paragraph is incorrect. "but never had any studio-based releases" is correct.)

In 2002, they migrated from Kyoto to Tokyo and built themselves up firmly with current members - TABATA (guitar), WATANABE (drums), and SHIMAJI (bass). Their colourful psychedelia mixed with jazz and funk essence could make them musically tighter and more versatile. Eventually LENINGRAD BLUES MACHINE released their first studio-recorded album 'Yajé' in 2004, among lots of gigs and sessions.


Yajé (2004) - LENINGRAD BLUES MACHINE's first studio album

Not only psychedelic rock but eclectically mixed kaleidoscopic launcher, with jazz, funk, blues ...

LENINGRAD BLUES MACHINE have got advanced continuously methinks. I've heard they might have got started as a "pseudo" psychedelic jam band simply according to gigs in their early time, but in 2002 they could confirm the members and attitude for psychedelic progressive rock strictly I suppose. This album "Yajé" was their first full-studio-recorded one, that could alter the studio into the psychedelic progressive heaven. No need for us to say such difficult phrases, but alright only to listen to and enjoy this brilliant heavenly creation.

Anyway, whatever I say, please drop the CD player lens onto the disc. They open their musically versatile art curtain completely from the beginning ... wow, that's it! Our ears can touch directly their complexity and progressiveness around sounds and noises created with their talent of jazzy, funky, bluesy psychedelia. The rhythm section can be surely immersed into jazz rock / fusion, and Tabata's guitar solo can be whacked out deeply in his hallucinated mind. Though their voices are more freaked as if they should absorb themselves into mind-expanding substances, their play can be totally exploitable out. They, in this album, are hoppin', steppin', and jumpin' by making full use of instruments and ... yeah tremblin' air ... all around the heaven.

Here's a great stuff, that cannot be mentioned only with psychedelic rock manner. Recommended.


Thank you for reading this blog.


Edited by DamoXt7942 - September 22 2010 at 05:49

Kazuhiro wrote: Thank you for sharing You seemed to have done a very good travel and experience. I have not actually visited this place. However, Japan might feel it to fantastic for people. It wishes the sound of "Suikinkutsu" to be going to be approved as "Prog-Related" in the future

Soon I'll give a proposal to Admin Team.

DamoXt7942 wrote: I'm not familiar with Gerard (actually ozzy_tom is a Specialist   but I'm gonna check this album as opportunity comes. Thanks Dick for your wonderful input!

I listened to 4-5 Gerard albums. First two are extremely bombastic keyboard based symphonic rock, copied from ELP. Later works are really better, new rhythm section is come and band sounds more as balanced team of musicians, not just back-up band for ambitious keyboardist.

snobb wrote: DamoXt7942 wrote: I'm not familiar with Gerard (actually ozzy_tom is a Specialist   but I'm gonna check this album as opportunity comes. Thanks Dick for your wonderful input! I listened to 4-5 Gerard albums. First two are extremely bombastic keyboard based symphonic rock, copied from ELP. Later works are really better, new rhythm section is come and band sounds more as balanced team of musicians, not just back-up band for ambitious keyboardist.

Oh brilliant comments thanks Slava!
And luckily I can get their Meridian soon so I'll check and throw my feedback here ...

DamoXt7942 wrote: I've travelled in Okuizumo (Shimane, Japan) for searching great Japanese Sake, natural public baths, and Nature & Forest ... Gone on a trip to "Oni No Sitaburui Ravine" (A Ravine that Monster ran away in fear of) and felt a fantastic green air fully ...

 

DamoXt7942 wrote: In 1987, a guitarist TABATA had searched aggressively his original way for rokc music after leaving from Boredoms. He had repeated lots of sessions with various players in studio, and could seize the opportunity to form LENINGRAD BLUES MACHINE in Kyoto. Around 1990s they had changed the members or hibernated over and over, but never had any official releases.

I think that you're wrong. As far as I know their 1st CD release (s/t) was made in 1993 by Nux Organisation label (catalog# NUX-D7). Then was another CD named Fandango, issued by Gyuune label (catalog# CD95-12). Both were recorded by Tabata with famous Naoto Hayashi on bass & Yasushi Yamazaki on drums. And only then their 3rd CD Yajé again by Gyuune (catalog# CD95-28).