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Japanese Progressive Rock presented by DamoX

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BrainStillLife View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BrainStillLife Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 16 2012 at 12:09
I've always been very interested with japanese culture, geography and art. Music makes no exception, being an average
prog/canterbury/fusion/everything between those three-addict, ive also uncovered japanese music. Well, my favourite
bands are:

KENSO

One of the first japanese bands I fell totally into. All albums between their first and Yume No Oka are masterpieces in my mind. Esoptron is their weakest, although it has the great Negaikanaeru Komodo Wo Tsureteyukou. Their two newest releases are great new prog, especially Utsuroi Yuku Mono. The remastered version of 1989 Sparta (Sparta Naked) has an excellent version of Bifuka played on the piano by Kenichi Mitsuda.

AIN SOPH

Excellent prog/jazz/canterbury music. A Story Of Mysterious Forest is a true milestone, not only, in japanese prog, but also fusion. Hat And Field is not equally strong but is also a good album with a couple of great tracks like the Hat And Field Suite and Magic Carpet. Marine Menagerie has one great and one ok track. Then there are a couple of re-recorded tracks. Their latest studio release so far is Five Evolved From Nine which is much better than Marine Menagerie, equal with Hat And Field. Stonehenge is a great track.

BELLAPHON

Firefly is truly one of the greatest albums made in the eighties. Their second album, Delphi, consists of tracks which
sound interesting but impossible to listen with pleasure because of their poor sound-quality. Well there are three tracks
which have a decent quality, excellent tracks, especially the Biotope Suite. The live-track sounds also interesting. I've read an interview made with Mitsutaka Kaki, Bellaphon's keyboard-player. He said that Bellaphon is playing gigs again. The interview was quite old, still i'd hope a new album would be released. Kaki said in the interview that he is busy with his everyday job being a Buddhist priest.

Apart from these three bands, I also listen to Shingetsu, Yoninbayashi's first, Cosmos Factory's Old Castle In Transylvania and Mr. Sirius. There are many bands I still have to concentrate on, like Bi Kyo Ran, Outer Limits, Novela and Midas. From the fusion genre i like Prism which also has some prog influences (Beneath The Sea, Fu-Jin, both albums, Surprise and Visons). Casiopeas first album is also very good. Their 1985 live dvd is pure gold. LOL

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote octopus-4 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 16 2012 at 12:36
I absolutely love BELLAPHON, the only decent Camel clone in the history.
I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 18 2012 at 05:15
Welcome aboard, BrainStillLife! I'm so glad you love Japanese progressive rock, especially symphonic-related ones (consider Kenso or Ain Soph can be categorized into Symph-related Jazz Rock Approve ).
I'm not so familiar with Japanese-Neo nor Symphonic but the three superb projects you've mentioned above are definitely my favourites. Cool

Hey Luca, how 'bout going on a trip for researching Japanese Progressive Rock?  Hug
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote octopus-4 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 19 2012 at 18:01
I'd like to travel physically, but Japan is a bit too far from here, but Tangerine Dream have brought me to Alpha Centauri so I think I can visit Japan in a similar way.  Currently I'm exploring Geinoh Yamashirogumi that's a very nice trip.
I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 19 2012 at 20:43
Originally posted by octopus-4 octopus-4 wrote:

I'd like to travel physically, but Japan is a bit too far from here, but Tangerine Dream have brought me to Alpha Centauri so I think I can visit Japan in a similar way.  Currently I'm exploring Geinoh Yamashirogumi that's a very nice trip.
Oh fantastic.Cool

You'll not be disappointed at The Soundbreakers too definitely.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 29 2012 at 10:04
Another Japanese avantgarde heretic. Cool


MIZUHIRO of HI-SPEED (and a cat :P)

HI-SPEED, an obscure (and one-off) Japanese RIO / avantgarde project, were founded in 1994 by MIZUHIRO, who had already been renowned as an animator / animation producer and a founder of Ginjoha, a label for ambient / new-age music. They recorded massive material for their only one album "Erioka Con Animac Planetico" in December 1995, and released in May 1996 upon a Japanese independent label Unknownmix. MIZUHIRO has appeared on stage as a couple of projects (sometimes with Taiji TAKAHASHI) of disco / club music later.


Erioka Con Animac Planetico (1996) - HI-SPEED

Surely flexible over the common sense in Japanese rock scene with fantastic animac world deeply in Mizuhiro's brain and cynical violent attitude against adulthood around them, I've heard via this art named "Erioka Con Animac Planetico", created by HI-SPEED, a challenging (and sadly short-lived) project with a flood of pure heart and hot blood in themselves (aside that everybody says they could be in the same vein of Picchio Dal Pozzo).



Afraid almost all "common people" might say they go crazy, by attaching such a eccentric sound mischief. Exactly they should activate and spread an innocent motivation and wider scape of mind. Simply they used lots of instruments, including saxophones, guitars, drums, percussion, voices, and especially toys and garbage. Yes children can play with everything, even if it may not clean nor safe & sound. They could show this fact around us naturally. No complexity but definitely their quite harmonized passion play, here is. We can call their play as "nature", methinks. Children's state of mind can alter minute by minute - sometimes happy, sometimes sad, and sometimes upset, irritated ... or so. HI-SPEED might express their unstable feeling with various sounds and noises. Their sounds of pleasure are very warm and gentle, and on the other hand, ones of anger kick our ears aggressively and sharply (featuring electronic noises, loud guitar fuzz, and crazy / sticky saxophone violence). The last track can be called as a deceiver, with hearty riffs and irritating test noises finally ... namely, they might play mischief through the whole album. Please realize their innocence, and you can enjoy this stuff completely. A mysterious, and at the same time, impressive and addictive sound medicine.




Thank you for reading this blog. ٩(̾●̮̮̃̾•̃̾)۶
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 20 2012 at 04:10
Sorry for my slow update of this blog Embarrassed but I'm a bit pressed with my real work (now under preparation of my next conference at the end of this month) and only enjoying music as BGM ... so please let me recommend a "non-progressive" Japanese contemporary fusion quintet named E.D.F., my mates' project. Cool


E.D.F. - left to right; Jin Mitsuda (drums), Tsutomu Takei (saxophone), Satoshi Nishikawa (bass), Takeshi Shimizu (keyboards, piano), Yoichi Tanaka (trumpet)

In autumn 1992, opportunely, a keyboardist Takeshi SHIMIZU came across a drummer Baker DOI in an open-air concert upon 'Kokage No Hiroba (a stage under a tree)" by Osaka Maru Building, and as a matter of course, they founded a contemporary jazz / fusion piano-based trio named EARTH DEFENSE FORCE. Later their project was reformed as a quintet named E.D.F. in October 1992. They have had regular gigs on the stage in a reggae club Climax and released several (studio / live) albums for the last decade - especially their eponymous studio album "E.D.F." and their live masterpiece recorded in October 2006 "Live At Kozagawa" have been reissued via Follow Club Record in 2012.


Live At Kozagawa (2010) - E.D.F.

Look, what a clear, gracious pure water in their sleeve, and what a comfortable, hearty atmosphere around them. This 'Kozagawa' town, a part of Wakayama-Pref., is the place Takeshi’s grandma was born (and close to 'my' hometown :P) and naturally memorable for him.

Guess all songs (composed by Takeshi) have been chosen along with such a countryside, where may be no modern convenience nor electronic equipment but cool air and clean water. Takeshi's flexible and sincere keyboard, Tsutomu's soft and relaxing saxophone, Baker's steady and enthusiastic drums, Yoichi’s powerful and rigid trumpet, and Yu’s deep, quaky bass ... all talented players can be merged into the nature around, and launch natural sounds and views.



"Real Permanent Echo" reminds us something motivated upon a quiet countryside. Upon the rigid grassy ground harden by Baker and Yu’s rhythm section, Takeshi’s cool keyboard wind is blowing gracefully. Yoichi’s trumpet palpitation, Tsutomu’s saxophone ripple both are very invasive and impressive. In "Ghost Wall" I’ve got quite curious how they might create soundscape whilst feeling ghostly weirdness in the nature. More quirky and uptempo phrases are thrown than previous track, which might express such a weirdness I guess. But their comfortable play was unchangeable, as if they would accept ghost as a friend, and "Ghost Wall" as a commune of nature. A slow ballad swinging like a willow "Moon" is another superb one featuring dim and slender wind chasers’ world.

"Keynote" (a homonym of 'Kii No Oto', soundscape at Kii in English) is a song after lots of sounds around Wakayama (namely Kii Area). We can find a miscellaneous assortment of sounds and noises in Wakayama - water running, wind blowing, old ladies chattering, and animals / insects singing ... they amazingly play expression with various melodies and streams by their instruments. The last "Little One" is a little pretty and charming, where all of them sound intentionally like a little bird’s chirp or active fish’s splash, enjoyable stuff really ... especially under Takeshi’s popping keyboard play, Kozagawa’s beautiful and splendid atmosphere could be well expressed methinks.



Totally ... ah, nothing can be explained enough by me, please listen to this fantastic air and enjoy.


Thank you for reading this blog. ٩(̾●̮̮̃̾•̃̾)۶
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote colorofmoney91 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 20 2012 at 07:49
Very nice, I love how classy and playful this jazz sounds. E.D.F. sounds like a good companion for my long, tedious studies.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 20 2012 at 09:12
A lively thread,i like it!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 20 2012 at 09:15
Someone mentioned Sakuraba Motoi,i think "Silent The Universe" the opening track to the game "Star Ocean The Second Story" is one of the finest pieces of music i have ever heard from a computer game,it stirs my soul every time i hear it.If you have  not heard it do yourself a favourSmile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 20 2012 at 17:40
Thanks Alan! I love the sleeve especially, and of course their comfortable soundscape. Cool

Welcome aboard dude, and thanks for your appreciation of this thread. Hug
As for Motoi Sakuraba, a while before I've added him into our database ... please check the page out. Big smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sagichim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 21 2012 at 02:51
i saw a lot of people mention cosmos factory's debut , which is inferior to their second and deffinitely to their third 'black hole' which is a 5 star album no doubt about it.
get it fast if you still haven't!!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 04 2012 at 08:26
Originally posted by sagichim sagichim wrote:

i saw a lot of people mention cosmos factory's debut , which is inferior to their second and deffinitely to their third 'black hole' which is a 5 star album no doubt about it.
get it fast if you still haven't!!
Hi, Sagi. Welcome also here. Big smile

You and I (only) have reviewed for their debut shot. LOL
http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=820


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 04 2012 at 08:29
Let me say, I’ll try my best to recommend them as a Prog-Related project in Japan! Cool


SADISTIC MIKA BAND, a pioneer in Japanese progressive rock scene (IMHO)

One of the Folk Crusaders Kazuhiko KATO - quite immersed in British Glam Rock scene led by David Bowie or Marc Bolan - and his wife (and his eternal fan) Mika KATO have founded an as-it-is-said modern rock project named SADISTIC MIKA BAND (it's said the project name was a parody merged with Plastic Ono Band and Mika's sadistic movements of a knife upon her cooking) with Hiro TSUNODA (drums), and Masayoshi TAKANAKA (guitar) later soon. Although Hiro's left after releasing a single "Cycling Boogie" for founding his own band, Yukihiro TAKAHASHI has replaced Hiro as a drummer and has taken Rei (Ray) OHARA into the project as a bassist. In 1973, the new SADISTIC MIKA BAND released their eponymous debut album, that could be much appreciated in UK (especially in London), not achieve enough success in Japan though.

Chris THOMAS, already renowned as a recording engineer for The Beatles or Pink Floyd, had been so immersed in their first album that he offered them production of their second album "Kurofune (Black Ship)". They spent over 450 hours for recording and producing the second creation in collaboration with Chris, and finally released in November 1974 all over the world. This album has been estimated as one of the most important Japanese rock albums by Rolling Stone Magazine. Sadly, owing to Mika's falling in love with Chris during their UK tour in 1975 and being divorced with Kazuhiko, SADISTIC MIKA BAND were disbanded after replacement of bassist by Tsugutoshi GOTO and releasing their third album "Hot! Menu" in November 1975.

After disbandment, Kazuhiko reformed the project with the collaboration of another vocalist some time - in 1989, as SADISTIC MICA BAND with Karen KIRISHIMA, and in 2006, as SADISTIC MICA BAND REVISITED or SADISTIC MIKAELA BAND with Kaela KIMURA. Two single records "Boys & Girls" (1989) and "Time Machine (rerecorded by the new lineup)" (2006), one studio album "Narkissos" (2006), and two live albums "Seiten" (1989) and "Live In Tokyo" (2007) have been released. On the other hand, a documentary film "Sadistic Mica Band" (by a director Kazuyuki IZUTSU) has been shown in Autumn 2007.

SADISTIC MIKA / MICA / MIKAELA BAND will never be reformed because of Kazuhiko's suicide in October 2009.


Kurofune (Black Ship) (1974) - SADISTIC MIKA BAND

"Kurofune (Black Ship)" ... This superb album produced in 1974 (a conception of progressive rock underdeveloped in Japan yet in those days) can be suitably called as one of pioneers in Japanese progressive rock scene, except only one point described later. As you know, this album has a conception of "opening Japan for foreign (especially Western) countries", that had brought and compelled by Matthew Calbraith Perry in 1853, the end of Edo Bakufu (maybe called "a closed government" in English) Era. Kazuhiko and Sadistic Mika Band have created this album and story as a serious, problematic one for Japanese people in those days, and simultaneously, made this album itself "open the Japanese rock scene for Euro-American progressive rock kingdom". Yes, this album could be the dawn of Japanese concept album creation, and sadly, this was too progressive for Japanese music scene at this moment to be approved under commercialism.

Easily can imagine that lots of Edo people might be surprised, shocked, and upset with their sudden attack. Kazuhiko and his band have made an excellent expression about that matter, especially as an undefined fear / confusion in the first track "Sumie No Kuni E (Into A Nation Of Black Ink)" and as a coming anxiety in the second "Nanika Ga Umi Wo Yatte Kuru (Something Horrible Is Coming Across The Sea)", with weird voices and unstable melodies. Such a texture created by them (especially Kazuhiko, Takeshi Matsuyama, and Chris Thomas) sounds remarkably vivid. Not simply folksy nor catchy but experimental around pop essence. We can hear enough progressiveness for Japanese pop / rock scene in 1974 (and understand they could not be approved successfully). The last suite in Side A "Kurofune (2nd - 4th June, Kaei 6)" is the highlight of this album, where we can suggest a magnificent panic and hopelessness, giving-up around lots of Edo people, via powerful, enthusiastic heavy rock launched by deep bass sounds, complexly quaking drumming, and crying guitar shouts. On the contrary, in "Yoroshiku Dozo (Welcome Please)" natives seem to accept the cross-cultural matter (maybe could not avoid accepting under their superiority though).


Kurofune (June 4th, Kaei 6) - SADISTIC MICA BAND

Sadly, however, so far as I am aware, Kazuhiko's indulgence with his wife Mika, that he'd let her sing such a sweet rock "Time Machine" or an eccentric (for this story) cookie "Hei Made Hitottobi (Suki Suki Suki)", would lower the estimation for this album as a concept one. These pop songs, one of that later released as a hit single, are good indeed, but unsuitable catchy atmosphere in them might disturb the train of thought around this serious story I'm afraid.

This regretful point aside, this album created just in Japanese closed music scene could open widely Japan's door, and it's true. I'm sure this splendid work will be re-appreciated all over the world, after Kazuhiko's sad suicide. Highly recommended.




Thank you for reading this blog. ٩(̾●̮̮̃̾•̃̾)۶
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sagichim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 04 2012 at 08:52
Great guitars!! thanks.
So they  have only one album in 1974?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 04 2012 at 09:26
Totally three studio albums and one live album as Sadistic Mika Band, and later they released some stuffs as other monikers. Smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sagichim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 12 2012 at 18:42
Just remembered another great japnese band - IL Berlione.
Tagged here as fusion if i'm not mistaken, but are much more prog and some slight RIO.
Absolutely fantastic band!!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2012 at 18:40
^ Thanks Sagi for your suggestion. 
Regretfully, I've had no opportunity to listen to Il Berlione's album ... now researching. 

Anyway, tomorrow I'll attend a gig of a promising Japanese outfit called Soundscape, founded by Ai OHNUMA (keyboards, ZONK MONK).
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Andy Webb Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2012 at 20:09
Don't know if you've heard them before Keishiro, but we just added the Japanese act LAGITAGIDA to heavy prog the other week - awesome stuff!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2012 at 18:19
^ Will check (forgive me but I've not heard about them yet), thanks AndyBeer
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