I Recommend...

I have become a huge Italian prog fan. Next time I visit Rome I must look for some-- it's hard to get here.

No, no...I wish I could sample much of it, though. The only album I own, I'm afraid, is 'Io Sono Nato Libero', but I love it and will be getting 'Darwin'. Banco's productions are some of the finest-sounding I've ever heard.

Pochakaite Malko

Japanese outfit with ties to other bands (Koenjihyakkei), they are experimental, on the weird side of things, but not too far as to make it unlisteneable, on the contrary.
Blending sounds from variuos styles, they create a intriguing and eclectic music.

Let me give you snippets form around the web:

The debut album from 2002 by this band was one of the big, pleasant surprises of that year. Since that time, the band has changed in that one of the two keyboardists left the band and was replaced by violinist Akishisa Tsuboy of KBB and others excellent Japanese project. This has changed the sound of the band alot. There are still echoes of the "Keith Emerson meets Happy Family" sound of the debut, but there is a lot of other influences too, including a middle eastern vibe at times. This CD even includes a QuickTime video of one of the aforementioned middle eastern influenced tunes which includes the band playing and a bunch of attractive Japanese girls doing a belly dance! So...another very, very good one from these guys. [Tutinoko]


An extremely good debut album by a quartet from Japan of dual keyboardists, bass & drums. The bassist previously played in 100 Sights of Koenji, & one of the keyboardists plays in Ghost. Additionally, the band backed Lars Hollmer on his 2001 Tokyo tour, playing Samlas tunes! They are obviously a Zeuhl band, as the rhythm section is firmly in that vein, but the lead keyboards tend to be Hammond organ or piano, & they have a Keith Emerson at his early Hammond best kinda sound. So, if you could imagine enjoying Keith playing at his best on top of the Happy Family rhythm section, this could be for you! The recording is kinda low budget, but even the sound of it eventually grew on me & I felt like it fit the music. A very, very good one.



Pochakaite Malko: Pochakaite Malko


There has been a recent trend in Japanese prog these last few years to create strong ELP inspired, keyboard-led bombastic rock. As with fellow bands Ars Nova and Gerard, Pochakaite Malko have gone that same route, and with a two keyboard attack and furious rhythm section have created a stellar debit.

The stars of the show here are Kazuo Ogino and Tomohiro Ueno, who lay down molten torrents of Hammond, piano, and synthesizer blasts while bassist Shigekazu Kuwahara and drummer Junzo Tateiwa keep up the complex beat. This CD has two flavors to it, one being the ominous, dark feeling as on tracks like "Funeral" and "Holy Mountain", both of which remind me of the classic Italian band Goblin. Then there are the more upbeat and symphonic sounds of "Trinity" and "5th Element." The latter features the albums only vocal section, whispered quite nicely by female singer Keiku. While sometimes keyboard dominated albums can get a bit monotonous, the use of varied instruments like Mellotron, piano, synth, and Hammond, along with memorable tunes kept this one very listenable.

Along with the some of the other standouts in the Japanese prog scene like Kenso, Ars Nova, Gerard and Side Steps, Pochakaite Malko has made it to contender status with this fine release. ELP fans especially will dig this big time!
Reviewer: Pete Pardo




There was something about this I couldn't put my finger on until my boss came in just now and said, "What is this, Tarkus on 45?" Throw in a zeuhl schooling and a pinch of wasabe and you get the idea. In the vein of Happy Family, Pochakaite Malko blast out instrumental keyboard laden prog, only with much more of a classical undertone (an homage to their namesake), and all of the drama that entails. Comparisons to Keith Emerson abound, and the keyboard work here deserves it, albeit from four hands rather than two. At moments, they Tipographically mimic the vibes of 70's & '80's Zappa; other moments tricked me into thinking there was an actual flute; many moments lapse into stretches of synthesized mayhem.
The rhythm section doesn't necessarily take a back seat, though. The drums carry each change and shift with almost unnoticable ease, often demonstrating great cymbal work. However, it was actually the bass that originally got me hooked on this CD. That's where the Magma worship comes in. Totally distorted, thick and heavy, with lots of repetitious slides. The first track makes use of synthesized choral chanting, which adds to the zeuhlery and makes Kuwuhara all the more Jannick Top-heavy. Not surprising, as Kuwuhara was the original bassist for Koenjihyakkei, Tatsuya Yoshida's zeuhl powerhouse. His tricks aren't limited to that style or sound, though, and he drops into the mix as the CD progresses, calling attention to himself here and there, but supporting the synths for the most part.

If you're not familiar with the cacophonic musicianship of other modern Japanese progressive bands, this CD may prove to be overwhelming. Even as a fan, my first listen to this found it so dense I almost couldn't make sense of it at all. The quieter moments (like tracks 4 & 7) are like an aural sorbet, lending contrast to the thick and savory stew. Its an aquired taste even for those with an aquired taste, but tasty nonetheless.




For more info, PM me.

Teliof, and Israeli new prog rock outfit are offering their first album free for download here:




http://www.teliof.com



Edited by avestin - December 12 2006 at 19:11

^^^
Thanks, it should be fine now:
Teliof, and Israeli new prog rock outfit are offering their first album free for download here:




http://www.teliof.com



    

Edited by avestin - December 12 2006 at 19:13

SYNERGY Electronic Realizations For Rock Orchestra by Larry Fast.

Id like to recommend an upcoming star in ambient/electronica, Trentemøller. His name is Anders Trentemøller, comes from Denmark and his band/project is simply called Trentemøller. If you like Eno's Ambient 1: Music For Airports, you might like this as well.

 http://www.myspace.com/trentemoeller

JACULA

"In Cauda Semper Stat Venenum"

Damburst by the dutch band Water, excellent folk rock album i personally love it 

J.A. Caesar's album was reissued on Dec. 20, 2006 !