A-Z of Japanese Psych & Prog Rock

THETA      Violins and Shaolins.... Theta is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet and the first letter in Japanese Symphonic Prog. Theta sound unmistakably Japanese, but they're known mainly for having classical allusions to Illusion and Renaissance with a heart-warming album that's as joyous as a Kamikaze pilot returning safely from a mission. 

VERMILION SANDS     Shining like a glowing red beacon, it's destination outward bound now for Vermilion Sands, a band for fans of Renaissance who are drawn towards the Northern Lights but can't afford the airfare to the Arctic Circle. 

WATER GARDEN     Making a big splash now with a banzai-charge through the oriental world of Symphonic Prog without even getting wet, Water Garden were the well-deserved winners of the Biwako Beat Wave contest - the Japanese equivalent of the X-Factor - only without the highly irritating Geordie twosome, Ant & Dec. 

ENDURANCE: the ultimate Japanese game show challenge, which would cause a panic attack amongst the British Health & Safety Executive.