ALLOY

Debut album for this Japanase avant-prog with ethnic flavors that made itself known by opening the first RIO Festival in Carmeaux. Apparently they went down as the main "good surprise" by most of the public that was at the time looking ahead at future major groups ahead in the program. This Japanese acoustic quintet (including a violinist and an accordionist) develops the now usual Eastern European folk/ethnic music that ranges close to the gypsy-type of jazz.

Nothing very original I'm afraid as this is now done just way too often-ly reprised, that it is by now sounding very unoriginal. From Debile Menthol to Alamaailman Vasarat, from Rouge Ciel to Cro Magnon, this type of music has been explored dozens (hundreds?) of time before and SG is unable to add anything new, even with their Japanese sensibilities. And if they do add a bit of dissonance, it is no more than Sotos (and they added a Zeuhl touch, which is completely absent in SG), if they have an accordion (which I generally hate, but here it is extremely well played as it almost doesn't interfere), so does Hamster Theatre. And even if they do have a certain approach that renders their music distinguishable for an experienced listener, it is not really enough to want to indulge once more

Don't get me wrong, if you haven't yet had your fill with this type of Eastern European Gypsy thing, SG will delight you with their flawless execution, and their charming phrasing and all-around tightness. But this proghead has enough record of that type to last him a second lifetime.

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