ANDROID DOMINA

In the late Nineties I did an interview with this female keyboard driven progrock trio. It was a funny one but only the bass player spoke a bit English. And all ladies were super friendly but very shy. What a contrast with the sensual cover from this fifth studio album (2001): two band members with sexy underwear and very tempting looks! And on the first minutes of the opener Android Domina we can hear all kinds of female orgastic sounds, I could hardly believe that these women were the same as I had interviewed .... By the way, later they told me in an e-mail that this kind of behaviour is a taboo in Japan so this was their provocative protest annex statement for acceptance.

Back to the music, on this CD Ars Nova prooved again that they belong to the best bands within the Japanese progrock scene and in my opinion they even can compete with many great progrock acts in Europe: tasteful compositions, loaded with bombastic, often virtuosic keyboard work (flashy synth runs, impressive Hammond waves, sparkling piano and harpsichord and majestic violin Mellotron - and church organ samples). The rhythm-section is dynamic and powerful although the drums sometimes sound a bit too tight for me. If you like Triumvirat, Le Orme, Trace or ELP, this Japanese trio is worth to check out.