| # |
Artist |
Song (click to play) |
Album |
Year |
CD label |
|
1 |
Koenji Hyakkei |
Ioss |
Hundred Sights Of Koenji |
1994 |
God Mountain |
|
I understand that this is another Ruins off-shoot band. Which is
weird - because I have about 3 off-shoot bands, but, I still do not
have albums by the mother-ship Ruins! The main vision I get in my
head when listening to this song is of Beavis and Butthead doing
their grunge head-banging dance routine. There is some Zeuhl
stuff going on here, but, most other Zeuhl bands are a little
more serious than these guys. This group is totally whacked. It
is going to take a while to get into this album, but, it's
sounding better and better the more I play it.
|
| |
|
2 |
Lacrymosa |
Balkanic Dance |
Joy Of A Wrecked Ship |
1994 |
? |
|
I do not have this album - the track was contributed by Teh Hock Kim,
with this comment - "The entire album has a whimsical English folk sound
to it." I have also seen this compared to Art Zoyd, Univers Zero, and
Nazca, and described as chamber progressive. Based on this one track,
they sound pretty excellent. It is quirkier than the afore-mentioned
groups, perhaps more like Etron Fou.
|
| |
|
3 |
Deja-Vu |
Flash! |
Baroque in the Future |
1991 |
Made in Japan Records |
|
IMHO, this is fairly ordinary symphonic. Some people rate this album
very highly, so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt that I just
haven't "gotten it", yet. It has a strong progressive-pop element
to it, perhaps influenced by Asia and U.K. I played this CD a
half dozen times, and every time it played all the way through
without anything capturing my attention. It is decently played
and there are no bad songs - it just does not excite me too much.
|
| |
|
4 |
Flower Travellin' Band |
Satori Part 1 |
Satori |
1971 |
Warner |
|
This track is contributed by Daniel Elander. Since I do not have
this album, I cannot too authoritatively. The guitar playing is
outstanding, influenced perhaps by John Cippolina of Quicksilver.
The music has a strong USA/UK late 60's/early 70's
psych vibe. The vocalist almost sounds like Ronny James Dio at
times. Satori seems to be generally regarded as their best album.
|
| |
|
5 |
Il Berlione |
Electrostatic Hotel |
Il Berlione |
1992 |
Belle Antique |
|
Instrumental avant/fusion/prog with some Crimson influence. Another
fine example of the great prog from Japan in the 1990's. This is the
band's first of only 2 releases. This is a fascinating album with
tons of interlocking ideas to make it an album of continual
discovery.
|
| |
|
6 |
Far East Family Band |
Nipponjin (excerpt) |
Nipponjin |
1975 |
TRC? |
|
Nipponjin is a Klaus Schulze remix of parts of the FEFB album _The Cave
Down to the Earth_ and the pre-FEFB album by Far Out called
_Nihojin_. This particular track is apparently from the Far Out album.
It is very nice spacey psych with a dreamy Moody Blues vibe, and soaring
lead guitar that sometimes reminds of Eric Clapton's 60's and early
70's style.
|
| |
|
7 |
Bondage Fruit |
Mobile |
Bondage Fruit II |
1996 |
Mabo |
|
And another track from Daniel Elander of an album that I do not
have :-) This song sounds quite different from Bondage Fruit's
3rd album, which I have. As Daniel pointed out, this sounds
very much like early Zao, especially because of the female
vocals. It also sounds more composed that the avant jamming
excursions of the third album. Definately for fans of Zao and
other heavy fusion Zeul bands like Weidorje.Anyone heard the
Bondage Fruit off-shoot band Rinnesya ?
|
| |
|
8 |
Ars Nova |
Fury |
Goddess of Darkness |
1996 |
Made in Japan / Musea |
|
Here is a track from Ars Nova's most well-known album, and their
first that was released on the Musea label (in addition to Made in
Japan Records). This is their third album of instrumental
keyboard-heavy from with a strong ELP influence, with a strong
undercurrent of dark Italian progressive music.
|
| |