Show Date: Fri. November 19, 1999
Show #65
Japan - volume 6



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Playlist:
# Artist Song (click to play) Album Year CD label
1 Bellaphon Jade Firefly 1987 Musea
A fine instrumental Camel inspired symphonic/fusion/progressive rock. This band is stringly related to the band Ain Soph and shares many of the same musicians. Recommended for fans of Camel and other bands of that ilk like Kerrs Pink, etc... Sometimes the music verges too far into light pop sounds, like later Camel does, for my tastes.
 
2 Tipographica Japanese room (We have no ZEN) God Says I Can't Dance 1996 Mellow Records
Quirky Zappa-esque avant-fusion-prog. Somewhat reminiscent of Picchio dal Pozzo's 2nd album _Abbiamo Tutti i Suoi Problemi_. Similar to other RIO bands like Happy Family, Guigon Chenevier, Volapuk, with jarring complex arrangements and honking hooty saxophone galore! This is the kind of album that takes about 50 listens to get a handle on it.
 
3 Kitaro Sundance The Light of the Spirit 1987 Geffen
Kitaro who got his start in Far East Family Band later went to a very active solo career. He is now generally thought of as a new-age artist. This album was apparently a break-through album for him, which has the addition of many American studio musicians, including Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead. This song in particular does not sound too far off from what the Far East Family Band was doing 10 years earlier. But, unfortunately some of it is more towards schlocky new-age.
 
4 Mongol Driller Doppler 444 1997 Belle Antique
Fantastic instrumental prog/fusion! This was recorded between 1988-1996. Holdsworthian guitar playing, but, with a better musical backdrop than most of Allan's compositions. Great musicianship all around, and interesting complex compositions that are comparable to the best of Kenso. The final 18 minute song on the album has a Zeuhl/fusion sound not unlike Weidorje.
 
5 Providence HCHO 40 There Once Was a Night of "Choko-muro" The Paradise 1996 Made in Japan Records
Hard-edged symphonic with female vocals. The guitar has somewhat of a metal edge, which I think relies a bit too much on bar-chords, but is otherwise pretty good. Their album "...And I'll Recite An Old Myth From..." is supposedly a classic, but, I have not been able to find a copy, yet. This album reminds me of A Piedi Nudi - mostly because of the guitar style and timbre.
 


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