Japanese prog

Japanese prog: is its sun still rising ?

By Christoph

In the eighties, Japan knew an interesting prog scene with acts such as Mugen, Outer Limits (both symphonic) and Bellaphon (more fusion). The nineties then saw Teru’s Symphonia , Ars Nova and Gerard building the bridge to the twenty-first century. Especially French label Musea Records made us aware of a flourishing progressive circuit in the Far East. Last year, albums by Interpose+ and Flat 122 received glowing reviews on PN. So, is this coincidental or is there something exciting going on in the land of the rising sun? We’ll check it out for you.

On “5 Or 9” (Musea/Poseidon, 2005), prog-fusion outfit Ain Soph kicks off with some exciting stuff, the great drum solo on a keyboard theme in “Villa Adriana”, thus raising high expectations. This Japanese quartet knows how to show off their dexterity, resulting in some fine fusion. A pity lots of other songs are too long to keep the tension running and the excitement going. It’s even more a problem on “Marine Menagerie” (Musea/Poseidon, 2005), together with “5 Or 9” reissues of works from the nineties. This music is perfectly copied from their European and American fusion counterparts. There’s nothing wrong with that, even more so since they don’t do vocals, which is often the weakest link in Japanese rock. Ain Soph integrate Camel-esque mellowness and Canterbury style (genre Hatfield and the North) nicely. But, there’s no thrill, it’s all too polite.

No, if one wants to discover Japanese prog-fusion and has to choose between Ain Soph and Side Steps, you should definitely go for the latter. “Verge Of Reality” (Musea/Poseidon, 2005) starts in vintage fusion mode, although “Roppongi Night” will not win the originality prize. From “Edge Tripper” on, there are more symphonic and progressive overtones, so the music then becomes really interesting. And even though fusion is quite a conservative genre, “Evergreen” and “Courage of the Wind” show a potential that makes you curious why this band isn’t more famous. If you’re after powerful, boiling instrumental fusion with lots of moments for the individual musicians to stretch out, Side Steps could be your band. Impressively crafted, and executed with passion and conviction.

Naikaku’s “Shell” (Musea/Poseidon, 2005) is centralised around some great flute playing, thus sounding like seventies prog. But these guys add some surprising elements to it, which result in a few nice ideas. Yet sadly that alone doesn’t make for truly interesting music.

Cherno struggles with a weak production: the instruments sound as if they were recorded from a distance. “Complicity Vision” (Vital Records, 2005) does sound original though, with its heavy guitar riffs and noodling alto sax / wind synthesizer. Too bad most drums were programmed. You can still hear the passion though, but there’s too much instrumental freaking that borders on boredom. A curiosity that would perhaps fit the soundtrack of a nervous documentary on Japanese city life.

Japanese label Poseidon is also presenting a concert DVD series. “Live” (2005) displays the cooperation between the ensemble Quikion and the two-man rhythm section Lithuma Qnombus. Not really prog, but rather nice world and folk music that reveres the Japanese musical tradition. Definitely niche music.

Finally, Walrus. Although drenched in seventies classic rock and prog, the compositions on “Colloidal” (Adda, 2005) are weak, and the singer is a bad eastern imitation of Peter Gabriel. Their previous album “In The Room Of A Singular Point” (Adda, 2004) is even worse, really ridiculous stuff you don’t want to hear, believe me.

Concluding this survey, there might be a new progressive scene in Japan, but too much bands who lack originality and vision are facing up on CD. The record companies should select with more severity and focus more on the few acts that do have the potential to deliver some quality stuff.

Ratings:

- 5 Or 9 (Ain Soph): 6,5/10

- Marine Menagerie (Ain Soph): 6/10

- Verge Of Reality (Side Steps): 8,5/10

- Shell (Naikaku): 5/10

- Complicity Vision (Cherno): 4/10

- Live (Quikion/Lithuma Qnombus): 6/10

- Colloidal (Walrus): 3/10

- In The Room Of A Singular Point (Walrus): 2/10


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