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JAPAN
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| 70’S WEST JAPANESE ROCK SCENE - Scheherazade, Rumble, Charisma, Round House, Tenchisozo, Maria. ACCEPT - Symph/prog with female vocals and lush arrangements. http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=25637 ADACHI KYODAI – Like California Guitar Trio on speed. AIN SOPH - Canterbury prog. Great! http://www.myspace.com/ainsophjp AMYGDALA - Zeuhl influenced for fans of Magma, Present and especially Univers Zero. http://alain.lebon4.free.fr/soleil/sons-gb.html APRYL FOOL - Psychedelic rock from 1969. ARS NOVA - Goblin meets ELP! http://www.myspace.com/keikokumagaiarsnova ASHADA - Beautiful album not far from the likes of Renaissance or October Project. Contributions by Tsuboy (violin) and Dani (bass) from KBB. ASTURIAS - Mike Oldfield inspired. http://www.myspace.com/electricasturias & http://www.myspace.com/acousticasturias ATARAXIA - Obscure symph/prog album from 1986. AUSIA - Classical trio comprised of violin, recorder and acoustic guitar. Good stuff! AZOTH - Finally after a 20 year history this band has a release. Great symph/prog/fusion with violin. Related to Pageant and Cinderella Search BANDVIVIL - Instrumental power trio playing prog/jazz/fusion/funk/blues and heavy metal. BARAKA - Very good progressive rock with fusion elements. http://www.barakarock.com/discography.html and http://www.myspace.com/barakarock BERLIONE, IL - Kenso influenced fusion. BI KYO RAN - Like Red-period Crimson. Excellent! http://www.myspace.com/bikyoran BLACK PAGE - Great symph/prog! http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=6126 BLAZING BRONZE - Dominion is symph/prog. Death is dark Gothic. BLUES CREATION - Heavy blues psychedelia. BONDAGE FRUIT - Like a cross between Happy Family & Kenso. http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1229 BUDDERFLY - Members of Six North performing live in a very energetic improvised manner. CHEN, SHINKI - Progressive hard psych with Hiro Yanigida. CHRONICLE - Classic spacey progressive in Far East Family Band style. CICHLA TEMENSIS - Instrumental flute dominated prog. Outstanding stuff! http://www.myspace.com/cichlatemensis CINEMA - Real good Ex-Fromage prog. CORAL CAVES - Electronic music. COSMOS FACTORY - One of the best Japanese 70’s progressive groups. http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=820 CREATION - 70’s rock mixed with prog and psych. CROSSWIND - Excellent jazz rock. DAIMONJI – Mix of jazz and RIO with some Magma influence as well. DJAMRA - Mix of R.I.O. and jazz rock. http://www.myspace.com/djamra DUO {LES QUATRE MAINS} - Two female keyboard players performing Bach compositions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkKBrp3xhMk EARTH EXPLORER, THE (TEE) - Symph/prog/Canterbury in classic Camel & early Kenso style with loads of flute passages. Great! http://www.myspace.com/theearthexplorer EAST WIND POT - Instrumental jazz rock by this band formed by Theta keyboardist Yuko Tsuchiya. ELEPHANT TALK - Soft music backing the beautiful voice of Aoi Suzuki ERA - Violin (Tsuboy Akihisa of KBB) & acoustic guitar (Kido Natsuki of Bondage Fruit) duo. Amazing! http://tsuboy.internet.ne.jp/era/discography.html FANTASMAGORIA - Violin-led instrumental symphonic prog/fusion not far from KBB, Outer Limits and even Kenso. http://www.myspace.com/violinfantasmagoria FAR EAST FAMILY BAND - The best 70’s Japanese prog band with a heavy Pink Floyd influence. http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=721 FAR OUT - Pre-Far East Family Band prog with a dose of psychedelia. Two side-long tracks. http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=874 FLAT 122 - Instrumental trio that mixes prog and fusion. Excellent! http://www.myspace.com/flat122 FLIED EGG - Mix of rock and progressive. FLOWER TRAVELLIN’ BAND - Prog/psych legends. http://www.myspace.com/flowertravellingband FOOD BRAIN - Heavy organ prog led by Shenki Chen. FOSSIL - Melodic acoustic guitar Anthony Phillips style. FOX HOLE COMMUNE (F.H.C.) - Instrumental complex prog like Red-period King Crimson. FREE LOVE - Progressive space rock with some amazing guitar and keyboard moves. Excellent! FROG FLAVOR - Instrumental fusion trio. FROMAGE - 80’s Japanese symph/prog. G.A.O.S. - Great instrumenta fusion. GERARD - Keyboard symph/prog. http://www.myspace.com/gerardjapaneseprogressiveband & http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=126 GESTALT - Two different approaches from Oriental trance to guitar led prog. GHOST - Japan’s premier psych/folk/spacerock band. GOTO, TADASHI - Instrumental symphonic fusion. http://www.myspace.com/soundscape50 GROUP THERAPY - Instrumental jazz rock. HAL & RING - Pre-Shingetsu prog bands that just recently recorded their 70’s compositions. Excellent prog with organ and a sometimes spacey edge to it. HAPPENINGS FOUR + 1 - Progressive psych classic from 1971 with Kuni Kawachi and Kimio Mitzutani. HAPPY END - Soft rock/psych from 1970. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6Kw9PNeNtU&feature=related HAPPY FAMILY - Excellent prog/avant garde. HATA, AKI - Symphonic rock with female voice in Shingetsu & Fromage vein. HEAD POP UP - Solid progressive jazz rock effort. HELPFUL SOUL, THE - Heavy rock from 1969. HENRY TENNIS - Wonderful mix of canterbury and progressive. Recommended! HERETIC - Out-of-print avant garde/electronic with a Pinhas/Heldon slant. HIRAYAMA, TERUTSUGU - Symph/prog concept album masterpiece by ex-Novela guitarist and pre-Teru’s Symphonia. One of the best Japanese prog albums ever made! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpB9H518VrY&feature=related HOSOKAWA, MASAHIKO - Member of Lacrymosa. Solo piano and electronics. IE RAIS SHAN - Symph prog with female vocals similar to Vermillion Sands/Providence. INTERFACE - King Crimson in style. INTERPOSE - Super symph/prog composed of long tracks and occasional female vocals and fusion outbreaks. Tsuboy (KBB) guests on violin. ITOH, KIYOKO - Erotic and delicate folk/psych/pop from 1971 with participation from J. A. Caesar and Kuni Kawachi. http://www.myspace.com/kiyokoitah J. A. CAESAR - Early to mid 70’s amazing blend of prog, zeuhl, theater and opera. JAP’S PROGRE - Moonstone, Zettaimu, Goma, Tsukiusagi, Outer Limts, Gerard, Seilane, Seraphita, Qui. KALO - Mostly instrumental (occasional female vocals) symphonic/prog. Excellent! KAWACHI, KUNI & HIS FRIENDS - Hard prog/psych from 1970 & 1972. http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=5333 KBB - Excellent symphonic rock & fusion. KEHELL - Progressive fusion. KENNEDY - Classic spacy first album with mellotron. KENSO - Instrumental progressive fusion. Essential! http://www.myspace.com/kensojapan KEYBOARDS TRIANGLE - Wonderful prog covers performed by members of Gerard & Ars Nova. KITAKAYAMA, MAKOTO - X-Shingetsu singer. Clever prog evoking Crimson with symphonic overtones. KOENJIHYAKKEI - One of the best Zeuhl bands around today. http://www.myspace.com/koenjihyakkeijp L’EVOLUZIONE - Heavy prog that constantly changes creating a wild rollercoaster ride. Great! LOVE LIVE LIFE + 1 - Wacked-out prog/psych from 1971 with some really great wind work and features Hiro Yanagida on keys. LU7 - Great instrumental symphonic fusion. MACHINE AND THE SYNERGETIC NUTS - Blend of canterbury and jazz fusion. Great stuff! MAGDALENA - Symphonic rock group. MAGICAL POWER MAKO MAKI, CARMEN - 2nd album from 1969 of soft symphonic/lounge/folk/psych from this legendary Japanese singer. MAKI, CARMEN & BLUE CREATION - Heavy rock from 1971. MAKI, CARMEN & OZ - Recorded live in 1997. Prog with female vocals & excellent grinding organ. MANDRAKE - 70’s symphonic rock group. MARGARET MAGGIE - Instrumental violin-led symphonic trio. http://www.myspace.com/margaretmaggiemo MARGE LITCH - Heavy symph. MARIAH - First two albums from 1980 & 1981 by this prog, jazz, pop, AOR band. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbJ6bBHYEM4&feature=related MIDAS - Great Symphonic rock. MINOKE? - Jazz with folk melodies with piano and sax at the forefront. MIZUKAGAMI – Symphonic rock in the style of Shingetsu & Vermillion Sands. MIZUTANI, KIMIO - Very underrated progressive work from 1971. MABOROSHI PAGANZ - Ex-Lacrymosa instrumental acoustic (hurdy gurdy, acoustic guitar, darbuka, tombak) music mixed with mellotron. http://www.myspace.com/maboroshipaganz MOLCA - Title says it all. MONGOL - Technical symphonic rock with a fusion edge. MORSOF – Complicated jazz rock with sax at the forefront. A bit like Henry Cow. MR. SIRIUS - Great symphonic prog! MUGEN - Real good symphonic/progressive. MURASAKI - Hard rock with some heavy Hammond work from 1975 & 1976. NAIKAKU - Blistering progressive led by fabulous guitar and flute with occasional mellotron. Recommended! NAMBA, HIROYUKI - One of the great Japanese keyboardists/composers who mixed prog with pop. http://www.senseofwonder.org/discography.htm NETHERLAND DWARF - About the closest thing I have heard to Ciclos by Canarios. Very good! http://www.myspace.com/netherlanddwarf NOVELA - Hard progressive led by Terutsugu Hirayama (Teru’s Symphonia). http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2016 O-U - Blend of classical, avant garde and jazz rock. OUTER LIMITS - Great symphonic rock with violin. PAGEANT - Wonderful symph/prog with female vocals. PAIKAPPU - Instrumental prog lost recording from the early 80’s. PALE ACUTE MOON - One of the finest Japanese prog 80’s recordings that’s been out of print for many moons. PENTAGRAM - Instrumental fusion rock. POCHAKAITE MALKO - Instrumental progressive fusion with Magma & ELP like sonic attacks. http://www.myspace.com/junzotateiwa PRESENCE OF SOUL - Progressive/post-rock full of stunning beauty with mellotron and ethereal female vocals. Reference Anekdoten, Sigur Ros, Porcupine Tree, Godspeed You! Black Emperor & King Crimson. http://www.myspace.com/presenceofsoul PRIORITY - Mix of fusion & textural guitar landscapes a la Pat Matheny. PROGRESSIVE ROCK RENAISSANCE - Long deleted compilation with Triton, Theta, Seilane, Head Pop Up and Pediment. PYG - Psych/rock/prog from 1971. QUASER - 3rd & 4th albums of keyboard driven symph/prog. http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~quaser/e/disco/index.html QUI - Instrumental 5 piece (guitar, bass, keys, drums & flute) of fusion/progressive/jazz. Reminds me of early Kenso. http://www.myspace.com/quiquiquiqui QUIKION - Wonderful acid folk with bouzouki, glockenspiel, accordian, concertina, ukulele, kantele, assorted percussion and female vocals. Great! http://www.myspace.com/quikion RING - Previously unreleased 70’s prog band that reminds me a lot of Far East Family Band. RINGING RING - Medieval/Baroque/folk/classical quintet with crumhorn, lute, recorder, acoustic guitar, viola and percussion. http://www3.plala.or.jp/RINGINGRING/index.html ROMANZA-BEKKAN - Symph/prog with female vocals in Pageant, Providence and Shingetsu style. ROUND HOUSE - Late 70’s prog fusion band who have reformed recently. http://www.plactn.co.jp/roundhouse/english/default.htm SAGITTARIAN - Monster rare symphonic and similar in style to early Novalis. SAKURABA, MOTOI - Excellent keyboard driven instrumental symphonic rock by Deja Vu keyboardist. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNx2GAPmghE&feature=related SALLE GAVEAU - Instrumental jazz/RIO quintet of guitar, violin, accordion, piano and contrabass. Crazy stuff! http://www.myspace.com/sallegaveau SAMURAI – English & Japanese members join forces on these heavy organ progressive works from 1971. SAMURAI (MICKY CURTIS) - Soft progressive work from 1972 with some orchestration. SATO, MASAHARU - Solo by Bi Kyo Ran drummer with help from Bernard Paganotti. Mix of jazz/prog/eastern music. SF - Reminds me quite a bit of Far East Family Band. SHINGETSU - Legendary symphonic rock in Genesis vein. SHINSEKAI - Wonderful mellotron laden progressive in Bi Kyo Ran style. SHOW-YEN - Instrumental prog fusion mixed with far eastern sounds. Some brilliant guitar work here. SIDE STEPS - Quite similar to Kenso and instrumental as well. SIX NORTH - Mixes influences ranging from Weidorje to Mr. Sirius. SOCIAL TENSION - Both albums on 1 CD. Great prog in UK, ELP realm. SPACE CIRCUS - Excellent instrumental fusion. SPEED, GLUE & SHINKI - Hard psychedelic rock from 1971 & 1972. http://www.myspace.com/speedglueandshinki STARLESS - Hard prog with female vocals in similar style to Novela. STRAWBERRY PATH - Hard progressive from 1971. STRINGS ARGUMENTS - Instrumental live album by this Avant Garde jazz rock Six North offshoot. TAJ-MAHAL TRAVELLERS - Experimental psych. Two 59 minute tracks! TAKAHASHI, AYUO TERU’S SYMPHONIA - Great symphonic rock! http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=560 THETA - Similar to Renaissance, Solstice, Vermillion Sands. TIME STRINGS TRAVELLERS - Mix of prog, space and exotic sounds creating a hypnotic atmosphere. TOKYO SYMPHONIC SYNDROME - Compilation of 4 obscure Japanese prog groups from the early 80’s. TOO MUCH - Guitar-led rock and blues. TREMBLING STRAIN - Top avant garde. TRI-OFFENSIVE - Kenso offshoot of blistering instrumental jazz rock. http://www.myspace.com/trioffensive TRIO96 - Instrumental fusion rock. TSUKI-USAGI - Symph/prog with female vocals and close to Shingetsu and Vermilion Sands. Lots of great flute, keys and guitar. http://www.myspace.com/tsukiusagiband VERMILION SANDS - Top-notch Japanese 80’s symph/prog with female vocals and Renaissance/Genesis vibe. VIENNA - 80's symph/prog rock super-group formed by members of Gerard, Mugen & Outer Limits. http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=625 WALRUS - Private releases of prog/symph with a playful edge and a bit Genesis in style. Band is already defunct. WAPPA GAPPA - Not unlike Renaissance or Providence. YAMASH’TA, STOMU - Renowned musician for his electronic and percussive music approach. YANAGIDA, HIRO - Great progressive works from 1970, 1971 & 1973 by this legendary Japanese musician. http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=5556 YONINBAYASHI - One of Japan’s best 70’s prog groups. http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=4696 or http://www.myspace.com/yoninbayashi YUKA & CHRONOSHIP - Sublime prog rock that is mostly instrumental. Recommended! http://www.myspace.com/yukaandchronoship ZETTAIMU - Dark, seductive and complicated progressive with female vocals and a certain Magma appeal. |