ESSENCE

QUASER are a Japanese progressive rock quartet with powerful guitar bullets, beautiful keyboard crystals and solid rhythm section bombs. This compilation album includes songs already released in their previous albums, "with digitally remastered". Namely we can enjoy their fundamental elements in each QUASER's era and, I consider, can feel their strong intention that they should keep them powerfully progressive. The first track "King Of Pancrase" has a very chilling guitar solo spun out by Masami and heavy, trailing (always delaying a bit like an echoic effect, maybe with his intention methinks) drumming by Kazuo (his drum solo is my love), with smart & slender keyboard sounds and deep bass ones. Actually we cannot expect consistent phylosophy or dramatic structure for typical compiled albums ... this "Essence" is one of them ... but luckily we can enjoy a magnificent story in the last four tracks "Promised Land". And especially the seventh one "Mr. Duck" I cannot help weeping with listening to. This song was dedicated to Eisho KAMOZAKI (drums), who has already passed away in a tough illness. All QUASERers might have composed this song, with their memories about him and his play. This soft and quiet song has terrifically deep sorrow and power we can feel. This is the moment we can be immersed in QUASER's hearty creation.

A good compilation indeed.

P.S. Why have they been added in Progarchives as a "Jazz Rock / Fusion" band? At least for me, they have a fantastic "Neo-heavy-symphonic" colour ... :)