SHINGETSU

This is a nice album that deserves to be discovered. The first and final track strongly evokes mid-Genesis (did Steve Hackett and Tony Banks some secret session work?). But the other tracks has a typical Japanese climate (warm and dreamy), it's very pleasant to hear the ethnic touches featuring acoutic guitar and flute. LOVELY MUSIC!

I was quite surprised to find recently how creative and varied was the japanese prog scene in the late 70´s and early 80´s. Unfortunalty not too many bands had a long career and broke up after one or two LPs. Shingetsu is one of them: with a strong Genesis influence (specially around the Wind & Wuthering period) the group made a great mix of european and japanese roots to deliever a truly international sound.

The CD is far from perfect, but as a debut recording, it is also very promising and outstanding. I specially like the first track, Oni, a great prog epic and the last, the beautiful Return Of The Night again very Genesis-like). The remaining songs were also nice but not at the same level as those two. The lyrics are all in japanese, but the delivering is so convincing it hardly matters if you don´t know what the singer is talking about. In other words, a very poignant music that every prog lover should give it a listen.

It is only a shame this band did not have a long career. Certainly they would have outgrow their Genesis mold and delivered some real strong and original stuff. 3,5 stars.

One of the most beautiful but short-lived Japanese progressive bands.

SHINGETSU is, at least in my humble opinion, one of the most greatest Japanese symphonic rock bands, with featuring melodic keyboard player Akira Hanamoto and lyrical vocalist Makoto Kitayama. And here what I want to say strongly is that all songs in this historic album should need the musical sense of all SHINGETSU's players. Personally I love Haruhiko Tsuda's dragging and drowsy guitar...without the unusual guitar sound SHINGETSU's music style won't go well. Of course, strict but flexible rhythm section by Shizuo Suzuki's bass and Naoya Takahashi's drums is absolutely important. This Japanese pride was constructed by these talented player.

Their masterpiece, Oni is the greatest! A plaintive melody by Akira can go with clear and transparent voice and a little languid guitar. Oni, a Japanese terrible monster, seems (hears?) to be even kind and gentle, and be dancing slowly and elegantly. Pop and catchy (even in this work) is the song Asa No Muko Gawa (The Other Side Of Morning). So fresh and like we enjoy morning salad. They are attractive on pop world, too. :-) Hatsunetsu No Machikado (Influential Street) can let us amazed with its reverse play and eccentric plus fantastic tune. This song includes some styles of a march, a ballad, and a rock. Like a lunchbox with various materials LOL. I suggest this song playing be their real pleasure. On the contrary, Reito (Freeze) is a more classic piece, and extremely big Kagaku No Yoru (Night Collector) is like a theme-song of some Japanese hero TV programs... :-) Exactly, this song has a theme of a boy with some extrasensory perceptions and it's natural the song has such an atmosphere.

All the songs are written in Japanese, not English. They might have a patriotic spirit. But I'm sure this work of theirs should be accepted all over the progressive rock world.

I'm of the opinion that this is one of the more important albums to come out of Japan. A nation that brought us so much great Psychedelic music in the seventies ends that decade in 1979 with a Symphonic beauty. A five piece band where the keyboardist really leads the way and we get mellotron on all but two tracks. The vocalist has a relaxed voice but can get passionate. The guitar is really good both acoustic and electric and that bass just bounces, big fan. We get some guest sax on track four along with a guest synth player. SHINGETSU means NEW MOON and the word beautiful came to my mind often while listening to this record.

And right off the hop that beauty is heard early on the opener "Oni" which might be my favourite track. The beauty is in the form of acoustic guitar here and those vocals arrive after a minute and are fragile. I like the contrasts on display during this 9 1/2minute track. "The Other Side Of Morning" continues the contrasts of mellow and fuller sections. The vocals and acoustic guitar again are gorgeous.

And how about the vocals on "Influential Street" where Bryan Ferry came to mind the way he vibrates almost. Not as big on this one but I am on the next one "Afternoon After The Rain" with the guest sax adding a lot. Organ here too and some majesty with the mellotron and more. "Fragments Of The Dawn" needs a mention for the mellotron flutes. Some multi-vocals or double tracked ones here as well makes this different. "Freeze" is awesome because it's dark and intense, a serious instrumental. More beauty on the closer "Return Of The Night".

This was an absolute pleasure to listen to and GENESIS are clearly their biggest influence although they were in no way a clone of their sound. Just some keyboard and guitar sounds brought them to mind once in a while. Easily 4 stars.