MIZUKAGAMI

The debut album by this Japanese group proves to be high class symphonic. Mostly it is keyboard driven but there is some nice guitar leads as well. The keyboardist Junya Anan plays the main role in their music with his varied keyboards, fifteen different listed in the liner notes. On top of this is the female vocalist/flautist Tanaami Futaba. Her vocals are not a let down if one likes the many other female vocalists of other Japanese groups. She is among the cream of her crop. Very delicate and refined vocals in the style of Hiroko Nagai of Pageant fame. The flute is a nice addition as well. If you enjoy the eighties Japanese symphonic groups this should be an easy pick. The production is of high quality as well.

The best tracks are in the first part of the album, namely "Sakura", "Haru no sono" and "Suzukaze". "Haru no Sono" starts with a really beautiful theme. I'm very much against repetition in progressive music but in this case I hope it would have been repeated in the latter part of the song. You kind of wait it to appear again but it never does. Still, it is among the best tracks. In the latter part of the album the quality goes down a little but it is still very good.

Conclusion: Great Japanese symph!