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Fantasmagoria - Day And Night CD (album) cover

DAY AND NIGHT

Fantasmagoria

 

Heavy Prog

3.96 | 17 ratings

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Tapfret
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
4 stars More fantasia, less gor

Sub-genre: Heavy Prog (strong fit, hints of Japanese Avant/Zeuhl and heavier JR/F)
For Fans of: Happy Family, Pochakaite Malko, "Birds"-era Mahavishnu Orchestra
Vocal Style: Other than some background counting, none
Guitar Style: Primarily distorted electric, but short of metal distortion
Keyboard Style: Varied synthesis including moog-like waves and church organ patches
Percussion Style: Standard rock kit
Bass Style: Standard picked electric
Other Instruments: Violin is the "vocal" and melodic element of the band
You are not likely to enjoy this album if: you are bothered by Japanese Avant/Zeuhl production quality or violin in general.



Summary: As I explore the international prog scene I am starting to find some consistencies in presentation along geographical lines. Japan, at least for the albums that I have explored, has a very distinct recording presentation. While being a stereotypically technopillic country, the records I have listened to from the late 90's up to now seem to be driven in the direction of rawness and the most organic production one can produce from electronics. Day & Night is no stranger to this convention. Whether a subdued or in-your-face moment, the organic presentation persists. For this reason I insist that those who may be sensitive to the recording styles of Ruins, Bondage Fruit, Happy Family or Pochakaite Malko use caution when listening to Fantasmagoria.
With that caveat out of the way, I find Day & Night to be pleasurable listening every time. Many of the guitar passages are mostly a warm distorted heavy blues sound. There is a very pleasurable quality when this sound is interplayed with the violin. Miki Fujimoto, a classically trained violinist provides incredible flowing melodic phrases throughout the album. The dynamic balance between her violin and the more traditional rock instruments is highly reminiscent of the balance obtained by Goodman and McGlaughlin in Mahavishnu Orchestra, though the phrasing has a more Kansas feel to it. The melodic violin parts hint at neo-classical at times, but are purposefully unpolished ? in the most aesthetic sense ? so as to avoid appearing stuffy and pompous.



Final Score: I enjoy this band very much. I think most prog fans will enjoy Day & Night. There is a rawness and raucousness that some love, that may detract others. There are gorgeous moments of peace and tons to be had by "melodophiles". 4 stars.

Tapfret | 4/5 |

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