THE SIX SINGULAR IMPRESSIONS

In the early Nineties I discovered the amazing, often keyboard-driven Japanese progrock scene, first Gerard, then Pageant, Outer Limits, Vienna, Mugen and ... Ars Nova. They started as a female trio, this CD is a compilation from that era featuring five songs from the albums Fear & Anxiety (1992), Transi (1994) and The Goddess Of Darkness (1996) and the live track Transi from Progday USA 1996. Their sound is a melodic, often bombastic blend of virtuosic keyboard play and a dynamic rhythm-section, very propulsive and adventurous. Female keyboard player Keiko Kumagai has obviously enjoyed a classical education and she delivers a varied and spectucular sound, from dazzling synthesizer flights and powerful Hammond organ runs to majestic Mellotron waves and sparkling piano work. The track Transi contains some impressive church organ sound and the final song Nova features delicate piano and harpsichord play. This CD is Progheaven for the keyboard aficionados!

As part of the japanese "prog invasion" of the late 80 and early 90, Ars Nova (a power female trio) gave us some really interesting albums always leaded by their talented composer and keyboardist Keiko Kumagai who impresses ther music with a lot of undeniable ELP-Triumvirat elements. But the music of Ars Nova goes further ina a constant search of variations into the ambitious limits of a band leaded by bombastic and even pretentious keyboards, including a sort of conceptual series of songs dedicated to the female divinity with lots of classic influences, some original oriental elements, the exquisite technique of their musicians and some wonderful epic sections...

You can find all of this into this brief but enjoyable compilation that contains great examples of the first Ars Nova Period, including the amazing "Morgan" and "Fury" from the album "The Godess of Darkness" (1996), their best production until now (IMO) and even an astonishing example of what Ars Nova can do playing live with "Transi", recorded during the '96 Progday.

This "Six Singular Impressions" give us a precise look into the first years of Ars Nova; an interesting compilation with some of their best songs and a enjoyable opportunity to know one of the most interesting japanese band of the early 90's...