YUGAKE

This is the second album by Japanese five piece band Mizukagami, reading the wide range of analogue keyboards I got excited: several Moog synthesizers and a Mellotron, electric piano, string- ensemble, digital Hammond organ and a harpsichord!

So it's no surprise the six tasteful and varied compositions are loaded with those unique keyboards: compelling with lush organ and dreamy with flute-Mellotron and harpsichord in the titletrack, choir- Mellotron, twanging guitar with flute-Mellotron and a mid-tempo with flashy Moog synthesizer flights (along howling guitar) in Hanamizake, heavy Hammond waves in Yatagarasu and a bombastic Hammond sound in the alternating final song Ruten - Ame. I also loved the guitarwork (from twanging acoustic guitar to howling electrci guitar runs, often in combination with the keyboards) and some work on real flutes (along the flute-Mellotron). The female singer has a decent voice in the mellow songs but in the more heavy and bombastic track she lacks power, like in Hanamizake. But fortunately the focus is on the guitars and keyboards, that makes this CD in general to a pleasant musical experience. My rating: 3,5 stars.

It is certain that it also has various genres also for Prog Rock Scene of Japan. Musicians will often take elements of the road that oneself passed to put the position of the directionality of the aimed music and influenced musicians of course in no small way. And, musicians in Japan. Or, musicians in other countries will also surely digest the road and the unique culture of the country be taken naturally. Very sapid through filter of music music and the sense are conceived and the culture of the country is being offered to the listener.

Keyboard player's Junya Anan has been formed to this band as a person at the center in around 1997. At first, it acted as three members. They are the soundscapes of Prog Rock and process the space as a composition of the tune of the band Music who was aiming taking Music of the tradition that exists for a long time and the culture to Japan enough. Or, the method of demonstrating the characteristic of the machine parts used enough. They were intentional acts from beginning. It hardens gradually and they announce 1st Album to the member in 2003. The soundscape and making attempt the differentiation with other bands with an intentional meaning.

This 2nd Album announced in 2007 develops the composition of the tune from 1st further and catches the key point surely. Unique culture of Japan. It is "Singing. " for music. Or, the element of the element etc. of "Nursery rhyme" is surely united with the element of Prog Rock and it expresses it splendidly. It has the method of the digestion the performance method's no becoming loose, too and it advances overall. These might be the music characters at which the band aims and be the tastes.

Ideas of an intense part and the melody, etc. might also have a little weak part by the tune. Especially, the expression of Vocal is made well. However, there is a little weak part in getting on to the sound of the band, too. However, it is intentional. And, it is likely to transmit to the listener from whom the element to express the culture of the home country enough listens to the tune for the first time.

It ensures the music character at which the band aims while lacing the flute and Mellotron in addition to the composition of the sound that looks like "Genesis" and "Renaissance" and the extension if it dares to put the opinion. Or, it might have the element that looks like "Cirrus Bay". The culture of Japan is waited for the aspect and ..album with the race.. has finished splendidly with the element of good Music in the West really the composition of the overall tune however.