MIROQUE

This is a band from Japan who have changed their stye of music over the years, which is why they're listed in Crossover-Prog. This is their latest album and it's minimalistic with almost mono-toned female vocals. Very melancholic as well. This style appeals to me which is why i'm giving it 3 stars, but in reality I have a hard time getting into this one.

"Red Moon-Prologue" is an intro track with the wind blowing as the sound builds. Some vocal melodies too. "I Don't Need Anything Else" is melancholic with vocals, bass and drums standing out. The guitar comes to the fore after 3 minutes. "Anyone Is Loved By Someone" is laid back and fairly dark to start. Reserved vocals before a minute. It picks up after 4 minutes with some nice bass before settling again with that melancholic vibe. "Time Like An Arrow" is more upbeat with vocal melodies. Vocals join in and the guitar comes and goes. "Jennifer" opens with strummed guitar and some percussion. Male and female vocals on this one although the male vocals become more prominant.

"Sharan" opens with a Japanese stringed instrument of some sort as female vocals join in. Bass too. It's heavier before 4 minutes. "Icarus" features female vocals and a beat that comes and goes. Guitar 2 minutes in and a fuller sound follows. "Time Perplexes Time Oneself" opens with some nice guitar. Vocals follow. The guitar here is so raw, I like it. "Red Moon-Epilogue" is brighter with vocals. Piano after a minute. It's kind of jazzy. Back to the brighter sound again. Wind 3 1/2 minutes in as the mood changes. Piano and vocal melodies join in.

I think you'd really have to be into this melancholic, minimalistic style of music to really enjoy this one.

Consider ZETTAIMU not as a progressive rock project but as a progressive pop one.

My first impression for ZETTAIMU was that they play Japanesque traditional music with weirdly solemn atmosphere (especially around voices) based on Japanese oldie and goodie songs, also tinged with modern pop or mainstream light rock. No complex rhythm structure nor warping sound appearance around this project and material, but it can be said progressiveness (not progressive rock) that "naturally, not artificially" they could pick up mainstream pop music and cultivate in Japanese traditional music culture. Their lyrics are mainly Japanese, that notify us something mysterious and psychedelic far from Western hemisphere - in Japan psychedelic rock has got much influential upon progressive rock scene, and much renowned all over the world, and this phenomenon can be seen in ZETTAIMU project. Not sharp-edged sound procedure but their voices and lyrics can be stuck like an icepick into our mind, mysteriously.

Hisashi FURUE has said he should not play progressive rock but a mixture music with Japanese traditional music and rock music he'd listened to and played, based upon Japanese atmosphere called "Wa". He might not need complex rhythm collection at all but simultaneously he might wonder why nobody had tried to do such a natural mixture, I consider. This album "Miroque" they could not take enough time to produce, Hisashi mentioned, but I've felt we can get enough intensive Japanesque traditional pop via their instruments. As a result, we can call them progressive, even without complexity nor eccentricity of sound structure. Let me say you can realize another appearance of progressive music. Recommended.