AMATERASU

1. "Tsukutomi I" (6:44) starts out quite pretty then gets downright kelzmer! Yet, this is good, modern Zeuhl! (9/10) 2. "Tsukutomi II" (10:36) opens with some gentle foundation music supporting a nice soprano sax solo. (9.5/10) 3. "Tsukutomi III" (2:31) the finale of the three-part suite almost sounds like an overture from a late-1960s Broadway rock opera--heavy on the Hammond. (8/10)

4. "Amaterasu I" (3:45) Zeuhl classical piano?!! (9/10) 5. "Amaterasu II" (3:31) slowed down and spacious but just as ominous with violin, saxophone and female voices mirroring each other. (9/10) 6. "Amaterasu III" (4:53) again presents the Klezmer sound masked in JANNICK TOP/UNIVERSAL TOTEM ORCHESTRA- like female and male vocals. (8.5/10) 7. "Amaterasu IV" (2:34) sounds like it could have come straight off of a 1970s JEAN-LUC PONTY album! Great drumming. (8/10) 8. "Amaterasu V" (6:12) very standard Zeuhl in the Magma tradition (8/10) 9. "Amaterasu VI" (8:02) which is then continued in the album and suite's final song. (8/10)

4.5 stars; B+; a near-masterpiece of progressive rock music. It's so difficult for me to not like the intense spiritual feelings evoked by true Zeuhl music like this. This is the best Zeuhl album of 2016 that I have heard.