PAIKAPPU

Please let me say as this; this is exactly Japanese mainstream-y symphonic, with purely Japanese instruments fue (Japanese flute), wadaiko (Japanese drums), biwa (Japanese lute) and koto (Japanese harp).

PAIKAPPU were formed in the early 1970s around Tsutsui Brothers - Takashi (guitar, koto) and Tetsushi (drums, wadaiko, fue). They might appear on stage under the name of AIRS but currently we cannot get no more information. After changing their band name from AIRS to PAIKAPPU, they released one and only eponymous cassette album in 1984 and disappeared unnoticed. Mauro Moroni, the owner of an Italian independent label Mellow Records, was very amazed at this unknown cassette album and made a reissue of it as a CD one via Mellow Records ... with his comment "We really think that it deserves to be heard by a wider audience".

No more heavy or deep sounds than we want, but beautiful, graceful and solemn ones they could shoot on this album. They said in the inner sleeve that they were an original music group which would pursue the tradition and the spirit of Japan ... I've got it. Not aggressive or conspicuous but absolutely attractive and heart-warming - this phrase can be fit for their musical style I consider. Furthermore, they could play just the Japanese kokoro (essence) without pushing the Japanese instruments (fue, wadaiko, biwa and koto) to the front of all. Guess these Japanese stuffs should be not heroes / heroines but wonderful supporters with Japanese spice for PAIKAPPU.

Shower of symphonic and spacey (and sometimes pop and catchy) sounds is in the whole album. Each song is very soft and warm, safe and sound, beautiful and graceful. Suppose they would be influenced by Symphonic Yes or Symphonic Floyd? But yes, they could carry their style out with their originality - influenced by some of Japanese cultures, religions or rituals.

For all symphonic progressive rock freaks, I would like to recommend them strongly.