PRAYER

Recently, the knowledge and the technology might accompany very reformative directionality in the field of Prog Rock of Japan. Those elements were distributed and it rushed into for the flow that absorbed various music by Prog Rock of Japan of the 70's and made the dawn at the delivered time in the 80's. Prog Rock that Japan thinks about and standard music are caught as very various genres and unite with the unique culture of Japan. In the music delivered by Japan, it might be also true with an original part as one genre.

A lot of music to associate the sound of an overseas band exactly in the flow of Prog Rock and Jazz Rock that Japan thinks about exists. Of course, the music of other countries also produces wonderful music attended with each culture and the custom.

This "Sixnorth" will be able to feel the influence of Canterbury Scene enough in the item of Prog Rock and Jazz Rock. It is guessed that the member etc. of the band were brought close in a perfect direction to execute various ideas that they also absorbed for a long time actually concretely.

Bass player's Hideyuki Shima was formed to them as a person at the center in 1998. They are developing the activity of music in the city that is called Kyoto that exists chiefly in Japan. It discovers in putting out of their performances the color of Canterbury as the style of music remarkably and the listener will be able to discover it. Japan ..Jazz Rock original ..the idea.... has finished while doing the performance that is chiefly reminiscent of Canterbury Scene to the subject in this announced album in 2003.

"Magnetic Factor" starts by the chorus that Chizuko Ura is beautiful. The impression from which making a hard sound has come to the front is given. Composing the tune however ..indeed ..reminiscent of Hatfield And The North and National Health.. high quality Jazz Rock.. has finished. Complex development might mix a lot of elements that Canterbury is good.

"The Fourth Way" has the flow of hard Fusion. The melody that the guitar player makes associates Allan Holdsworth. Therefore, the tune might be near the sound of Bruford in the 70's. And, the part of hardness progresses consistently. The tune shifts to a chaotic part on the top. The tune develops indeed original Jazz Rock.

The song of Chizuko Ura sounds beautifully again in "Everything Becomes Circle". Akihisa Thuboy of "KBB" performs Violin of the unison in close relation to the song. The song and Violin pull a beautiful melody. Solo of Sax also exactly contributes to the tune. Chizuko Ura might be a singer who can correspond to not only Rock but also the tune of various genres.

As for "The Enneagram", a complex theme of the keyboard is impressive. And, the chorus who is reminiscent of The Northettes twines well. The flow with elegant feeling might be their good arrangements. And, the flow of the keyboard will imagine the flow of "U.K.". The arrangement of Sax is also splendid. And, the development that returns from Solo of the drum to the theme will give the listener the excitement.

It is ..high-quality Jazz Rock.. finished in .."From Sri Lanka To Titan".. flow of this album. Ensemble of the band might be indeed splendid. Complex development that is reminiscent of National Health as the flow of the anacatesthesia is made to exist together waits for the world and the aspect and advances about them originally. The technology of the performance might be high. The chorus part settles the tune well at the end.

The chorus who is gentle in "The Age of Horus" sounds. The melody of soprano Sax and the impression of the tune might be flows near standard Fusion. Their original ideas might succeed in twining of an elegant flow and a complex melody. It advances well without destroying the flow of the album.

The development that continues from "Introduction to Richard" to "Richard" might be one of the highlights of this album. Desire to Richard Sinclair by which they show deference. And, the mind that always loves music of Canterbury. And, the fact to make David Sinclair participate as a keyboard. The tune shows deference as their ideas while quoting "Fitter Stoke Has A Bath" of Hatfield And The North. As for lyrics of the song, the desire to Richard Sinclair is exactly sung enough. ｢Let's shut eyes and talk. You and I are eternal friends. ｣ This lyrics are indeed moving lyrics. The desire will reach Richard Sinclair.

They exactly absorbed and executed a good part in Canterbury in the field of Prog Rock of Japan. The technology and the knowledge of the performance might function enough.

This is an album with a very clean sound, as if jazz rock fusion from the Seventies has now found its way to Japan. I am not denigrating the genre, or the album, it is just that this is what this sounds like. On opener 'Magnetic Factor' the high vocals are used as an instrument, and somehow it reminds me of the Pearl & Dean music, but it is still enjoyable. When the band do go heavier as on 'The Fourth Way' they show that they can be a powerful force, with room for the ideas to keep forcing their way through in a loose but constructed manner. Akisha Tsuboy guests on one song, but the coup for the band must be the involvement of David Sinclair on 'Richard', which is dedicated to his colleague Richard Sinclair. This contains a lot of clarity and simplicity with pure vocals, as well as some sections which are much more reminiscent of Matching Mole. Interesting and pleasant, but not essential.

Originally appeared in Feedback #78, April 2004