MIZUKAGAMI

This is symphonic prog with a heavy use of synths, but while they may be looking to the Seventies and Tull/ELP/King Crimson there are also elements of more modern bands such as IQ. The quiet and pleasant passages are more then offset by the complicated ones that follow, so that even though it isn't possible to understand the words there is more than enough going on to make this an interesting and varied listen. This is something that many progheads will enjoy.

Originally appeared in Feedback #78, April 2004

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.

Mizukagami is one of the most impressive Japanese symphonic progressive rock bands, with a slightly difficult character. Namely, they should not be immersed in Western symphonic style but keep much essence of Japanese traditional music style and theory in their mind. 'Bout each song you can feel the Japanese flavour called 'Wa no Kokoro' somewhere in such a beautiful symphonia. The point I want to emphasise is that particularly Futaba's clear, graceful, and well-carrying voice should make this 'Wa no Kokoro' much greater. Exactly you feel something eccentric in their work, as if you eat purely Japanese dishes prepared by a Japanese chef in a Western restaurant but as a Japanese let me say bravo to MIZUKAGAMI for their courage to go with the style, not a simply typical symphonic progressive rock one.

The opening instrumental section of 'Sakura' is one of the best parts on the album. It summons the spirits of Yes and King Crimson and features beautiful mellotron keyboards, a distinctly Asian melody played on lead guitar, and a thick heavy bass line driving it all along. The music that follows is pure magic... the sound of a gentle stream flowing through a Japanese garden fades in and is accompanied by a melancholic flute solo.

The vocals of Tanaami Futaba, backed by the sound of singing birds, are simply enchanting and carry you to a far-off land of fantasy; pink leaves and lotus flower petals drifting on a cool breeze through an orange sky above bright green fields....

Besides the lovely vocals, classic synthesizers are the dominant instruments on the album. The bass player is very good and holds the lithe flowing music together well. The drums leave something to be desired and feel a little too stiff; they are are the weakest element of the music... but they are steady enough to not drag the rest of the music down.

'Suzukaze' is another highlight which features the most beautiful musical theme on the entire album. A haunting Japanese melody is played on a sad, heavily-reverbed piano and is framed by a wall of chilling effected mellotron. It must be heard to be appreciated, it is a wonderful piece of music.

The rest of the album is generally very high quality as well, but a couple songs do tend to wander and lose me a bit. This is one of the better Symphonic Prog albums of the past decade. A solid 3.5 effort... and a grower. The more you listen to it, the better it gets.

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.

Great album, amazing vocal from Tanaami Futaba. Flute is also very impressive. "Sakura" is an absolutely masterpiece and the best number in album. I think this band with Shingetsu is the best example from japanese symphonic prog scene, becouse both this bands are very unique, you know, they haven't stolen anything from classic brittish bands and that's why admire these japan bands very much!

Excellent work, strongly reccomended! :)

The best tracks are in the first part of the album, namely "Sakura", "Haru no sono" and "Suzukaze". "Haru no Sono" starts with a really beautiful theme. I'm very much against repetition in progressive music but in this case I hope it would have been repeated in the latter part of the song. You kind of wait it to appear again but it never does. Still, it is among the best tracks. In the latter part of the album the quality goes down a little but it is still very good.

Conclusion: Great Japanese symph!