KBB

A Fantasia - the impression of their melody section is too magnificent for the audience to avoid such a crystallized catchy line. and Shiro's bass heaviness and Dani's drumming footsteps are clear and refined, which shall be appropriate for supporting the beautiful melody one. There are plenty of sound appearances in this album - some are light and delightful, some are heavy and dark, and some are quiet and gentle - all ones can be dealt perfectly by them. Pity I've not attend their concert or gig yet but their superb stage can be imagined easily. Let me say as my humble opinion, they might have created, produced multi-dimensional melody lines based upon complicated rhythm structures obviously tinged with pop, catchy moments and vibes. Elements we can hear in the "so-called-prog' world would be limited, and they shoot another new prog-scape blended with decent phrases here and there.

Anyway this album has been recommended for me by my progressive rock friend Fred LESSING (the frontman of DAYMOON). Thanks to Fred for letting me know such a music gem.

The album begins with the hard-driving, bass-grooving 1. "Hatenaki Shoudou" (6:24) (9/10)

2. "Catastrophe" (9:31) is an amazing offering of frenzied, multiple layered electric fusion (another mostly hard-driver) in which the band's cohesive play and interplay are put on full display. Parts jaw-dropping, parts are goose-bumpy gorgeous. Incredible song. (20/20)

3. "Antartica" (13:28) has a much more neoclassical, symphonic soundtrack feel to it. At times this sounds like something from traditional Scottish folk melodies, at times like a military march, at others concerto-like, and even some brooding KITARO-like folk. This is a complex and maturely constructed piece that only impresses. It's only shortcoming is in the flow and that it doesn't have quite the melodic draw of the previous two songs. (27/30)

4. "The Desert of Desires" (7:38) opens like a ELP or ASIA tune before establishing an organ based, Bruford-drummed bass display. Soloing electric guitar enters at the one minute mark. Very accomplished 80s EDDIE VAN HALEN-like playing. At 2:17 everything drops away to allow an electric piano to establish a slower tempo in order to display a more emotional, bluesy guitar solo style. Reminds me of WHITESNAKE. The chord and melody work of the last two minutes is the best part. Nice work. Nice piece. I don't connect with the emotion of this electric guitar playing or heavy rock style as much as the fusion violin work of the first two. (16/20)

5. "Another Episode" (8:28) again opens like a familiar VAN HALEN song before displaying its violin-centricity. Some absolutely stunning melodies are quickly established and heart-wrenchingly performed. Even the piano and bass are integral parts of the emotional mix of this song. I like the presence of some more Japanese feeling melodies in this song. Very much like the incredible soundtracks put together for Studio Ghibli Hayao Miyazaki films by composer Joe Hisaishi. Awesome synthesizer solo in the sixth minute! The ensuing "farfisa" organ doesn't fit quite as well but its presence is only brief. The next percussive synth chord section is also a bit out-of-date but it evolves into a piano-based return to the opening melodies (though on electric guitar and synthesizer instead of violin). Still a pretty awesome song! (18/20)

6. "Ness No Kioku" (9:41) opens with a low and then high toned SHANKAR-like solo violin. The melodic style here is also much more akin to Middle Eastern or Indian traditions. Truly awesome musicianship in the rhythmic support of the bass and drums. Probably the best and most exciting song on the album, start to finish. (20/20)

7. "Divine Design" (9:26) opens with perhaps the most engaging three sections of the album. Very JEAN-LUC PONTY and DANIEL KOBIALKA-like. A simpler song construction establishes itself for the first four minutes--though there are at least five shifts in that time. The sixth shift at the 4:45 mark goes straight for the J-L PONTY jugular--much in the same way Jean-Luc did in his faster-placed songs and soli from 1975-84. And great, very tight band support throughout the song, into and with every style and tempo shift. Guitar appearance leads into a return to some of the song's opening themes--layered one over the top of another! Cool song! (20/20)

So professionally done, such high level of musicianship and composition. With the amazing start with the first two songs and the equally amazing final two songs, this one is very close to a masterpiece.

Five stars, for sure a masterpiece of progressive rock music.

Suzuki left the band and took along his much symphonic keyboard orientations with Takahashi having more or less a more jazzy style of playing, indicated by the pronounced electric piano and the dominance of Tsuboy's violin throughout the album, which sometimes seems to cover the rest of the group.Even if KBB's style shifted towards less flexible grounds and focused on more Fusion-directed performances, the executions and arrangements remained rich, extremely virtuosic and fairly dynamic with a good bunch of solos, breaks and complex parts.There are even slight KING CRIMSON vibes in the colder cuts with an also familiar OUTER LIMITS mood, but more or less the Japanese kept a good balance between sinister atmospheres, romantic textures and highly technical moves.As aforementioned, Tsuboy's violin workouts are the main leading forces of this album, complemented by Takahashi's piano, organ, synths and electric piano in complicated compositions, full of intricate plays, fast runs and tempo changes, supported still by a very solid rhythm section.There are also a couple of more melodic pieces with a softer style, where the Classical influences come excusively out of Tsuboy's crying violin.

This is emphatic, violin-driven Prog Fusion with focus on complex, instrumental music.Not as masterful as KBB's debut, but again I doubt that many bands can come up with such a consistent and interesting sound.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.

It is an instrumental album, but that is primarily because there is just no room for vocals. In "Kraken's Brain Is Blasting" there is a passage where all of the band take off in a tumultuous run with Akihisa just managing to keep in front. At times the others play a concerted piece which is at odds to the main melody, yet at others they are very much locked together. On "Slave Nature" there is a much more prog feel to proceedings with some great fretless bass just behind the lead instrument, whether it is violin, keyboard or electric guitar.

For those who enjoy complex instrumental music at its' very best.

The major downside for me is that this album was released in 2007, and it doesn't appear that they have done anything since so I am not sure if they are still active or not. But given that it isn't unusual for them to have long breaks let's hope that there are still albums to come. www.musearecords.com

Well there were two tracks that did grab me including this the opener. "Inner Flames" opens with a drum barrage then it gets heavier. Synths solo over top and the organ comes and goes. It does settle back after 3 minutes. Check out the bass 5 1/2 minutes in. This is intense. "Weight Anchor" features tastefully played violin only to start then it gets fuller just before a minute. "Stratosphere" is laid back and almost dreamy. Native-like drumming comes in after 1 1/2 minutes, violin too. A calm 4 1/2 minutes in then the violin starts to lead as other sounds join in. This is uptempo by the way. "Intermezzo" is led by drums and violin early on. Piano joins in as the drums stop temporarily. The violin gets intense then it settles after 3 1/2 minutes.

"Rice Planting Song" has some crazy violin in it and the drums are prominant late. Not a fan. "Lagoon Nebula" is the other track I like. It's fairly heavy with the violin playing over top. Organ comes in then piano. "40 Degrees" is a pleasant violin led tune. Piano and drums help out. Nice bass as well. The electric piano is great here. "Order From Chaos" sees the violin take off after 2 minutes. Organ comes in around 4 minutes then it settles right down with piano. Violin and drums return. bass too.

For me this doesn't measure up to their first two but violin fans should be happy with it.

"Discontinuous Spiral" kicks in right away with violin, drums and bass, but it settles in quickly. Synths after 2 1/2 minutes then the violin returns. A calm with violin and piano after 4 minutes then bass then drums return. "Kraken's Brain Is Blasting" is much better than the opener.The violin is more intense. We do get a calm before 2 minutes that lasts about a minute but contrasts do continue. "Horobi No Kawa" opens with piano then it turns fuller just before a minute.The violin is prominant before 3 minutes. "Back Side Edge" has a nice bass intro then it all kicks into a Fusiony flavour. Love the bass, electric piano and drums after 3 minutes.Then the violin comes in and leads.

"Slave Nature" is a violin-led piece but there is some organ in this one for a change. It does settles with piano before 2 minutes then the violin leads again after 5 minutes. "I Am Not Here" is my favourite. It takes a while for it to really get going, in fact it's after 2 1/2 minutes before we get a steady melody.This is great ! It settles back after 4 1/2 minutes and after 6 minutes. In between we get some intensity. It also picks up late. "Shironiji" is mellow with piano and guitar. It does build. A calm after 4 minutes with violin and piano.

While I may prefer the debut, this album is filled with extraordinary instrumental work. If your a violin fan definitely check this out.

"Hatenaki Shoudou" opens with guitar, drums and organ in a fantastic intro.The bass joins in and is very fat just the way I like it. It settles some before a minute but it's still powerful. Synths come in. Violin finally arrives before 3 1/2 minutes as the organ runs and bass throbs. Amazing tune. "Catastrophe" opens with deep bass sounds and drums.Violin before a minute.This is intense. It settles right down before 4 1/2 minutes with piano and synths. Violin joins in followed by bass and drums. The tempo picks up before 8 minutes. Nice bass. "Antarctica" opens with piano as bass, drums and violin eventually join the party. A change after 2 minutes as the piano stops. It's darker and deeper with violin playing over top. Another change after 4 minutes as violin leads and the tempo picks up. This section really reminds me of KANSAS. A change again this time before 8 minutes as we get some atmosphere. This is great ! It kicks in after 11 minutes. Nice. It ends as it bgan with piano. "The Desert Of Desires" opens with synths as drums join in and the tempo picks up. Organ before a minute with chunky bass. The guitar follows ripping it up. A calm before 2 1/2 minutes with piano, then the guitar joins in as it solos tastefully. Synths before 5 1/2 minutes then the tempo picks up. The guitar is back before 7 minutes.

"Another Episode" opens with piano and drums. Violin joins in as the bass throbs. It settles 1 1/2 minutes in with piano. Violin again joins in as themes are repeated. Nice bass after 4 1/2 minutes then the violin starts to light it up. Guitar late. "Nessa No Kioku" opens with some atmosphere as the violin comes in. Bass before 1 1/2 minutes followed by drums as the violin just takes off. It settles after 3 minutes and turns spacey before kicking back in around 4 1/2 minutes with violin leading. Atmosphere before 6 1/2 minutes then the violin and bass start to lead again. "Divine Design" opens with some amazing violin before it settles in with some atmosphere including bass and drums. It's building. The violin is back. This sounds so good. It picks up before 5 minutes with organ out in front then violin.The bass is impressive too. A guitar solo before 7 1/2 minutes and later.

A must for fans of instrumental Fusion.

STYLE: What seemed to be LOST during the new milleniumin in the Japanese prog scene was FOUND again by KBB: The highly energetic and grandiose sound of the mix between symphonic rock and jazz/fusion.KBB are a band that can play some trully captivating, adventurous and bombastic symph/fusion music,led by the violin of Tsuboy,the sharp keyboards of Takahashi and the talented rhythm section of Dani and Sugano.The whole album ends up to be a complicated journey through the different paths of music,helped by the great production.Intricate melodies give space to magnificent solos by guitars,violins and /piano/keys.Soft and relaxed musicianship disappears in the face of a mass of sudden breaks and the rise of complexity.This is what Japanese do best.

SOUNDS/INFLUENCES: Starting from Eddie Jobson's UK without their commercial side or JEAN LUC PONTY's solo albums and ending in traditional Japanese forces like KENSO,AIN SOPH,NEGASHERE and MIDAS (regarding the symphonic section).

PLUS: One of the best albums around to combine powerful solos,challenging interplays and strong melodies with such beauty.Tsuboy is already among my violin heroes,words are not enough to decribe his work.Keyboards are excellent from the solos to the background supporting role.The rhythm section is also very strong without a loose moment.Lots of memorable moments despite album's definite complexity.Crystalline production.

MINUS: I think the band should add some more relaxed themes for the greatest balance,as ''Lost and found'' is an album to be listened without a breath with so many themes and energy agoing on.

WILL APPEAL TO: Anyone into dynamic and energetic prog rock with changing themes such as heavy prog fans,symph/fusion fans,jazz/rock and Canterbury prog followers and the list goes on .

CONCLUSION/RATING: Seemed the Japanese symph/fusion had stuck in the early days of KENSO,AIN SOPH or MR.SIRIUS.But KBB appeared to remind us what Japanese musicians are capable of.One of the best prog albums of the new-era that flirts with the masterpiece title...4.5 stars please.

After their two excellent studio-albums Lost And Found (2000) and Four Corner's Sky (2003), this exciting new Japanese progrock band released the CD Live 2004, in 2006 followed by the DVD entitled KBB Live 2005 Official Bootleg (recorded in Tokyo). This was a special "Nearfest 2006 Limited Edition" release in order to celebrate KBB their performance on that famous annual USA progrock festival. I was already very impressed listening to Live 2004 but the experience of this DVD is great, what a stunning band!

KBB plays instrumental, very jazzrock inspired, the level of the musicians is mighty close to virtuosic and the interplay is awesome. Looking at this live DVD you can notice that the flowing and propulsive rhythm-section is a perfect foundation for the many solo escapades by keyboardplayer Toshimitsu Takahashi (lots of lush Hammond organ waves, sparkling electric piano runs and spectacular, often dazzling pitchbend driven synthesizer solos) and especially violin player Akihisa Tsuboy, he really shines. On his own website I read that Tsuboy has played in many bands and contributed to several albums in Japan, he was even a guest musician on the known Japanese progrock album Water Blue (1989) by Vermillion Sands! He has incorporated elements from JL Ponty, PFM, Mahavishnu Orchestra and Eddie Jobson in his sound in a very virtuosic and spectacular way: from dreamy to dynamic with a great build- up in Backside Edge, classically inspired and strong interplay with electric piano in Discontinuous Spiral, powerful and evoking Kansas in the very dynamic Shironiji and a wah-wah drenched sound in the sensational final track Tono (also including an outstanding synthesizer solo). My highlight on this DVD is the composition Inner Flames: a powerful and dynamic sound with compelling interplay between violin and Hammond organ, spectacular solos on synthesizer, violin and jazzy inspired piano and halfway the focus is on Tsuboy, he freaks out with a very distorted sound, a kind of "Jimi Hendrix meets Ritchie Blackmore", how sensational!

If you want to watch exciting new jazzrock (with 'multi camera shooting'), check out this live DVD by KBB, highly recommended!