Shinsekai - Alice Through the Looking Gla

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I've discovered this Japanese band by chance and then looked at their website : 

http://fragileonline.com/eng/ 

They seem to have an album coming, "Alice Through the Looking Glass", with a lot of guest musicians playing unusual instruments (theremin, ondes martenot). The drums are by Masuhiro Goto (ex-Gerard, ex-Ars Nova). They seem to have put a lot of "vintage prog sounds" in this album. 

There are mp3 excerpts on their page, and it sounds quite weird, the "lead vocal" part being done by a choir of young girls. 

Has anybody heard of them or already have their album? 

Edited by guillaumeh - June 17 2006 at 18:38

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guillaumeh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: December 15 2004 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 17	Topic: Shinsekai - Alice Through the Looking Gla Posted: June 17 2006 at 18:31
	I've discovered this Japanese band by chance and then looked at their website : http://fragileonline.com/eng/ They seem to have an album coming, "Alice Through the Looking Glass", with a lot of guest musicians playing unusual instruments (theremin, ondes martenot). The drums are by Masuhiro Goto (ex-Gerard, ex-Ars Nova). They seem to have put a lot of "vintage prog sounds" in this album. There are mp3 excerpts on their page, and it sounds quite weird, the "lead vocal" part being done by a choir of young girls. Has anybody heard of them or already have their album? Edited by guillaumeh - June 17 2006 at 18:38

fuxi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: March 08 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 2459	Posted: June 18 2006 at 06:30
	I had a look at their website and the music sounds bizarre, but brilliant! I detect some influence from Bruford and Hatfield and the North (but also some passages with heavier guitar). There's the girls' choir, for example: sometimes they strongly remind me of the 'Northettes'; sometimes they sound more like the massed choirs of 'Bohemian rhapsody'. The piece 'Five Q' is clearly meant as homage to Bruford's 'Five G'. It seems this is their second CD; the first one came out earlier this year. As luck would have it, I am leaving for Osaka next month, so I know just what I am going to do!

fuxi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: March 08 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 2459	Posted: June 18 2006 at 07:29
	By the way, Shinsekai certainly have a sense of humour. One of their pieces is entitled 'The return of progre', which may give you the idea that they (like the Tangent and many others we love) firmly intend to revive prog rock ('progre' in Japanese). The piece itself starts with a guy (probably the leader of the band) coolly saying 'Tadaima', which is what all Japanese unvariably say whenever they re-enter a place after an absence of more than an hour or so... (Usually translated as 'I'm home!')

Shinsekai Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: July 02 2006 Location: Japan Status: Offline Points: 1	Posted: July 02 2006 at 04:50
	I am leader of Shinsekai． Thank you for review of our new album. As you guessed,I am fan of Bruford,DaveStewart,Queen,...so on. I'm glad you appreciate that. And,"The return of progre" meens "come back[revive]of prog rock”. "Tadaima" is just a joke. If you comes Osaka,Please tell me plan.I'ｌl guide prog music shop. e-mail address[ http://www.fragileonline.com/images/mail.jpg ]