PHOENIX RISING (WITH SYSTEM 7)

It was a video link to the song "Meeting Of The Spirits" from this album that moved me to purchase this. It was a faithful cover of the great MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA song and seeing Steve Hillage play in John McLaughlin's style was pretty amazing. Also the violinist who is from BONDAGE FRUIT also kills on this track. I was already familiar with the Japanese band ROVO as I have their first live album, but here the duo of SYSTEM 7(Steve Hillage & partner Miquette Giraudy) add guitar, programming and synths. I should also mention that ROVO consists of the ALTERED STATES/GROUND ZERO drummer and the guitarist from THE BOREDOMS.

"Hinotori" has a very spacey intro and after 2 minutes the bass and drums take the spotlight although the spacey sounds continue. I'm reminded of OZRIC TENTACLES 4 1/2 minutes in with so much going on but i'm reminded of them quite often throughout this disc. Check out the guitar before 8 minutes until before 11 minutes. Nice! "Love For The Phoenix" eventually settles into a dance-like beat with sounds coming and going over top including vocal expressions. "Meeting Of The Spirits" is of course that MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA cover and the highlight of this album. It's true to the original and the guitar and violin really take the spotlight here.

"Cisio(Phoenix Rising Version)" is simply a ROVO song re-done. A good groove to this one as the violin solos over top. Catchy stuff as they jam. The tempo speeds up around 5 1/2 minutes, this is fun. It settles back a minute later but then turns fuller and then the guitar starts lighting it up over top. "Unbroken' is laid back to start with beats, pulses and more including spacey synths and guitar. Violin 2 1/2 minutes in. I like the guitar/violin combo after 5 minutes to the end. "Sino Dub(Phoenix Rising Version)" is another ROVO song re-done here. The guitar echoes and cascades to start as synths roll in. A techno beat a minute in as it builds. Violin joins in as well. They jam as the mood changes slightly from time to time. I like when the guitar comes in around 9 1/2 minutes. "Unseen Onsen" is very spacey with keys, bass and more helping out in this laid back piece.

Like the live album by ROVO that I own this is a pretty good Space Rock album with a lot of jamming. I'm not blown away by any means but I feel it's worth the fourth star.