A STORY OF MYSTERIOUS FOREST

"Crossfire" is an uptempo blend of Jazz and Canterbury with some firey Fusion as well. The guitar and keys really rip it up. I have to mention the drumming as well, and the fast paced bass lines. Speed of light guitar and keys 2 minutes in. "Interlude I" is a short acoustic guitar piece that is quite intricate. I like it a lot. "Natural Selection" starts softly but a full Jazz sound with chunky bass arrives before a minute.This is a relaxed mid paced tune until the tempo shifts back and forth dramatically starting at 3 1/2 minutes.This is followed by liquid keys and fat bass lines, then guitar joins in until that mid paced section from earlier returns. "Variations On A Theme By Brian Smith" opens with a splendid piano solo. It turns jazzy quickly though with some nice drum work. Spanish styled guitar 2 1/2 minutes in. A calm 4 1/2 minutes in and a new melody comes out of it. This section is more reserved and has a Canterbury flavour, but the keys, drums and bass shine. Great passage. Guitar and mellotron 7 minutes in. Incredible ! The guitar is fantastic. Mellotron returns 9 minutes in. It ends as it began with piano.

"A Story Of Mysterious Forest" is mostly Symphonic and features lots of synths and organ early. GENESIS-like 2 minutes in. It kicks into gear 4 minutes in. A calm after 5 1/2 minutes as Gilmour-like guitar (not soaring) comes in. It kicks back in around 7 1/2 minutes as the guitar continues to lead the way. Amazing section. Mellotron takes over as the guitar stops. Nice.The guitar returns before 10 minutes and lights it up as the mellotron flows. A calm after 11 minutes. Organ 13 minutes floats in. It's still calm. Suddenly it kicks back in after 14 minutes. It settles with harpsichord 15 1/2 minutes in, then the organ joins in too. A total change before 17 minutes as a CAMEL flavoured melody arrives. "Interlude II" is the same as the first one with acoustic guitar melodies.

When ZAO played live in Japan on their reunion tour in 2004, it was AIN SOPH who opened for them. I would have given my left arm to see that show.

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