CINDERELLA SEARCH

This Japanese band has remained surprisingly unknown and almost unreviewed here. It is said that they're among the most English sounding Japanese acts, and by and large I agree, although if you're familiar with Japanese Neo Prog, you probably might guess the country, for the rare sonic combination. The band name was taken from the single B side song of Marillion, but but don't expect to hear much similarities with that legendary Neo band. Also the way the frontman Akihisa Nakamura wore theatrical costumes may lead to false assumptions, since his very delicate, nearly feminine voice is far from either Peter Gabriel or Fish. In fact, it makes me think of Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac, or the most tender vocals in The Alan Parsons Project ballads.

Classically trained violinist Junko Minobe brings an essential ingredient to the melodic sound dominated by bright keyboards. Mellotron sounds are also used to a small degree. The compositional style could perhaps be compared to latter-day Camel, or Yes at their softest. Most of this eponymous debut album is rather mellow and romantic. Often the vocals are in a relatively central role, giving the music an accessible pop sensitivity. Only a couple of songs out of nine contain tighter prog elements. An interesting thing is that the elegant closing track 'Remember You' found its way to the debut album of the Italian prog band Höstsonaten. If you enjoy melodic, romantic and mellow crossover prog and the sound of violin, this may be a highly positive obscure discovery.

Eight years later Cinderella Search released their second album Stories of Luminous Garden (2001) which is more energetic Neo Prog but without the sensitive charm of the debut. After a longer silence they released The Suite "Next World" (2014), now sadly missing the violin and resulting as pretty unoriginal Neo Prog. I -- and the only other reviewer apps79 -- warmly recommend this debut.