BI KYO RAN LIVE III: RAN

Guitarplayer Kunio Suma sounds like the Japanese twin-brother of Robert Fripp, incredible how mighty close he plays in the vein of Mr. King Crimson, he even uses the unsurpassed Mellotron! But the rest of the trio neither hide their admiration for King Crimson so you can analyse that Bi Kyo Ran is the Japanese equivalent of bands like Anekdoten and Shylock but way less original. I have listened to many Bi Kyo Ran albums, this is one of their best and most captivating, it contains four tracks. Kyo Part 1, Keikoku and Kumikyoku Ran deliver the Fripperian guitarwork, often biting and furious and supported by a dynamic, very propulsive rhtyhm-section. The mellow parts feature soaring string and violin-Melltron and acoustic 12-string guitar. The final song Nijuujinkaku sounds a bit freaky with fiery runs by Sunio. If you are up to obvious King Crimson inspired prog, this album could be an exciting discovery.