GOD SAYS I CAN'T DANCE

To understand the meaning behind the title of this album they tell us a little story in the liner notes that ends with "God, who's fed up with imitation and sampling, takes off his headphones and shouts, I CAN'T DANCE WITH THIS!". I was very pleasantly surprised with this album. I was expecting music that went a million miles an hour and stopped on a dime only to blast off again. Not so at all. This is mostly mid-paced complex music with a mixture of melody and dissonance but more of the former. Horns and drums lead the way with a definite Zappa flavour although there is a Canterbury and Free Jazz vibe as well. Most of all these 6 Japanese men play at a very high and intelligent level.

The first track "Friends" might be the most interesting of the bunch. It's just so cool to listen to the way the different instruments work together yet seem to stagger each other. It works though.Horns, organ, bass and drums lead the way early before vibes come in. Drums take over 7 1/2 minutes in. "Control Tower Says, TP-1, Break Down" is eerie to open then horns and drums start to come and go. Intricate drum patterns with horns follow as the haunting mood ends. Vibes before 3 minutes. Some raw guitar 5 1/2 minutes in. Great sound 7 1/2 minutes in as guitar continues. The tempo picks up late. "White-Collar Worker VS Black Rubber Man" is experimental to start before drums and keyboards join in. Nice deep bass lines 2 1/2 minutes in. A change 5 minutes in as horns take over. Keys and drums join in. Organ before 7 minutes. Some dissonance 9 minutes in with some great drum work to follow.

"And Then Last Ship Is Going" sounds really good early with the bass, drums and guitar. A change before a minute as vibes and horns come in. Soprano sax 3 minutes in and organ after 4 minutes. Guitar before 5 1/2 minutes sounds fantastic. Drums, horns and vibes dominate late. "Japanese Room (We Have No Zen)" is deep and dissonant to open. It turns melodic and smooth 4 1/2 minutes in as horns come in. Love the guitar 5 1/2 minutes in that goes on and on. Great track. "Laughing Photograph" opens with soprano sax, drums and vibes. The bass 1 1/2 minutes in is really good. Impressive drumming 3 1/2 minutes in. The tempo picks up late. "Forest Tipographical II" is laid back early but picks up before 2 minutes. Lots of horns. It kicks into a higher gear before 6 minutes with blasting horns and powerful organ runs. This is fuller and more aggressive.

Easily 4 stars.