DIRGE

After 1987's amazing and surprising debut, "Barren Dream," Kazuhiro Miyatake comes back for a 1990 follow up--and he brings back extraordinary mezzo soprano vocalist Hiroko Nagai and drummer Chihiro Fujioka with him. It is a solid and worthy followup if not quite as surprisingly fresh as the debut--which seemed to come out of nowhere with it's pristine sound, sophisticated compositions, and virtuosic performances.

As previous reviewers have remarked, the heavier, more intricate sections of the compositions sound much like country mates KENSO and AIN SOPH, while the more pastoral passages feel close to the stylings of ex-GENESIS soloists, ANT PHILLIPS and STEVE HACKETT, while the vocal passages feel forceful and dramatic enough to fit on the stages of Broadway or London's West End. The complexity of vocal symphonic passages are quite reminiscent of Keith EMERSON as well as jazz musicians like MANHATTAN TRANSFER and today's MOETAR.

1. "Fanfare - Legal Dance" (3:28) this instrumental starts out with a beautiful pastoral soundscape before exploding into a breakneck speed jazz-rock piece of multi-virtuosity. Only lacking melodic engagement. (8.75/10)

2. "Love Incomplete" (7:52) full on prog dynamism moving effortlessly between bombast and classical pastoralism with the lovely voice of Hiroko Nagai gracing the top (this time singing in Japanese). Great sound engineering and balancing with great instrumental interplay by all band members. (13.5/15)

3. "A Land Dirge" (3:14) classical guitar with flute. This I like. Very ANT PHILLIPS-like. (10/10)

4. "Super Joker" (5:44) high-powered and fast-paced jazz-rock fusion in the vein of BRUFORD, KENSO, or even JEAN-LUC PONTY. The vocals remind me more of the vocal stylings of INNER EAR BRIGADE or MOETAR leads Melody Ferris or Moorea Dickason, respectively. Great talent but I'm not always enamored of their MANHATTAN TRANSFER-like melodic sensibilities. (8.75/10)

5. "A Sea Dirge" (4.38) synth strings and solo flute give the opening of this one a kind of ERIK SATIE feel. Nice but nothing so special--nothign to write home about. (Those old synth strings sounds no longer stand up to the high quality sounds captured and delivered by 21st Century keyboards.) (8.5/10)

6. "The Nile for A While" (21:29) (36.5/40) .. a) Chase of infinity .. b) Home forgotten .. c) Dual sight .. d) Colony .. e) Bliss for a day .. f) Beyond the glory

7. "Requiem" (3:50) synth strings and orchestra with Lisa Ohki singing in English. Nicely mixed. Beautiful performance by Ms. Ohki. Love the addition of the church organ in the second half. (9.25/10)

Total Time: 50:15

A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece of progressive rock music. Though not as stunning or perfect as its predecessor, this is still deserving of five stars for its stellar performances and compositional acumen.