BI KYO RAN

This debut album by Japanese band Bi Kyo Ran came out in a time when Prog was already on its downhill since a few years. And actually it sounds like been released mid 70's at the latest, so anything but progressive for the year 1982. Moreover they sound like a Japanese KING CRIMSON clone apart of the vocals. Most of the music could come right away from an album with Cross- Bruford-Fripp-Wetton line-up. Though they don't win any points by originality they still do by their excellent musicianship.

Double, Psycho (Part II) and Monologue have intricate guitar/bass play with odd riffing and breaks at times a bit towards the jazzy side just as we are used to by the original. The classically inspired Cynthia is offering a nice contrast to the other songs with very beautiful violin! The lengthy track Warning is initially very reminiscent of more quiet songs by early KC featuring nice Mellotron, although becoming more quirky and odd in its second part and having an interesting percussion section. I would say this one is the highlight of the album together with Cynthia.

CONCLUSION: Overall this album is a very interesting and nice listen for anyone who can't get enough of Fripp-ish guitar, but certainly not an essential one. The vocals might need getting used to by some European ears, but in fact they are still tolerable IMO. Anyway good for 3 stars!