YUUKAI KENCHIKU

Smooth Japanese Fusion ensemble, set up in Kyoto in 2009.Original crew were Nami Adachi on flute, Hidehito Tamba on guitar, Shintaro Kanda on bass, Kei Akita on drums and Takenobu Takahashi on keyboards.They made their debut in April 2010 with an eponymous, downloadable 3-track EP.

All three tracks are about 7 minutes long and the opening ''Otolith'' gives a good idea of the band's genuine musical approach.It's kind of CAMEL-esque mellow Prog Rock with Adachi's flute in evidence, combined with contemporary Post Rock rhythms with the Avant-Garde piano lines and the guitar distortions leading the way and offering a loose, slightly improvised atmosphere.''The porcupine dilemma'' follows an extremely similar vein with background, light piano themes and a rhythmic drum/bass duo accompanying the main hero, who is Nami Adachi and his neverending flute drives.Flute-based Post Rock could be a nice descrption at this point, although this track contains also some discreet synth parts at moments.''White in the dark'' is definitely the most melancholic and symphonic piece of all, featuring a balanced sound between organ and electric piano with Adachi delivering some depressive flute work in the process before the rawer minutes towards the outro, which is more jazzy and with JETHRO TULL being a reference point regarding the more powerful flute parts.

Interesting first work by the Japanese.More interesting though is the fact that this one should appeal to both fans of Post Rock and CAMEL/JETHRO TULL.Recommended.