TERU'S SYMPHONIA

When you have a secure contract and manage to set up a stable line-up, life becomes easier.And Teru's Symphonia became part of this rule.Three years between the debut and ''Egg the universe'', but just one between the second and third album , ''Human race party''.1989 was the year of release and Crime was again the supporting label.

This one belongs among the most uneven efforts by the Japanese veterans, containing both weak and masterful moments.For example, the title track is one of the best pieces ever recorded by the band, bombastic, pompous Symphonic Rock with beautiful Classical variations/interludes in the style of THE ENID and strong keyboard pyrotechnics of the E.L.P. school, while Megumi's voice is absolutely efficient.The relaxed ''The clock'' is too long for its own good, sounding like a hypnotic GERARD with orchestral synths/sampled strings and melodic guitars, but dynamics is an issue here.With ''Midnight dreamer'' both the energy of the band and Megumi's nice voice are back for a track with definite symphonic colors and a style close to the more familiar GERARD stylings, even the guitars are harder and some jazzy bits are thrown in, pretty fine cut despite some AOR leanings.''In the back of Welfare'' sounds actually more like a poem , the sensitive CAMEL-esque guitar melodies with the atmospheric keyboards will save the day, but again this one is pretty long to be appreciated.''After the party'' is one the most Neo Prog-gy tracks of the album with theatrical leanings and some cheesy, almost childish vocals in the process, the music is mostly good, swirling around fairytale passages and grandiose Symphonic Rock with pronounced synth parts.On the other hand ''Twinkle children'' sounds the most dramatic piece in here with a melancholic vocal performance and depressive/atmospheric piano themes towards a very pompous second part with full-blown orchestral atmospheres and cinematic melodies, great piece.

Had the band followed the style of the opening and closing tracks, we would be talking about a Japanese Prog masterpiece.At the form it was released, ''Human race party'' remains a pretty nice effort along the attempts on Symphonic Rock during the 80's.Anyway, ''Twinkle children'' and the eponymous opener are fantastic enough to make you track this down.Recommended.

The second offering by Teru's Symphonia was delayed for over three years and the reason propably was the complete lifting on the line-up with only Terutsugu Hirayama remaining from the first album.He recruited Magdalena's female vocalist Tokuhisa Megumi, Pale Acute Moon's leader Motoi Semba on keys, drummer Hide Furui and bassist Yasushi Inoue.Hirayama of course remained the main composer of the group, as also taped on ''Egg the Universe'', released in 1988 on King Records.

The important line-up changes did not have an impact on Teru's Symphonia's style.This is basically a Symphonic Rock album with some ethereal melodies on guitars and synthesizers, accompanied by the decent vocals of Megumi and lots of Classical references on the orchestral passages akin to MUGEN.The album though lacks some of the haunting moments of the debut and reasonably contains the always present cheesiness of 80's Japanese bands with this plastic-sounding parts aka the floppy bass lines and fake-like sampled orchestrations, but these are quite limited compared to the unique grandiosity of guitars and synths.The arrangements remain at a very good level, sometimes lowered by the average quality of the 80's productions, and the tracks are long and interesting with bombastic symphonic textures, sharp and inventive keyboard flashes, measured but powerful guitar moves and cinematic interludes with a beautiful atmosphere.Additionally the moves from highly grandiose parts to dreamy soundscapes are executed in a very nice way, thus overcoming all the aforementioned disadvantages.

This is one of the rare occasions of an 80's band that still rooted its sound on traditional Symphonic Rock and the result is quite impressive.The recording's flaws might bother the listener of more traditional prog sounds, but again the attempt rewards at least some fair listenings.Recommended.

Teru's Symphonia was and is one of my fav symphonic prog bands from Japan with their highlight , at least for me, Fable on the seven pillow from 1991. Clockworked earth is their fifth album from 1993 issued by Musea and is another good symphonic album in a good japanese tradition. Maybe not as great as previous one Fable or next Do androids but this is a fairly good album all the way. Some very nice and well composed pieces are for me Pandora's Progeny, Animal life and Quite life , each one with rich symphonic arrangements, lush and intristing keybords and good sound. Even the titles of the pieces are in english , Megumi Tokuhisa sungs in japananese, not a bad thing at all, it gives a certain unusual and in same time intrsting atmosphere. The musicians are capable to deliver good passages with plenty of great moments, I like what I've heared, is symphonic prog not really of the highest calibre but intresting and pleasent most of the time. 3towards 3.5 for sure, another worthy album of this discret band that I think is little unnoticed when talking about japanes symphonic prog school.

Gosh.

This album kicks in all direction. From metal riffs from the guitarists to neo-prog riffs by the keyboard player to ambient film-music and new-age parts. Inbetween, there are some bombastic symphonic rock parts well over the top. The shrieking vocals too is a bit if a torture. This is the Japanese way of prog rock vocals so I should really not complain. I would call it unusual and an aquired taste. When the vocals are mediative, they are great though. The vocalist is quite good actually.......

..... The music is not. I find it over the top in all directions. Too bombastic and without much substance. The melodies and the ideas is simply not good enough. There are a few good parts here, but they are far between. The music is also pretty close to pomp pop several places with overblown sound. The result is a confusing and pretty tiring album. And that is what I feel after ten listenings to this album. Tired. Sorry !

2 stars

Indeed I feel this symphonia should be very beautiful, but sadly...

In the beginning of Metancholic Garden, repetitive keyboard sounds with grace and dream let me feel as if I be in the outer space. And the synth strings are heavy but gentle and floating. Good for me, exactly. Voices and chorus are not so good but not always mismatched with the symphonic sounds so I don't care. Sorry but the lyrics are of childish love songs...I feel. Ah, let me say all their beautiful symphonia should get a bit thinner and flatter. On Drawer Of Night, Megu's beautiful and lyrical voice is so good that I can enjoy the track well, in spite of the pop and catchy flavour. It's slightly hard for me to evaluate the song...I suggest it can be released as a CD single. You...should disappoint me by the bubblegum lyrics and sounds... Megu says 'You...please keep in your memory only that nothing can make me another girl...' and asks me 'Kore De Manzoku? (Are you pleased with me?)'...NO! And to be continued...Tears For A Harmit, Mildah both are indeed beautiful and have melancholic keyboard and guitar sounds with heavy synthesizer and comfortable voices. It's a pity that I feel they should not be progressive but Japanese pop. However, Egg The Universe, the masterpiece, comes here and breaks my worries about this album! Yes, these dazzling, solemn, and fantastic orchestrated sounds with brilliant keyboard and synthesizer moonshine can bring me into another teru's-druggie world. The last track completely can hold my heart. Can I foresee their marvelous works later with the terrific symphonia-universe?

This is my first TERU'S SYMPHONIA and it's absolutely natural I can have an expectation of their star shining.

Japan is famous for taking the best of every country and adapting it to their reality, their Prog scenario is not an exception to this tradition, most Japanese bands blend Symphonic, Neo Prog, Italian Symphonic and also a good amount of AOR to create their unique sound.

This is probably one of the main difficulties of their music, it's hard to be accepted by people who expect a more determined sound, but if you add an unfriendly language for most western listeners, it's an acquired taste not for everybody.........I'm part of the people who enjoy Japanese bands but overall TERU'S SYMPHONIA.

Their self titled album is one of their strongest releases, it's surprising how they are able to play in the hazy limit that divides Symphonic from Neo Prog without falling in the excessive pomp or the extreme simplicity of some bands, their sound is clearly unique and unusually strong for a debut.

"On the 13th Friday" is a song that defines their style, Shoiki Aoki and Chiezo on the keyboards blend the virtuosity of Symphonic pioneers with the characteristic sound of the 80's. The vocals, despite the difficulty I expressed before are very strong when the female singer Megumi Tokuhisa takes the lead, but a bit cheesy and affected when the good guitar player Terutsugu Hirayama sings, an excellent track that combines mystery with brilliance. "Love Songs" has a guitar sound that reminds me of Jan Akkerman, but as soon as Megumi starts to sing, the band takes a turn towards some sort of Folkish mediaeval style, still with a reminiscence of FOCUS.

"In the Town of Loneliness" marks a new change in the band, the soft piano guides the band towards a jazzy sound that is enhanced with the accurate drumming and the interplay between bass and keyboards, a nice variation.

"A Travel to Dream Agency" presents us a return to the style of the first track, while the lush and elaborate keyboards reminds of the 70's Symphonic, the vocals and guitar are clearly oriented towards Neo Prog, the spacey guitar and keyboard instrumental break is absolutely delightful, but the poppy end is a bit disappointing.

The central theme and only epic is the 10:22 minutes long "Symphonia", which as a fact sounds oriented towards Space Rock or Electronic Prog, at least apparently for the choice of keyboards and the electronic sound, but if you listen carefully beyond the sound of the instruments, the structure is clearly Symphonic and reminiscent of CAMEL even when much less soporiferous than the British band. Around the sixth minute a combination of Baroque sounds with synthesized winds give that pompous touch that old Progheads as me love so much.

The music keeps going "in crescendo· with an interesting tune and a style that reminds a bit of the historic conceptual albums by Rick Wakeman all leading to the climatic section that announces the ending (a bit reminiscent of VANGELIS) which simply fades gently. More than ten minutes of Progressive Rock and dramatic changes of styles and even sub- genres.

I don't know if "Innocence" is the best closer for a strong album that combines a frenetic structure with musical virtuosity, mainly because if the softer track in the record and to be honest I don't like the male vocals by Terutsugu Hirayama too much, but despite this facts, the melody reminiscent of "A Trick of the Tail" with an extremely beautiful melody and to end a vibrant section with a lot of strength.

Around the middle of the song, TERU'S SYMPHONIA starts again in the search of their pompous side with a very nice and accurate drumming by Junichi Sato, good speed changes and a bit of Neo Classical sound. To be Honest I enjoy the track very much, the only thing I question is the location, I would had switched places with "Symphonia" to allow the listener end the album with the honey of the most elaborate track on his lips.

Rating this album is a complex task, being that the musicality is outstanding, but it's so hard to understand because of the language, that doesn't allow the western listener to capture the complete essence, so I don't consider it an "Essential masterpiece of Progressive Rock", but instead an "Excellent addition to any Prog Rock collection", and for that reason the exact rating according to my opinion, consists of 4 solid stars.

A very nice release by this Japanese band, some of you could say 'much too Neo to me', but for me, this records is far more symphonic than Neo Prog besides the sounds too 80's of the keyboards.

A nice piece of music by Teru's Symphonia. And for judging their other albuns Fable On The Seven Pillows from 1991 (I've just listened this two till now) it's a great band. It's a shame people know so well bands like IQ, Arena, Pendragon, Pallas and Marillion and didn't even notice about this guys (judging by the little reviews and notes here in progArchives).

Give Japan a chance, most of you will not regret it!!

Second Teru's Symphonia album i own with Fable of the seven pillow from 1991. Well this album is more elaborate and complex, musicaly speaking than the album from 1991. Here are 2 outstanding tracks and the best from this album: Do Androids and Destination and why not among the best symphonic prog pieces from entire japanese school of prog. Here Teru's Symphonia is more confident on their musical abilities, and because of that they deliver i think the best or among the best albums in their catalogue. The combination of symph prog with some arabian sounds give to this album a unique feeling, nevertheless sometimes is a little boring like the strange pice From sofly night - Till blessing Morning ( i never understand this piece no matter how much i try), the rest are good with a plus on that 2 pieces mentioned above. So all in all a good album, worth listen at least for me, and desearve 3 stars.

Teru's Symphonia is a band from Japan who plays symphonic prog with some elements from neo. To me is a good band and this album is a good one, i'm not bother by the voice of Megumi Tokuhisa who i find sometimes very strange but very good. All in all this is a 3 star album for me with some great pieces like The princess is gone, Goblin hunt and A moonlight Icaros. I think this band is among the best from Japan in the last 15 years along with Ars Nova, Gerard, etc. The music is sometimes very romantic but keep the symphonic elements all the album. So if you want to descover new bands from Japan, search for Teru's Symphonia might give some good example what symphonic prog is these days. 3 stars

Well this one is beter thanTthe Gate ,the other one i,ve listened.

This one has better melodies,the arabian touch to the symphonic prog make a very good combination.

Here the symph.prog sounds are very clear and pure and nevertheless is not very original and isn,t so good as the masters of this style of prog music,this is really symp.prog rock.Their next album showed a temptation to the poppy prog,and i think that was a step behind.

Vocals sounds better than ther next album and the instrumental interpretations are very good mainly the keyboards.

Four stars