LA MOSAÏQUE DE LA RÊVERIE

Fairly typical-and yet, exemplary-take on the Japanese mega-symphonic sound of the 1980's. Front and center of the band is singing keyboardist Hiroko Nagai, who in tried and true Japanese style fills every corner with lush symphonic layers of synthesizer. She's better known, however, for her powerful yet often delicate singing voice. She's certainly superb!

The fullness of sound is quite astounding. Oft-compared to Renaissance, and that's somewhat true over the softer passages. But they alternate between harder, more fire-tipped sections of the sort you would never find on a Renaissance album. Guitarist Ikkou Nakajima certainly comes into his own here, adding an aggressive and authoritative stance to the music. They're never as hard-edged as, say, Providence, but neither are they as mellow and airy as Mugen. Nowhere near as derivative, either. They have absorbed their influences well.