Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Sometimes coming across a group or project that you don’t know about can be cathartic for the soul, for it reminds you of why you fell desperately in love with the chosen genre in the first place. With enough nods to the intricate genius of Mike Oldfield, the eclectic progressive Jazz of groups such as Brand X, the majesty of Pink Floyd and a whole host of Progressive rock bands entwined with an art house feel, Phoenix Rising, an album of colossal combination by Rovo and System 7, is an album that will blow any pre-conceptions the listener may have when it comes to the world of Japanese Progressive Rock.
With Steve Hillage on guitar and programming, Miquette Giraudy on synthesiser, the amazing Yuji Katsui on electric violin, Seiichi Yamamoto on drums, Yoichi Okabe on drums and percussion, Jin Harada on bass and Masuko Tatsuki on keyboards, there is so much talent flowing through the tantric and trance inducing and heart thumping album to keep anyone happy for many a night in with the sound up high and lights down low.
Some albums are just made to take you places you never could have imagined yourself going, Pink Floyd took their fans into the world of mental issues and the idea of a wall of sound, Rovo and System 7 open up the doors to the land of the Rising Sun in a way that is almost tangible, easily sought after and undeniably excellent. Whether the techno infused Love For The Phoenix, the fearless Unbroken or Cisco (Phoenix Rising), a track so cool that it makes Steve McQueen look as if he was corn farmer down on his luck, each song grapples with chance of making the unlikely seem out of this world.
Phoenix Rising may just kick start a love of the Progressive from the world where east meets west, it might be a while before it catches on in America and beyond but the British are certainly past masters when it comes to embracing a form of music that they gave to the world. Phenomenally superb, mouth wateringly desirable and with that quintessential essence that makes it, not just a great listen but an album you can never tire off.
Phoenix Rising is released by G-Wave Records on Monday 23rd September.
Ian D. Hall