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Review:
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In the early Nineties I discovered the Japanese progrock
when I listened to bands like Gerard, Ars Nova, Pageant,
Novela and Cosmos Factory. I was delighted about many Japanese
keyboard players with their jaw-dropping skills and super-bombastic
sound, especially Toshio Egawa who played in many bands
(like Novela, Gerard and Starless). In the late Nineties
I was lucky to attended a Gerard gig during a Dutch progrock
festival and blown away by Toshio his ‘over-the top’ keyboard
wizardy. But listening to Tadashi Goto (keyboards and drum
programming) on his second album Innervisions (after Soundscape
in 2005), I have to admit that my Japanese keyboard hero
Toshio Egawa sounds pretty subdued in comparison with Tadashi
Goto his keyboardwork, way more ‘over-the-top’ and ‘super-bombastic’,
what an overwhelming sound! Tadashi Goto was born in 1976
and grew up listening to classical music as a child. He
began his musical career playing the organ at the age 5
and by the time he was 10 years old he had begun composing.
His recognition for his creative talent grew when he joined
the Yamaha Original Concert in Japan. While he was performing
with the JOC, he met Yoshihiko Ujihara, professional guitarist
and lead guitarist of former member of X-Japan. He taught
Goto synthesizers oriented composition and progressive rock.
Later, Goto was to meet Donny Schwekendiek, professional
jazz pianist from Atlanta who taught him jazz rock. Goto
traveled to Newcaslte, NSW, Australia and lived there for
2000 - 2001 and in 2005 he released his first solo album
Soundscape, in 2008 followed by this stunning second effort
entitled Innervisions.
The 12 compositions mainly deliver heavy and bombastic
atmospheres featuring thunderous drumming, strong bass lines
(a wide range of guest bass players, including Tony Levin),
blistering guitarwork and dazzling synthesizer runs with
a variety of spectacular sounds, incredible! Some songs
sound dreamy or more electronic/ambient oriened with a modern
keyboard sound and the use of samples, for instance the
final track The Spirits Within: a mellow blend of piano,
voices and keyboards, halfway a sensitive guitar joines,
very beautiful. But in general it’s a breathtaking keyboard
driven progressive mix of several styles, very powerful,
bombastic and dynamic, I am impressed!
www.progwalhalla.com
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