Prog Cup 2019 Round 2 Match 3

[never/ever]

A

Osamu Kitajima - Taiyo





B

Gilgamesh - Notwithstanding

[toomanyhatz]

B sounds more fusion-y than prog to me, and is woefully short, but meanders and seems to mostly exist to show off the players' chops.

A is probably a sort of fusion too with the Asian influence, but holds more of interest for me.

[Loki]

[trans-chigley express]

I really enjoyed the zen-like Asian flavor of A but the vocals area a bit of an acquired taste. B's jazz fusion stylings didn't really work for me.

A

[Purgatory Brite]

There's is golden rule in prog, be innovative but don't be boring! A was far too boring.

Gilgamesh are a Canterbury scene band who veered towards jazz rock fusion. Not a particularly outstanding track, but far preferable to A.

B

[Jumper K]

I'm mortally afraid of Jazz Fusion. I think it will dissolve my soul.
A.

[C]

Gilgamesh - the Canterbury scene - Alan Gowen played with The Hatfields and formed National Health. All great bands

Not forgetting Soft Heap (HUGH Hopper, ELTON Dean, ALAN Gowen and PIP Pyle H-E-A-P - get it?) - I love that album.

Anyway, I digress - a delicious track selection from an album I know well - full of music and ooofness in abundance

Track A took a time to get going but didn't get going very much. the vocals did not appeal - somewhat portentous.

So

-+B+-





.

[algroth]

I have the Gilgamesh album. It's quite good though amidst my least favorite of the Canterbury acts I've picked over the years. I also feel either of the two suites would have been better-served as picks over this one, which meanders in a very cold-blooded heady jazz-rock kind of way. More Japanese prog with A! I love this, the textures, the very kabuki stylings to the music and the *singing*, god! It won't be everyone's bag but I've always found this sort of singing really expressive and evocative. All this added to a very kraut feel to the drive and backdrop, it makes for a very unique and fascinating piece for me. A

[fange]

A! Good album.

[Hightea]

A- Majestic track enjoy the whole song. Lots of different instrumentation thru out with nice vocals and harmonies.

B- Heart this album and song. Great Canterbury rock fusion. Alan Gowen keys and Phil Lee's tone. Both on so few albums.

B

[Lord Rother]

Prog doesn’t have to be tuneless you know.

Not a lot for me here - apart from Yuka and Chronoship Japanese prog can pretty much do one, and Fusion isn’t my bag, whichever part of the world it comes from.

B

[Spock!]

Enjoyed both.


The Gilgamesh was excellent. Hit many more of my buttons. B

[never/ever]

I know Kitajima only from The Source which was a bit of a breakout album for him. Never followed up on it which, listening to A is a bit of a shame that I need to correct.
But B is beautiful to my ears tonight.


B

[joels344]

Osamu Kitajima's Benzaiten has been on my music "wishlist" for quite sometime now. I guess this is the perfect reminder to end the procrastination and check out that whole album, because it sounds right up my alley after hearing "Taiyo." A has earned my vote.

[Neige]

Both hardly exciting, but I'll go for the Canterbury noodlers

B

[never/ever]

algroth 7

Hightea 7