ExhiVision - ExhiVision (2004)

Artista: ExhiVision

Álbum: ExhiVision
Año: 2004
Género: Jazz Rock Fusion
Duración: 55:01
Nacionalidad: Japón

Lista de Temas:
1. Scent Of Nova
2. Double Down
3. Ice Bound
4. Other Side
5. Night View
6. 百家争鳴 - Hyakka Sōmei
7. Windyne
8. Faerie Take

Alineación:
- Akira Wada / guitar
- Toshimi Nagai / bass
- Kozy Hasegawa / drums
- Hiroyuki Namba / keyboards

Y siguiendo nuestro derrotero por los frutos japoneses del rock progresivo, vamos con el disco homónimo de los ExhiVision, notables desde todo punto de vista, poco conocidos pero valorados por los conocedores de la buena música. Si hay algo que llama la atención en la primera impresión es la apabullante base que esta banda excibe, una aplanadora de bajo-batería que no deja nada en pie. Ojo que creo que si hay algo que sobresale de los grupos japoneses es la tremenda base que tienen, y eso no significa que no tengo excelentes guitarristas y tecladistas como han podido ver en nuestro recorrido por los discos del país nipón, pero bueno, lo que pasa es que los encargados de la base de este país se van al carajo.

ExhiVision is a Japanese prog-rock band which plays instrumental jazz-rock/fusion domineted by electric guitar, but also featuring lots of good keyboards (Hammond organ, pianos, synthesizers) delivered by Hiroyuki Namba (look my previous post to find out who he is :-).

Otro aporte de Alberto el Mago Bondadoso. Y viene a completar el disco presentado por Lino y pedido por el público cabezón que se la pasa pidiendo cosas y hace correr para todos lados a la gente del staff cabezón mientras yo trato de organizar un poquito este quilombo que es este espacio.
Bueno, sobre el disco, es una maravilla de progresivo basado en jazz-rock, otro disco que si sus oídos aguantan tanta música, les recomiendo que se lleven y disfruten como se debe.

In a nutshell, ExhiVision are a typical Japanese slick, chops-heavy fusion that sounds like it was created in a laboratory. The worst part is it, for me anyway, is the constant fretless bass thumping, which produces that warm mid 1980s sound. I keep expecting Kenny G to pop out of nowhere, and start cranking out that nasty soprano sax. No soprano sax (thank God) and fortunately Akira Wada does a nice job with the guitar, and adds some metallic tones to give the overall sound some life. And it’s not a tuneless parade either. So it does have many positive merits, depending on if I can deal with the heavy handed digitalitis it suffers from.

ashratom

Four players from other groups, united to deliver their own spin on the time-tested electric jazz~rock formula. In essence, a supergroup? Well, quite possibly. Bowing in at the keyboards is Sense Of Wonder leader and J-Rock mainstay, Hiroyuki Namba; on guitar is Prism's Akira Wada; drumming is hotshot sessioner Kohji Hasegawa; and assuming fretless bass duty is one Toshimi Nagai, formerly of Vienna and pre-trio Gerard. Not exactly household names to those ignorant of Japan's robust progressive scene, but each muso is quite the stylist — which will be made abundantly clear to all who tune in to Exhivision's debut.
Comparisons to Kenso were a bit hurried, but not exactly valid. Rather, think of Side Steps: those cats have the chops, but their compositions fall to the generic side a little too often — now eliminate that pitfall and add Namba's superior tonal palette. The rhythm section of Nagai and Hasegawa matches the shooting-star histrionics of Namba and Wada note-for-piercing-note. Expectedly, shades of Return To Forever resonate, though many listeners may find they prefer this to the East's answer to RTF, Roundhouse. "Scent Of Nova" immediately establishes who the old/new kids in town are with tasteful if forceful chord progressions, nimble-fingered soloing and exquisite phrasing. Namba's and Wada's alternately whirly and wiry solos on "Ice Bound" will chill the spine, but the lethal crunch-chords and biting organ volleys of "Other Side" will warm the soul. "Double Down" suggests the Texas Hold 'Em craze has seized Tokyo, but concern will be fleeting as the synergy between the quarters builds to a dizzying intensity. Wayne Shorter once remarked that "composition is just improvisation slowed way down," but whether the juncture between both formats is exceptionally relevant here is arguable — the eight compositions are wound tightly enough, but never to the point rigidity masquerades as frailty. ExhiVision is an outstanding album of new fusion. Recommended.

Elias Granillo

Surprise, surpise! Here's another 2004 release that slipped itself away from my grasp until two months into 2005, and after hearing this about a dozen times there's no doubt this was one of the best fusion releases of last year. The spirit of both Chick Corea's Return to Forever and The Elektric Band, as well as bands like UK, Bruford, and Kenso, are alive and well and seething in the veins of the members of ExhiVision. There are chops aplenty within the grooves of the CD's eight tracks, but the band never sacrifices melody for the sake of showing off. Listen to Akira Wada's velvety smooth Holdsworth inspired guitar solos snake around the Melltron and Hammond patches from Hiroyuki Namba's keyboard, as the huge wall of sound they are creating is perfectly supplemented by the rhythmic charge of bassist Toshimi Negai and drummer Kohji Hasegawa. Simply wonderful stuff. Elsewhere, you will find deep grooves and melodies that are instantly catchy, crunchy guitar riffs that will almost have you banging your head, nimble keyboard flights, and brilliant atmospheric passages by the whole ensemble.
This CD burns and soothes, impresses and delights, and gets my vote for must have fusion release from 2004. Japan continues to provide some of the hottest sounds in progressive music, and ExhiVision is leading the charge. Bravo!

Pete Pardo

Una banda muy poco conocida que te permitimos que disfrutes como se debe, pero que no por poco conocida sea de menor calidad que otras. Otro paseo por la escuelita de rock donde seguimos visitando al país del sol naciente y sus exquisitos grupos.
Y a todo esto... una pregunta al margen... ¿sus oídos aguantan tanta buena música como la que les ofrecemos en este blog? No queremos ser responsables por la muerte de nadie...