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Progressive Rock CD Reviews

Bellaphon

Firefly

Review by Gary Hill

This Japanese release from 1987 is a very entertaining instrumental progressive rock album. Many influences are represented here including Yes, Genesis and jazz. The music is quite dynamic. Moods and modes change smoothly and fluidly on this release.

The musicians on the recording are Mitsutaka Kaki, Taiqui Tomiie, Toshihiro Tanaka and Masahiro Torigaki. For ordering information, contact Musea at 68 La Tinchotte, 57117 Retonfey, France. You can also email them at museaorder@id.net.fr.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: The Early Years Volume 1 at garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-The-Early-Years.

Track by Track Review
Jade
This cut has jazz influences and strong prog leanings. It is a midtempo number that contains brief Yes influences and sections of strong Genesis textures.
Le Petit Prince
Le Petit Prince is a delicate, brief and pretty piece.
Mistral
An energetic number, this is firmly rooted in prog stylings. The piece includes both intricate, beautiful segments and crunchy, somewhat metallic ones. This is a track with many changes and varied musical modes, including a poignant piano solo with jazz overtones. Sections of the composition take on Dimeolaish airs as well.
Belle Du Jour
An evocative piano solo, this is a very brief, but strong cut.
Vent Du Midi
The intro here is classically tinged, but the piece evolves, moving into strong prog/fusion ground. There are Yesish and Genesisesque moments at times. Again, the composition covers a good deal of musical landscape. This is really quite a solid prog instrumental and even features Crimsonish moments. The ending segments have a strongly joyous feeling to them.
Firefly
A beautifully emotional intro begins this epic class piece. A couple minutes in, these textural sections give way to a fast-paced prog-rock romp. Some of the elements of the cut have echoes of such bands as Yes, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and Genesis, and all of the performers put in stellar showings here. This is a very strong cut. After a time, the piece seemingly stops, and a segment similar to a keyboard section of Yes` Close to the Edge (where the sedate organ strains start building right after the louder organ solo) takes over, bringing the intensity down quite a bit. Gradually, the piece begins building again from there, although, into a considerably slower tempoed outing. Emotion builds in this format to bring the piece to a very strong and satisfying conclusion.
Labyrinth (Bonus Track)
This is quite a high-energy prog piece that really reaches out and grabs the listener. After a time, the track drops back to a slow, jazzy piano-based segment that definitely grooves. This builds quite naturally into a prog jam packed with emotion before the high-intensity strains which began the piece conclude it.
  
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