Bellaphon - Firefly

Year of Release: 1996
Label: Musea Records
Catalog Number: FGBG 4194.AR
Format: CD
Total Time: 54:17:00

Japan-based band Bellaphon was formed in 1981, but had to wait until 1987 before it saw the release of their first album. The wonderful, instrumental album Firefly is regarded as being one of the highlights of Japanese progressive rock even in their own country!

One can best compare their work with the rich instrumental passages of early Camel (the track "Evros" would have been ideal company on Mirage). They can rely on the help of Masahiro Torigaki, bass player with Ain Soph (who once released an album called Ride On A Camel!). It's that particular co-operation that put the band in the top section of Japanese prog rock from day one. On Firefly it's mainly Mitsutaka Kaki's keyboards that get all the attention whilst the guitar changes accompanying roles with prominent solos.

With the original album having been released as long ago as 1987, Musea opted to re-release this fine album including a bonus track in the form of "Labyrinth". It concerns the very first release of the band, which was issued as a flexidisc on the Monolith label. Once again it's a song based around the versatile skills of keyboard player Mitsutaka Kaki evolving towards a jazzy tendency once he starts playing the electric piano. Firefly is considered as a magnum opus of the Japanese golden age, an album with great instrumental music coming close to the best early Camel.

Tracklisting:
Jade (5:26) / Le Petit Prince (2:18) / Mistral (5:30) / Belle Du Jour (1:03) / Vent Du Midi (9:58) / Evros (9:12) / Firefly (12:55) / Bonus track: Labyrinth (7:15)

Musicians:
Mitsutaka Kaki - keyboards
Taiqui Tomiie - drums
Toshihiro Tanaka - guitars
Masahiro Torigaki - bass

Discography:
Firefly (1987/1996)
Delphi (1995)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin JP

Added: May 15th 2001
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

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Language: english