Kenso - Ken-Son-Gu-Su
	Released: 2000 Label: Pathograph Cat. No.: PA3003 Total Time: 74:06
	Reviewed by: Eric Porter, August 2005 Fusion, like progressive rock has seen better days in terms of popularity. Kenso carries on the tradition, blending rock, jazz and symphonic progressive to give it their own unique twist. Guitarist Yoshihisa Shimizu provides plenty of variation, touching on jazzy runs, Hackett like swells ("Beginnings"), and straight rock riffing ("Festivity").  Shimizu shows a melodic side to his playing, a perfect example being the track "Hyoto" with his bluesy lead work often reminding me of Andy Latimer during the guitar/keyboard introduction to Camel's classic "Ice." Ken-Son-Gu-Su was recorded Live in 2000, celebrating Kenso's 25th anniversary.  14 tracks in all, the songs are mostly uptempo, adventurous, and not exclusively a platform for their formidable chops. I find myself enjoying the music as a whole, rather than focusing on how fast the last keyboard run was played. Kenso's dynamic keyboard duo (Oguchi & Mitsuda) provide plenty of color, and soloing, often in unison with Shimizu. Kenso sounds like a band that is at its best in a live setting (apparently confirmed by reports from NEARfest 2005), even though the songs require precision and little room for improvisation, there is a lot of energy and power.  Now on their 30th anniversary, let's hope they throw another party and record it for our sake! More about Ken-Son-Gu-Su: Track Listing: The Sea (6:39) Anesthesia Part 2 (5:32) Hyoto (4:20) Sora ni hikaru (6:23) Beginnings 6:48) Arrivederci (7:00) Festivity (2:03) GIPS (3:47) Negai Kanaeru Kodomo (5:05) Les phases de la lune II (3:01) The ancient in my brain (6:12) Zaiya karano kikan (4:44) Bifuka (1:12) Good Days Bad Days (11:13) Musicians: Yoshihisa Shimizu - Guitar Kenichi Oguchi - Keyboards Kenichi Mitsuda - Keyboards Shunji Saegusa - bass Masayuki Muraishi - drums Contact: Website: www1.u-netsurf.ne.jp/~kenso/index.html Note: will open new browser window Discography Kenso (1980) Kenso II (1982) Kenso III (1983) In Concert (1986) Self Portrait (1987) Sparta (1989) Yume No Oka (1991) Live 92 (1993) Early Live Volume 1 (1994) Early Live Volume 2 (1995) Zaiya Live (1996) In The West (1999) Esoptron (1999) 76/77 (2000) Ken Son Gu Su: 25th Anniversary (2000) Fabulis Mirabilibus De Bombycosi Scriptis (2002) Chilling Heat (2005) Ha-Re-Ki (2003) (DVD) Ayr (2004) (DVD)
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