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Review:
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Just when you think that maybe progressive rock has
run its course and perhaps died out in Japan, you discover
another group of brave souls willing to ply those waters.
So it is that I was contacted by the bandTEE to tell me
about their new CD release entitled The Earth Explorer.
If this is any example symphonic progressive rock is far
from dead in Japan! This is a stunning new instrumental
release that follows on the heels of bands such as Kenso
and Outer Limits. Formed in 2005 as a prog-cover band they
originally went by the name The Earth Explorer before simply
shortening the name to TEE in the Fall of 2008. The five
members of TEE are Kenji Imai (flute, voice), Ryuji Yonekura
(keyboards, voice), Takayuki Asada (drums, voice), Yukio
Iigahama (bass, voice) and Katsumi Yoneda (guitars, voice).
Sharp eyes will note keyboardist Yonekura who formerly played
with Interpose+.
When they first formed TEE’s objective was to perform
covers of European prog bands, especially those from Italy.
So it’s not surprising that stylistically there is a strong
classical Italian prog feel to their music. The Earth Explorer
consists of six tracks all of which are in the seven to
eight-minute range. Right off the top it can be stated that
if you love symphonic prog with an emphasis on delicate
flute playing you’re going to love TEE. The flute is everywhere,
sometimes soft and pastoral and other times fast and jazzy.
And when the flute slides to the background the guitar comes
to the fore, sometimes acoustic but mostly electric displaying
a strong Steve Howe and Steve Hackett influence. Keyboards
are ever-present providing piano interludes or walls of
lush strings. All of this is laid over-top of a solid bass
and drum rhythm section. There is a nice mellow jazz-fusion
feel that runs through many of these tracks, which is not
to say the music itself is soft or mellow. On the whole
the compositions are quite up-tempo and the flute gives
the music that wonderful ethereal “flighty” quality. At
their most aggressive TEE lean more to dramatic and complex
arrangements to provide the edge, and I really like that.
This is the second release for TEE, the first being
an independently released live CD recorded in 2007. Having
been invited to perform at Japan’s biggest prog gathering,
the Poseidon Festival the band is gaining great exposure
and winning over many new converts. If you are a fan of
the Classic Italian style mixed with a jazz-fusion similar
to Kenso then TEE is a band that you will really enjoy.
The Earth Explorer is a great start to what I hope will
be a long progressive rock musical career.
www.jerrylucky.com
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