Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Far East Family Band - The Cave Down To Earth (1975)


Regarded by many as the first Japanese progressive rock group, the Far East Family Band featured the keyboardist and future new age composer, Kitaro. A keyboard-dominated space rock band, the Far East Family Band played extended compositions that brought comparisons to Tangerine Dream and early Pink Floyd.

The group's first album was released under the band name of Far Out. After changing their name, the band released The Cave Down to Earth in 1975. Their first European release, Nipponjin -- Join Our Mental Phase Sound (1975), featured re-recorded versions of material from the previous record and the album attributed to Far Out. The group's next record, Parallel Worlds (1976), was profoundly influenced by Klaus Schulze who Kitaro met on a trip through Europe. With the first track over 30 minutes long, the album bears similarities to Krautrock legends Ash Ra Tempel. Tenkujin (1977) followed and was the band's first and only American release. By this point, the band consisted of Miyashta (vocals, synths, guitars, bamboo flute), Hirohito Fukushima (guitar, vocals, koto), and Yujin Harada (drums, percussion). It would be the band's last record. ~ Geoff Orens, All Music Guide

Personnel:
Akira Fukakusa - bass
Akira Ito - keyboards
Fumio Miyashita - guitar, keyboards
Hirohito Fukushima - vocals, guitar
Masanori Takahashi (Kitaro) - keyboards, percussion
Shizuo Takasaki – drums

1. Undiscovered nothern land
2. Birds flying to the cave
3. The God of water
4. Saying to the land
5. The God of wind
6. Moving, looking, trying, jumping
7. Wa, wa
8. Mystery of nothern Space
9. The Cave, down to the earth
10. Four minds
11. Transmigration

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the wonderful music !!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks from Spain.

el postino loco said...

Thanks for sharing...great album...greetings and peace

Anonymous said...

An interesting imitation of Pink Floyd, though somewhat monotonous. Thank you.

danilo said...

Thanks great post.

Anonymous said...

Great one, thanks!