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Tatsuya Yoshida
A Million Years

Magaibutsu (MGC-12)
Japan 1997

Tatsuya Yoshida, vocals, percussion, guitar, bass, keyboards

Tracklist:
1.  Horizons — 5:52
2.  Bambling — 3:05
3.  Vreschigo — 5:12
4.  Hewzermondi — 3:00
5.  Tregastel — 3:17
6.  Drevoredo — 3:53
7.  Sempremorr — 6:10
8.  Acqua — 3:39
9.  Eborimisolda — 6:47
10.  Muchos Anos — 11:40
11.  Ploumanach — 3:55

total time 56:30

Links:
see all tatsuya yoshida reviews at ground & sky

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Yoshida's second solo release, from his Magaibutsu Ltd. label. Similar to his first, it sounds like it was recorded on 4-track. For anyone familiar with Ruins in even a passing way, this CD will seem atleast partially familiar. I suppose Yoshida can be said to be one of the most consistent musicians performing today.

The good thing about his solo albums is that he really does branch out into other forms of, well, spaz-zeuhl. "Bambling" is all hooting saxes set to a repetitive rhythm; "Horizons" is upbeat avant-pop; "Vreshigo" sounds like an outtake from Refusal Fossil (itself an album of outtakes!); "Sempremorr" is outright neo-prog, and Yoshida actually sings like a normal person; "Eborimisolda" features spot-on Jannik Top-ish bass work. It's apparent that Yoshida hasn't lost his penchant for song titles.

The first track, "Horizons", establishes the one-man rhythm machinist sound of Yoshida's work. Actually, this album showcases just how versatile he is, covering guitar, bass, keyboards, and of course drums. This tune is an upbeat, relatively accessible piece, with a classic heavy prog middle section. Fun stuff, and a good example of how Yoshida takes classic prog influences and turns them into something completely original. "Muchos Anos" (the title track?) drags a bit at 11-minutes. It features a lamented vocal over melancholy piano chords, but with some noodling drum work in the background. An epic of sorts, if only I could understand what he was saying.

This is generally a fun release, discarding some of the punk madness of Ruins releases, but lacking a little of the intensity as well.

review by Dominique Leone — undated —

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