{"id":6944,"date":"2022-11-14T23:41:35","date_gmt":"2022-11-14T23:41:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=6944"},"modified":"2022-12-18T11:37:04","modified_gmt":"2022-12-18T11:37:04","slug":"music-casiopea-1979","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=6944","title":{"rendered":"MUSiC: Casiopea, 1979"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"316\" height=\"316\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5551.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7391\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5551.jpg 316w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5551-300x300.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5551-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5551-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 316px) 100vw, 316px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"160\" height=\"26\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/stars_11_six-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6781\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I can\u2019t believe I haven\u2019t already posted this album!? Or have I!?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"525\" height=\"296\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oMiw0f-qVPk?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-GB&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Utterly sublime! Pure unalloyed musical joy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The YouTube video above was my introduction to Casiopea. And it was love at first sight\/sound. Sadly only two or three tracks from this splendid performance are to be found online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like Led Zeppelin\u2019s fabulous debut of a decade earlier, it\u2019s the group\u2019s brilliant drummer who kicks things off on 1979\u2019s eponymous debut. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bassist and co-founder Tetsuo Sakurai is clearly indebted to Antony Jackson and Headhunters era Hancock for the main spinal groove of opening number Time Limit. Horns are courtesy of Yankee-doodle fusionistas Dave Sanborn and the Brecker Bros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After the taught and energised slap around the chops that is Time Limit, things shift down a few gears for the silky smooth boudoir vibes of Tears Of The Star. Founder member and guitarist Issei Noro plays a beautiful acoustic guitar solo, after which bassist Tetsua Sakurai shows his tastefully restrained chops, deploying a wonderful classical guitar style (fingered tremolo?) on his bass. And then the song builds to a climactic keys segment, before returning to the opening mellow vibe, to shimmer out with a smattering of sexy sax. Fantastic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Track three Space Road starts with a more upbeat version of the groove that Tears finished with, before launching into a very energised slightly Latin-esque groove, over which the chords progress in a manner that suggest a constant rising of pitch and energy. These guys really are incredibly tight and sympathetic. Midway through Noro goes into his solo, starting with a kind of crying seagull sound that reminds me of another Jap-Fusion guitar monster, (what\u2019s his name? The <em>Rainbow Goblins <\/em>dude\u2026 is it Masayoshi Takanaka?). For the keys solo, Sasaki goes to his cowbell. More cowbell!!! The energy is off the charts, but it\u2019s all so controlled, and clean. Really incredible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I think on this debut disc all compositions are by guitarist, Issei Noro. They really capture or represent a certain very bright very positive era of fusion. And on that note, we get to Midnight Rendezvous. Definitely a Desert Island Discs choice pour moi! I\u2019m going to have to teach myself the drum parts to this sublime recording. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The groove is a masterfully balanced combo\u2019 of simplicity and subtly challengingly nuanced feel. One of those rare and beautiful moments where everything is in perfect balance. You wouldn\u2019t want to add or take anything way. It\u2019s perfect! Noro\u2019s guitar solo exemplifies this: structured, and yet excitingly on the edge, as if perfectly poised between composed and improvised. No wonder they play it more or less note for note live. Why mess with perfection?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sasaki gets a kind of outro solo, in which he really just grooves, rather than out and out soloing. And again, it\u2019s perfect for the song. His chops are, frankly, staggering. Once again attaining that perfect sweet spot between composition and improvisation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"598\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5557.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7393\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5557.jpg 600w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5557-300x300.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5557-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5557-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Sooo<\/em> \u201880s, in the best of all possible ways. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>What was side two kicks off &#8211; or on CD continues &#8211; with the majestic Far Away. Strings are added to the mix here, as indeed they are on numerous tracks. The strings are credited to \u2018Tomato Strings\u2019! Whoever that was, they\u2019re once again pitch perfect. Noro\u2019s signature riff on Far Away is the perfect bedrock for the band to groove and solo on. And like the entire album, it\u2019s suffused with a joyfulness characteristic of the fusion these guys make. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Swallow sees the tempo raised again, Sasaki\u2019s drumming simultaneously ballistic and yet tightly focussed, restrained even. Astonishing! And like every instrument on these recordings, his kit &#8211; drums and cymbals &#8211; sounds utterly perfect. I\u2019d love to know <em>exactly<\/em> what cymbals he plays. They have a sound I want to be able to emulate\/recreate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They reach a pitch of ballistic bombast in this track, just before Sasaki\u2019s brief but powerful drum solo, that captures the intensity of their live performances. What an incredible band! Awesome is a much overused and abused term these days. But it\u2019s just right for these dudes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The penultimate track is the only number to feature vocals. And, like everything else here, they\u2019re absolutely terrific! Kind of makes you wonder why they didn\u2019t have more vocals in their music? But really they are an instrumental jazz fusion outfit. So their instruments do the singing, by and large. But it\u2019s interesting to note that they<em> could <\/em>sing, and beautifully. Noro even goes a bit Benson, delivering a tasty scat\u2019n\u2019axe solo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"525\" height=\"296\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ePpM_klbzXc?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-GB&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The album finishes, all too briefly, clocking in at under 40 minutes, on another atomic fusion bomb, Black Joke, the other track from the 1979 live performance viewable &#8211; see video above (warning: humongous bass solo alert!) &#8211; on YouTube. Phew!!! What a magical excursion to a land of musical waves, mountains and exquisite cherry blossoms!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5558.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7392\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5558.jpg 600w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5558-300x300.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5558-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5558-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">What a band! Minoru, Sasaki, Tetsuo and Noro.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Although I\u2019m primarily a drummer, and totally dig the brilliance of Takashi Sasaki\u2019s jaw-dropping performances throughout this album, props have to to every single person playing on this utterly magnificent album. And Black Joke signs off just as they started, all cylinders firing in beautiful concert. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Minoru Mukaiya\u2019s keys are note perfect, the selection of sounds, from mellifluous Rhodes to funky synths capturing a period vibe that to me is pure heaven. Tetsuo\u2019s bass playing is muscular and lithe, light or heavy, and &#8211; like everything else here &#8211; pitched to sublime perfection. Band founder\/leader and chief composer Issei Noro is on blinding form. Whether he\u2019s shredding, or laying down the greasiest fonkiest riffs, he\u2019s always bang on the money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And Takashi Sasaki? Well, as I\u2019ve already said numerous times above\u2026 words fail me. Drumming attains musical perfection sometimes. And this is a case in point. There are a few albums &#8211; LeRoy Hutson\u2019s mid \u201870s stuff &#8211; or tracks (Herbie\u2019s Actual Proof, Jackie Wilson\u2019s Higher and Higher, Toto\u2019s Georgy Porgy) &#8211; and this, which attain a peak of perfection I can only be dazzled by and forlornly dream of aspiring to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5554.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7394\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5554.jpg 600w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5554-300x300.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5554-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5554-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you dig the first Casiopea album, as I do, you\u2019ll want their second, <em>Super Flight <\/em>(pictured above) as well. It\u2019s the last to feature the sublime drumming talents of Takashi Sasaki. Or would that actually be <em>Mint Jams<\/em>? The latter sees the arrival of the very talented Akira Jimbo. But it may also feature Sasaki on some tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7396\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5560.jpg 600w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5560-300x300.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5560-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5560-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This disc sees the arrival of new drummer, Akira Jimbo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Footnotes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Fans of the line up that recorded Casiopea\u2019s first two albums, with the astonishingly crisp, precise and lightly deft drumming of Takashi Sasaki, might enjoy <a href=\"http:\/\/Tatsuya Koguma spiral fusion youtube\">this recording<\/a>, by keys player Tatsuya Kohima, which features the Casiopea lads as session backing band.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5559.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7390\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5559.jpg 600w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5559-300x300.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5559-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/img_5559-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I can\u2019t believe I haven\u2019t already posted this album!? Or have I!? The YouTube video above was my introduction to Casiopea. And it was love at first sight\/sound. Sadly only two or three tracks from this splendid performance are to be found online. Like Led Zeppelin\u2019s fabulous debut of a decade earlier, it\u2019s the group\u2019s &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=6944\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;MUSiC: Casiopea, 1979&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[138,89,70,134,137,130,133,77,68,114,10,104],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paGwUa-1O0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6944"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6944"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6944\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7545,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6944\/revisions\/7545"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6944"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6944"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6944"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}