Keep - 1981 - DG-581

Keep

1981 

DG-581

01. Owl Flight 7:13

02. Pan Neo 7:53

03. Never Ending Sad 6:57

04. Dance Of Paranoia Opus 3 4:10

05. Sonatine 14:57

Miki Sekikawa - vocals (#3),

Alex Easley - chorus (#3),

Yasuaki Shimizu - tenor sax (#4),

Jun Fukamachi - piano, synthesizer,

Akira Wada - electric guitar,

Yasuo Tomikura - electric bass,

Hideo Yamaki - drums.

Recorded in Tokyo January-February 1981

Early-80's Japanese band, fronted by two important figures of the Fusion scene of the country, keyboard wizard 深町純 [Jun Fukamachi] and skillful guitarist 和田アキラ [Akira Wada], founding member of the Jazz/Fusion act Prism.Bass duties were delivered by Yasuo Tomikura, while behind the drum kit was sitting 山木秀夫 [Hideo Yamaki].They recorded their debut album ''DG 581'' for the Jazz-oriented label Trio, a work released in 1981.

Entering the 80's you should expect from any Jazz Rock-oriented band a bit of a slick sound compared to the 70's and Keep are no exception.Obviously influenced by acts such as WEATHER REPORT, RETURN TO FOREVER with a bit of BILL BRUFORD thrown in, they offered an energetic Jazz/Fusion with excellent chaging climates, impressive alternations between dense solos and structured, more progressive themes, while the technical level of the band remains constantly high, even if the production's quality is rather thin.The album contains five, mostly long tracks with fiery guitar work, dominant piano lines and interesting keyboards, only one of them, ''Never Ending Sad'' contains vocals delivered by female singer Miki Sekikawa, propably the most commercial cut of the album with a very mediocre chorus, but even so this one contains evident symphonic and Neo-Classical inspirations in some of the piano and guitar instrumental passages.The rest of the album is solid Prog/Jazz/Fusion with series of bombastic breaks, highlighted by the very good, 15-min. instrumental journey of ''Sonatine'', where the jazzy side of FOCUS meet the grandiose textures of Classical-influenced piano lines and the rich, convincing face of Classic Japanese Fusion, as melody meets virtuosity.Lots of nice variations, both fast and more down-to-earth tempos and clever changes between piano and synth explorations result a very solid and at moments masterful piece.

Not very consistent, but definitely among the goodies of early-80's regarding Japanese music.Well-crafted and dynamic Prog/Fusion, a decent acquirement for all fans of the style.Recommended.

At one point 20 years ago, I possessed both the Keep albums on LP, and thought the second was far better and edgier. And sold this one. Now I have this one rated higher after a revisit. And while I do agree still that the second album is more rock influenced, I appreciate the songwriting on DG-581 more. The slick sounds can be initially off putting, but to genre fans it's part of the package. But there's a lot of depth to these compositions, and the melodies can put a smile on your face. The usual suspects like Weather Report and Return to Forever can be called out as influences, along with a host of indigenous bands doing the same (not the least, related band Prism).