$8.99

BARAKA is a Japanese band, made of a guitar player, a bass player and a drummer, the classic line-up of the good ol' power-trio. Since 1997, the band has released six albums and made a lot of live performances, including an explosive set at the French ProgSud festival in the year 2006, making a huge impression. The group's initial influences included LED ZEPPELIN and KING CRIMSON, without mentioning Frank ZAPPA and Jimi HENDRIX, but its music is a sort of frantic fusion, with heavy guitar parts. Simply named "VII" (2007), this new Musea Parallčle release plays a Progressive jazz-rock fusion, more melodic than before, with constant mood and rhythm changes. Let's also note an aventurous suite, "Bharmad", clocking at 20 minutes. Brilliant, innovative and inspired ! The Japanese trio has received an enthusiast public acclaim during its consecutive European tour... And now offers its eighth album in eleven years. What an inspiration ! "Shade Of Evolution" (2008) begins with a thirty minutes instrumental suite, full of contrasts and fierce guitar parts. This "Five Rings" often recalls RUSH from the Seventies. All along the album, diverse musical countries are visited, from jazz-rock fusion to Progressive rock, including some more peaceful sequences, as convincing and entertaining as the others. Having played hundreds of shows has given the band a deep cohesiveness, and the result is plain to hear ! The ninth album, "Inner Resonance" (2010), features the same number of instrumental tracks, still performed with elegance and efficiency. A recipe constantly bettered for an increasing auditive pleasure: what else to ask for ?