01	Hatenaki Shoudou						06:24
	02	Catastrophe						09:31
	03	Antarctica						13:28
	04	The Desert Of Desires						07:38
	05	Another Episode						08:27
	06	Nessa No Kioku						09:41
	07	Divine Design						09:26

Submitted by PhC.

KBB [Japan]
Updated 9/21/03
Discography
Lost and Found (01)
Four Corner's Sky (03)


Reviews
KBB's Akihisa Tsuboy (violin & guitar, composer). Other current (2003) band members are Toshimitsu Takahashi (keyboards), Dani (bass) and Shirou Sugano (drums)

Just when you thought that Japan had given up on quality symphonic prog, up come KBB with their debut Lost and Found (Musea FGBG 4363.AR) and make a killing. Simply put, this quartet, led by violin/guitar player Akihisa Tsuboy, plays fusion-influenced, instrumental symphonic rock. Fusion-influenced in that the songs are essentially linear, high-energy bursts based on virtuoso solo lines, usually from Tsuboy's violin, supported and counterpointed by Gregory Suzuki's keyboards, which rely on intensity and build-up rather than development and stark contrasts for their impact. The largely triadic melodies, rhythms and synthy textures are still of more traditional symphonic progressive breed. Only on "Nessa no Kioku" the violin erupts out of synth drones and theremin screams into a searing, Arabic-scale solo in a manner that recalls the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Similar-sounding bands would have to be their countrymen Midas during their more intense moments, and U.K. from the gaijin crowd. A few quiet, often classical-style piano episodes pace the rampages, but generally the intensity remains high and playing extremely proficient. Production is top-notch, but lacks the sometimes overpolished digital sheen of many Japanese bands, and the melodic structures are powerful enough to withstand the slow build-ups and the soloing around them. Where so many modern symphonic and neo-progressive bands float huge sonic icebergs with no real propulsion or melodic anchor at the listener, KBB hit them with one of the most powerful and best-crafted compilation of songs in modern symphonic rock. -- Kai Karmanheimo


KBB: Lost and Found (CD, 64:37)


Musea, 2000
CYBERHOME: http://tsuboy.internet.ne.jp/kbb

So. you say you like wacky time signatures? Like lots of keyboard runs and
some serious musical virtuosity? Like CDs where all the songs clock in at
over six minutes? Well, that's good because there's a hot item from Musea
Records that should be on your "to buy" list courtesy of four incredibly
talented musicians from Japan known as KBB. The name of the album is
Lost and Found, and as far as fusion/prog bands go they don't get
much more tighter than this.

With the opener "Hatenaki Shoudou", these boys waste NO time in making sure
you're aware that you're in for a wild ride - the Gregory Suzuki's keyboard
leads and the great melodies of Akihisa Tsuboy's guitars are in full force
right from the word go. The rhythm duo of bassist Dani (donations to the
Last Name Foundation are being accepted) and drummer Shirou Sugano are a
more than formidable tag team that handle the shifting rhythm of the band's
frantic fusion without missing a beat. By kicking off the CD with such a
strong number, KBB establishes they definitely write and perform a classic
rock tune without even breaking a sweat. And then the fun begins.

About halfway through the opener, the sounds of the violin begin to creep
into the music and the song shifts gears into a style that is quite
reminiscent of The Mahavishnu Orchestra's classic track "Meeting of the
Spirits". The violin remains the focal instrument (along with Suzuki's
keyboard) for most of the remaining tracks on Lost and Found, and let
me tell you that's a good thing because Tsuboy can absolutely SHRED on the
violin! I've heard plenty of folks with "good chops" come and go in the
fusion/prog arena, but I've NEVER heard a fellow who plays the violin with
such speed AND melody - it is truly a joy to sit down and pay full attention
to Akihisa and his talent. And praising violin technique is in no way
suggesting that he's a slouch on the six-string - one listen to "The Desert
of Desires" will tell you that this guy knows his way around a guitar as
well. I tell you, it's just not fair the amount of talent some folks have!

Anyways, KBB's instrumental prowess is evident throughout Lost and
Found, and for the most part their compositional skills are also very
high as well. The track "Nessa no Kioku" is an excellent example of this,
as Suzuki and Tsuboy combine to create an incredibly disturbing melody while
the rhythm guys keep things grooving with some great bass and drum work. It
is with pieces like "Nessa no Kioku" and "Catastrophe" where KBB demands
(and warrants) your full attention. However, there are some bits on the
album where the music (especially some of the keyboard bits) become a bit
clichйd and predictable. The perfect example of this is the 13-minute plus
"Antarctica", a song that starts out with an almost Disney-friendly piano
lick and never really gets moving at full speed - not a good thing for a
track so long. Fortunately, these mundane moments are few and far between
on Lost and Found, and the incredibly musicianship displayed more
than makes up for the few shortcomings on the album.

In the end, the thing that impressed me the most was the fact that this is
the band's FIRST album! Trust me - when you hear Lost and Found it
sounds like these guys have been together for ages. KBB is definitely a
band that I will keep an interest in, and I would suggest that any lover of
good fusion do the same. If their follow-ups are half as good as the
original, they should enjoy a good amount of success in their careers.

More information on KBB can be found at http://tsuboy.internet.ne.jp/kbb.

- Michael Askounes (michael@gscyclone.com)

CREDITS:
Akihisa Tsuboy: Violins, Guitars
Gregory Suzuki: Keyboard, Theremin
Dani: Bass
Shirou Sugano: Drums

TRACKLIST:
1. Hatenaki Shoudou (6:25)
2. Catastrophe (9:32)
3. Antarctica (13:28)
4. The Desert of Desires (7:38)
5. Another Episode (8:28)
6. Nessa no Kioku (9:41)
7. Divine Design (9:26)




KBB - Lost And Found Country of Origin: Japan
Format: CD
Record Label: Musea Records
Catalogue #: FGBG 4363.AR
Year of Release: 2000
Time: 64:37
Info: KBB Website
Samples: Sound Samples

Tracklist: Hatenaki Shoudou (6:25), Catastrophe (9:32), Antarctica (13:28), The Desert Of Desires (7:38), Another Episode (8:28), Ness No Kioku (9:41), Divine Design (9:26)
Admittedly I am not too much of a great fan of Japanese progressive rock bands, mainly due to the fact that the ones that I have been exposed to tend to be a re-hash of neo-progressive eighties bands while the vocals do have a tendency to be slightly on the shrill side of the scale. Having said this, I was half expecting more of the same from this band's debut album, but I was very very wrong in assuming so. In plain simple language this album is one of the highlights of the year and I was blown away by the musicianship of this quartet.

KBB is composed of the following members, band leader Akihisa Tsuboy (violins, guitars), Gregory Suzuki (keyboards, theremin), Dani (bass) and Shirou Sugano (drums). As you might have noticed, the first instrument mentioned is the violin and as can be expected when a violin is included within a progressive rock group, the music tends to follow along the lines of classically influenced progressive rock much like groups such as Curved Air and UK did with violinists as Darryl Way and Eddie Jobson. Having said that there are various other styles infused onto this seven track CD as well as it by no means declared that the only solo instrument on the album is the violin as all members get there chance to show off their musical prowess.

With Hatenaki Shoudou, the group immediately take the listener into a musical territory which moulds the entire album. The melody is instantly accessible and pleasant though this does not detract from the musical complexity. Almost instantly Dani runs off into a bass run closely followed by keyboards and it is only halfway through that the violin enters the fray, but boy is it worth the wait. Dexterity and speed together with total clarity, something not too common on such an instrument when amplified.

Catastrophe has that convoluted feel to it as everything seems to be rushed and cranked together, as the name of the track insinuates. The brief piano interlude serves as a breather as well as to slow down events, though this is lost again towards the end as the pace once again picks up to relaunch the initial theme. The rhythm section on this track really get going and must be heard to believe.

Antarctica, the longest track on the album, is also possibly the weakest of the seven. Not that it is in anyway one to be discarded, but after hearing what the group are capable of when rushing headlong, then this acts as a form of a downer. On the other hand, it allows the group prove that pace is not an essential part of their repertoire though I must admit the lack of change in time signature (the track gets progressively slower and mellower) to a faster pace makes the thirteen plus minutes a little bit tedious. Saving grace comes in the central four minutes when the group show hints of picking up while the classical overtones really come through.

The Desert Of Desire opens with a delightful keyboard/organ introduction and this time round Tsuboy trades his four-string for a six-string and shows to all that his prowess on the guitar is as good as the violin. Musically this track, possibly due to lack of violin, leans towards the neo-progressive style of rock as well as this being the first track where the keyboards seem to have a prominent role within the structure and solos.

Another Episode retains that charm and flavour that the group have managed to exude throughout the album as they continue to belt out that classical symphonic rock together with doses of jazz-fusion reminiscent of Mahavishnu Orchestra. Nessa No Kiouku is one of those tracks that demands the listener's full attention, violin and keyboards duet but not without drums and bass creating an impressive rhythmic backdrop. Effects (both synthesized and utilizing the violin) are used to good measure as brief interludes between the ongoing adrenaline rush that these musicians create.

The album comes to an end with Divine Design which has Tsuboy utilizing both guitar and violin to create his solos. The pace is somewhat slower as are the solos which focus more on the single note rather than a flurry of notes, at least till mid-section. Suddenly it is as if the group realize that this is their last chance to "show-off" and all hell breaks loose with every instrument performing a solo, yet always in a composed and tight manner.

Hearing this album leaves one with the impression that this group have been around for a very long while and it is very hard to believe that this is only their debut! I find it hard to imagine what their next opus will be like, but I can't wait for that to happen. This is one of those essential instrumental albums.

Conclusion: 8.5 out of 10.

Nigel Camilleri