Oct 13, 2006 4:41:11 GMT -5

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	Gulliver	Right now I'm Offline I have made 350 posts I joined May 2004		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

I think we talked about this band before, but I didn't find any thread about it... Anyway, I hope at least some of you know this fabulous Japanese (clearly HTM influenced!) band.
Right now I am listening to their great CD, " Fabulis Mirabilibus de Bombycosi Scriptis". The 8th track sounds like it was fallen from Happy The Man's mouth! ;D Get it. Just forgive them the very first track, it's quite different (Led Zeppelinish :-/

), but the rest is top-notch symphonic fusion at its best. 8-)

Oct 13, 2006 7:52:08 GMT -5

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	bubinga	Right now I'm Offline I have made 123 posts I joined June 2005		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

Awesome band. I've heard a few of their releases. I have "Music for Unknown Five Musicians" double CD. These guys are very tight.

Oct 13, 2006 14:10:40 GMT -5

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	steamingears	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,442 posts I joined February 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

I had the honour to do an interview with the guitarist of Kenso and he said he had never heard of HTM before, until people were calling them the Japanese HTM. They just released a new album, called UTSUROI YUKU MONO. Greg Walker from SynPhonic should have it in his store.

There are a couple of threads on this band here. I guess using the search-mode must give you some hits.

Great band, I've got almost every album plus their two beautiful dvd's.

Edited Aug 22, 2012 12:37:16 GMT -5 by steamingears

Nov 3, 2006 13:57:23 GMT -5

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	steamingears	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,442 posts I joined February 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

While searching for some info on the new album, I saw somewhere that the show from Kenso on NEARfest 2005 has been released on DVD. It's called Live In The USA, but I haven't seen much info yet.

Jan 5, 2007 9:47:12 GMT -5

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	steamingears	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,442 posts I joined February 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

steamingears said:

While searching for some info on the new album, I saw somewhere that the show from Kenso on NEARfest 2005 has been released on DVD. It's called Live In The USA, but I haven't seen much info yet.

I got some info on this one from one of the musicians from the Gentle Giant-inspired band Advent:

Greetings,

It is with great pleasure that we announce the upcoming international
availability of KENSO's Live In USA DVD, featuring the band's
ground-breaking NEARfest (2005) performance in its entirety.
Additional details of this professionally recorded Japanese special edition release:

- approximate duration: 122 minutes
- video aspect ratio: 16:9
- audio: stereo
- video format: NTSC
- DVD region coding: 0 (all regions)
- custom thick-paper booklet that houses six high-quality photo cards
(all taken from the show), a specially manufactured cardboard DVD
sleeve, and titled plastic cover *
- bonus features included

* booklet (when folded) and all photo inserts measure 8.25 x 5.75"

Due to the nature of the custom packaging, limited pressing quantity,
and the relatively high cost of production (in Japan), the selling
price will be US $65 plus shipping/handling. (Note that the pricing is
intended to match the official Japanese selling price of 7,500 yen.)
The DVD can be shipped internationally, however the shipping/handling
costs will be a bit higher to destinations outside of the USA. (We're
still researching the cost of packaging and postage but will make
every effort to keep the shipping/handling in line with our actual
expenses.) Also, please note that we will not be able to sell the DVDs to any retail shops.

IMPORTANT: In order to facilitate the international availability of
this very special, limited-availability DVD, we are now accepting
advance reservations (on a first-come/first-served basis) from serious buyers who are willing to commit to making their purchase when the stock arrives from Japan. (Note that the reservation count may also affect the number of copies that are made available outside of Japan.) Once the DVDs arrive, notifications will be sent--and purchases will be transacted via the Advent website (using PayPal, which provides a wide array of payment options).

Please send all reservation requests directly to me at
alan@adventmusic.net and be sure to include "KENSO _LIU_ DVD
reservation request" in the subject field of your message. (You can
also use this email address if you have any additional questions.)

Thanks a lot, take care, and a very happy new year to all!

Alan

-------------
www.adventmusic.net/
www.mirthrandir.com/

So, it won't be a surround-mix and it's very expensive.

Jan 12, 2007 8:57:07 GMT -5

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	bp	Right now I'm Offline I have made 348 posts I joined September 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

I saw that performance. They were exceptional.

My Signature...

IIWII

Jan 12, 2007 14:00:41 GMT -5

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	steamingears	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,442 posts I joined February 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

bp said:

I saw that performance. They were exceptional.

I'm sure it was, Bill. Great liveband, as can be seen on the previous dvd's and the many many live albums (they made more live-CD's than studio-recordings!). But still, paying more than $60 for one DVD is even for the biggest fan a bit too much!

Feb 3, 2007 8:30:28 GMT -5

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	steamingears	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,442 posts I joined February 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

steamingears said:

But still, paying more than $60 for one DVD is even for the biggest fan a bit too much!

I've given myself a present for my birthday later this month... Guess what?

Feb 3, 2007 13:34:07 GMT -5

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	Gulliver	Right now I'm Offline I have made 350 posts I joined May 2004		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

steamingears said:

But still, paying more than $60 for one DVD is even for the biggest fan a bit too much!

I've given myself a present for my birthday later this month... Guess what?

Well, considering the remark you quoted in this post, I would guess that ... you restricted yourself with a Britney Spears fan club EP.

Feb 4, 2007 10:10:16 GMT -5

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	steamingears	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,442 posts I joined February 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

gulliver said:

... you restricted yourself with a Britney Spears fan club EP.

The only Spears I know/own is an album from Tribal Tech... so maybe I should broaden my collection with that EP. But unfortunatelly I can't afford that right now, since I forced myself to by that Kenso-dvd after all. Hopefully they have it in stock. So, Britney has to wait a bit more (maybe a lifetime in my case).

Feb 5, 2007 4:09:50 GMT -5

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	Gulliver	Right now I'm Offline I have made 350 posts I joined May 2004		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

Cool! Let us know about your impressions when you see it. 8-)

Feb 5, 2007 14:17:39 GMT -5

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	steamingears	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,442 posts I joined February 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

gulliver said:

Cool! Let us know about your impressions when you see it. 8-)

The DVD was still in stock and I got an email which said it was shipped last Saturday... I'll keep you informed.

Feb 7, 2007 7:37:45 GMT -5

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	steamingears	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,442 posts I joined February 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

steamingears said:

The DVD was still in stock and I got an email which said it was shipped last Saturday... I'll keep you informed.

Wow, Franks world record in shipping items from the USA to Holland (4 days) is being broken by the guys from Advent. I got the DVD in 3 days!! Just had a first look at it and it's very promissing. I think there're about 5 camera's in action and especially the camera's behing the keyboard-players show a lot of interesting stuff these guys were doing. I haven't got a digital tv (neither a wide-screen), but it's very enjoyable. The images aren't super clear, but more than good. The extra's are just fun, because there's no English translation of the conversations. And I don't think there's some footage from the Progfest 2000-show, like you could think when reading about the extra's. There's just a short telephone-camera shot from before and after the show. So to see parts of that show you'll have to buy the DVD released by Musea.
Coming back to the Nearfest-dvd; while watching this one it brought me back to my visit of the festival in 2000 when Happy The Man played in Bethlehem. Same exitement and joy. Man, I even imagine seeing that show on dvd while watching this one. It's a shame that a band like HTM has no filmed images of their show for sale, while we've seen there are some shots available. Hopefully Oblivion Sun does better.

Edited Oct 31, 2011 14:55:38 GMT -5 by steamingears

Feb 10, 2007 15:46:09 GMT -5

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	Gulliver	Right now I'm Offline I have made 350 posts I joined May 2004		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

Thanks for the info on the DVD, steamingears!
Speaking of Kenso... Today I finally received their 1991's year album "Yume No Oka" and am listening to it for the second time already - it's that good! Now I WANT their latest one (forgot its name..). Reportedly it's their best so far!

Edited Feb 10, 2007 15:46:59 GMT -5 by Gulliver

Feb 11, 2007 9:00:31 GMT -5

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	steamingears	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,442 posts I joined February 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

gulliver said:

Yume No Oka is indeed a great album; very refined, while still with a lot of virtuosity. Their latest efford, Utsuroi Yuku Mono (how could you forget such an easy title

), is also very good, but is less accessible, although still with typical Kenso-trademarks. To complete my own Kenso-collection I'm planning to order the Progfest 2000-DVD; I already have the double-disc, but love to see some more live-action from this band.

Feb 11, 2007 15:53:06 GMT -5

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	bp	Right now I'm Offline I have made 348 posts I joined September 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

steamingears said:

Hopefully Oblivion Sun does better.

Oblivion Sun will be much more available in both audio and video. We allow fan recording of audio at all shows that venues will permit. Video will be done on our own and we will release much on the web and eventually release a DVD once we have enough gigs to feel comfortable with the quality and performance.

My Signature...

IIWII

Sept 20, 2009 8:11:13 GMT -5

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	steamingears	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,442 posts I joined February 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

Kenso just released a remaster/remix from their 1989-album Sparta. Because the sound is so much different than the original, they called it Sparta Naked. There are a lot of tracks on this album that are in the set list of Kenso's show, like Good Days, Bad Days, Bifuka and The Shadow Over Inssmouth. I thought the original was a fine CD, but after hearing this reworking I'm blown away by its quality.

Sept 20, 2009 8:12:58 GMT -5

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	steamingears	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,442 posts I joined February 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

Feb 11, 2007 15:53:06 GMT -5 bp said:

steamingears said:

Hopefully Oblivion Sun does better.

I had forgotten this. Wonder what will come true though... after all these line up-switches.

Oct 31, 2011 14:50:30 GMT -5

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	steamingears	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,442 posts I joined February 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

Here's a quite remarkable cover from a Kenso-song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFQdKNi1A3g

Nov 8, 2011 10:47:08 GMT -5

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	befrost	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,610 posts I joined January 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

Oct 31, 2011 14:50:30 GMT -5 steamingears said:

Here's a quite remarkable cover from a Kenso-song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFQdKNi1A3g

Wow! That girl 'Miz' who performs this song is truly amazing. She could be a great candidate for Oblivion Sun if they want a solo Moogist

I really love that tune, what Kenso album?

Nov 8, 2011 14:49:02 GMT -5

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	steamingears	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,442 posts I joined February 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

Nov 8, 2011 10:47:08 GMT -5 befrost said:

Oct 31, 2011 14:50:30 GMT -5 steamingears said:

Here's a quite remarkable cover from a Kenso-song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFQdKNi1A3g

Wow! That girl 'Miz' who performs this song is truly amazing. She could be a great candidate for Oblivion Sun if they want a solo Moogist

I really love that tune, what Kenso album?

Ahh, you got me there. Instrumental music is always hard to pin down, especially for a band like Kenso that made so many albums. But I found it after checking out just two CD's. It's the opening track from Kenso II. Here's a live-version from Kenso: Sora Ni Hikaru. The track is one of the returning songs in the setlist from the band and is featured on many live-albums and DVD's. The clip is from Progfest 2000, which is also available on DVD and CD.

Edited Nov 10, 2011 14:46:09 GMT -5 by steamingears

Nov 9, 2011 15:55:25 GMT -5

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	befrost	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,610 posts I joined January 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

Nov 8, 2011 14:49:02 GMT -5 steamingears said:

Ahh, you got me there. Instrumental music is always hard to pin down, especially for a band like Kenso that made so many albums. But I found it after checking out just two CD's. It's the opening track from Kenso II. Here's a live-version from Kenso: Sora Ni Hikaru. The track is one of the returning songs in the setlist from the band and if featured on many live-albums and DVD's. The clip is from Progfest 2000, which is also available on DVD and CD.

Thanks, very good song, intense, reminds in many ways of HTM. Kenso ll.. have to check that out

Nov 10, 2011 14:54:00 GMT -5

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	steamingears	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,442 posts I joined February 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

Nov 9, 2011 15:55:25 GMT -5 befrost said:

Thanks, very good song, intense, reminds in many ways of HTM. Kenso ll.. have to check that out

SynPhonic has these albums from Kenso:

SAME (JAPANESE IMPORT) $25
II (JAPANESE MINI LP SLEEVE) $25
SPARTA NAKED (SPARTA REMIXED AND REMASTERED + 2 BONUS TRACKS) $35
MUSIC FOR UNKNOWN FIVE MUSICIANS (2 CD) (JAPANESE TACHIKA MINI LP SLEEVE) $25
SORA NI HIKARU (EARLY LIVE VOL. 1) (JAPANESE IMPORT) $18
INEI NO FUE (EARLY LIVE VOL. 2) (JAPANESE IMPORT) $18
ESOPTRON $17
FABULIS MIRABILIBUS BOMBYCOST SCRIPTIS (ITALIAN MINI LP SLEEVE) $20
CHILLING HEAT: LIVE IN TOKYO 2004 (JAPANESE IMPORT) $18
UTSUROI YUKU MONO (JAPANESE IMPORT) $25

Recently three albums have been reissued in Japan. One of them is the live-recording In Concert, which features a live-version of the song discussed.

Good luck.

Btw: as you might have read, the folks from Kenso never heard the music of HTM until people kept calling them "The Japanese Happy The Man".

Nov 29, 2011 17:06:26 GMT -5

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	befrost	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,610 posts I joined January 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

Nov 10, 2011 14:54:00 GMT -5 steamingears said:

Btw: as you might have read, the folks from Kenso never heard the music of HTM until people kept calling them "The Japanese Happy The Man".

Cant remember I have read that. Interesting story

Thanks for the album info btw.

Nov 30, 2011 7:23:11 GMT -5

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	steamingears	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,442 posts I joined February 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

Nov 29, 2011 17:06:26 GMT -5 befrost said:

Cant remember I have read that. Interesting story

I've posted a rough version of that interview in the Interview-section from the Happy The Man-section.

Edited Nov 30, 2011 7:25:26 GMT -5 by steamingears

Aug 22, 2012 12:45:50 GMT -5

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	steamingears	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,442 posts I joined February 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

Later this year a Kenso-compilation-box will be released with 11 CDs, a bonus-CD and a bonus-DVD: www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=KIZC-168
I wonder what those bonus-disks will contain. Not that I'm planning to order this box-set! Right now I already have 18 Kenso-albums and a couple of DVDs, so although these are probably SHM-CDs this is no must have for me.

Jul 27, 2014 12:28:22 GMT -5

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	steamingears	Right now I'm Offline I have made 1,442 posts I joined February 2003		I currently have no messenger contact information filled out.	I currently have no social network information filled out.

Kenso just released a new album, called "Uchinaru Koe Ni Kaiki Seyo". Yesterday I received my copy from CDJapan. It's partly a return to their more melodic stuff from the '80s and 90's, but there's also a lot of adventurous stuff on it too. The last track has even a Kate Bush/opera-esk singer, which works very well for me. They keep amazing me!!