Based on recommendations found on this very site, I went ahead and checked these guys out on Youtube. Holy cow!!! Unbelievably great. So where should I start? I think PA has Mirabilibus De Bombycosi Scriptis rated the highest but you know how that goes!!!
Any thoughts?
The Prog Corner
Kenso II.
No doubt. I've got a two-digit number of Kenso records, but this one is their ultimate masterwork - IMHO.
"Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
"[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM
^ Agree with Richard. Kenso II.
+1 on II
If you're actually reading this then chances are you already have my last album but if NOT and you're curious:
https://battema.bandcamp.com/
Also, Ephemeral Sun: it's a thing and we like making things that might be your thing: https://ephemeralsun.bandcamp.com
Also agree that Kenso II is a great place to start -- but eventually you will need them all.
I actually prefer Kenso III to II. There's no "III" on the cover. It looks like this:
But yes, you'll want all of them.
Yume No Oka is their best imho. But that's just me; I think they didn't really hit their stride until Sparta, though previous albums have some good tunes. Utsuroi Yuku Mono (damn these Japanese words; I probably spelled it wrong), the follow up to "Yume" is rather good too. My first Kenso album was In The West; it's live and it's a decent overview of their material through "Yume." Then again, they have LOTS of live albums and I haven't heard most of them.
^Yume No Oka is also one of my favorites. It's probably the best one from their first decade.
Possibly my favorite track from Yume No Oka:
Okay. looks like I'm buying II, III and Yume No Oka then.
I'll let you fine people know what I think after I spend some time with Kenso. I'm excited to explore their discography. Last time I did this (with Thinking Plague) the PE community definitely led me in the right direction. Thanks for your input!!!
The Prog Corner
Great song. Damn, where have these guys been my whole life. I guess I've been living under a symph-weenie rock!!! (I'll never stop loving my Yes/Neal Morse/Flower Kings/Transatlantic/Genesis/Spock's Beard but this is really scratching an itch I did not know I had!!!)Originally Posted by No Pride
The Prog Corner
Ha! Mine also!
That 9/8 bassline groove in the middle kills me every time I her it.
They performed it flawlessly at NEARfest 2005.
no tunes, no dynamics, no nosebone
It's funny, because I was in the middle of listening to Bruford's "One of a Kind" for the first time today, but stopped to listen to this track having never heard Kenso before. Honestly, there wasn't a huge difference!
ProgEars and other prog posters & prints: http://www.michaelphipps.net
.*AWAKEN*. gentleMASS -touch-
No its not
Less PFM more fusion.
How many times a-day do you listen to that one...?
"Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
"[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM
Yeah! I wanted to suggest Yume No Oka too, but thought it might be overkill. Honestly, that one is my favorite but I think Kenso II is a great starting point.
Those three albums will have you set for a little while.
So I'm also a late-comer to Kenso, but last time I checked pretty much their entire catalog is OOP. Who sells it these days?
I'm holding out for the Wilson-mixed 5.1 super-duper walletbuster special anniversary extra adjectives edition.
I'm late to the party, but I think you did very well getting these. I think Kenso II is still my favorite, but I have all their studio stuff except the first one (which I had, but didn't like much). Yume No Oka is also very strong, and III is quite good. So you'll have much to explore, and hopefully enjoy, here.
Bill
Great song -- I was actually listening to this today at work.
As for favorite tracks from Yume No Oka, it would have to be either Mediterranean And Aryan, or The Fourth Reich. I honestly can't pick between those two, they're both so awesome.
Not many, but some never give up - do they?
http://www.waysidemusic.com/search.aspx?keyword=kenso
And no matter what anyone should tell you about Esoptron; its "significant departure" is highly distorted, as this gets to contain some of their most memorable tunes overall - albeit with a somewhat looser, more "live" feel. But when they cook on this, it gets HOT!
"Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
"[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM
Greg Walker has them too: http://synphonic.8m.com/country/japan.htm
Esoptron is OK, some good stuff, but it doesn't do it for me like some of the other Kenso material. But if you wind up with all of the otehrs and like them, Esoptron is definitely worth getting and you'll likely enjoy it.
Bill
Esoptron is fantastic. Here's "GIPS."
How many times a-day do you listen to that one...?
Uhh-- good one.
ProgEars and other prog posters & prints: http://www.michaelphipps.net
.*AWAKEN*. gentleMASS -touch-
If you're starting with three great albums, I would suggest you try to get the Complete Box. Oké, that's a lot of money, but when you start buying them seperately you'll end up spending more. Man, I wish I was a starter with Kenso, I wouldn't hesitate, but I already have most of their CD's and DVD's.
Good luck and enjoy!
Sound advice, really. It's a lot of money up front, but cheaper in the long run considering how much the albums cost individually.
This is the route I went, and I have not regretted it at all.
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