HAPPENINGS FOUR + 1 - Long Trip +6 - EU Eclipse Expanded Edition - LISTEN - VERY RARE

Yet another sensational title from the rich collection of Japanese progressive rock of the early 70s - unfortunately almost completely unknown outside Japan! Released in 1971 by Capitol, the fourth, last in the career and without doubt the best album by the soft-progressive band with the organist Kunio Kawachi in the line-up. The LP contained a mature, richly arranged and genuinely gripping mixture of psychedelia and early progressive rock, with Kawachi's organ (known, among other things, from the superb LP "Kirikyogen" recorded in 1970 with the future musicians of Flower Travellin' Band) and the guitar of Kimio Mizutani (who from a session musician turned into the "+1" in the band's name) in the leading roles. This gloomy album, devoted to the themes of transience and death, but very elegant and full of class (sung in Japanese), brings to mind the work of early Procol Harum combined with The Zombies (from the "Odessey And Oracle" period). I confess that a few years ago there was a moment when, after buying the vinyl, I listened to this title for 2-3 weeks, and the longer I listened, the less I could tear myself away from it! The 10-minute "Death" (rather poor-sounding...) is in my opinion an absolute masterpiece of psych-progressive rock, though there are really no weak moments on the record. Excellent sound quality! In addition, six rare live recordings from January 1970, in a more soul-and-blues style. A must! (JL)