'Scope', a Japanese progressive rock group, has released this album after 7 years interval. This time 'Scope' clearly presented criticism against the evils caused by nationalism or capitalism, and their
imagination field spread to the scenes which would be seen by people with most tragic experience.
Melodies here are sweet and sorrowful, which let us remember feeling of our old days. Sometimes frantic guitar sound flows into our ears like uncontrolled emotion and its metallic glitter reminds us of
'post-King Crimson'.
Most pieces have their messages to our society--the opening tune starts with the Japanese national anthem which has a controversial title of 'our emperor's era'. Violence and lyricism are important themes here, and the two successfully show vivid contrast. With tense atmosphere retained, it comes to the end with out-of-tuned music of merry-go-round.
(In this album, each member's interpretation of music pieces is closely related to how they think about their society and themselves.
Along with this effort for deeper understanding of their themes, the group tried to record the most thrilling moments of their performance.So modification by re-recording or digital mixing was carefully avoided.)
In the coming year (2004), 'Scope's live tour is scheduled in Tokyo and Osaka in Japan, and audience will find something more.
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