*The following is a translation using translation software. I hope you can understand.*
We started our activities as "Asturias" in 1987, and have created a new path for progressive rock in three different forms: "Acoustic Asturias", which started in 2003, and "Electric Asturias", which started in 2009. Asturias continues to pursue activities. The long-awaited 2nd album of Electric Asturias, a rock band that has received attention both domestically and internationally due to their participation in overseas festivals in recent years, will finally be released. In his previous album "Fractals," Electric Asturias presented a unique world of melodious and dramatic progressive rock with a sense of sadness. Aiming for the "emotion through music" that 70's prog rock had, Electric Asturias's music, which is both easy to understand and complex, and directly appeals to emotions, has received high praise both domestically and internationally. "Elementals" is a new work that maintains the world view of the previous work, but aims for greater heights on a larger scale. A total of 8 songs, including the suite "Elemental (Four Elements)", which is based on the theme of the four major elements on earth. The carefully crafted songs and finely honed performances transcend eras and genres, inviting you to the universal "world of rock instrumental music." In this era where the decline of music and the CD media is being called for, we purposely created this work with a total image that can only be expressed through CD works, with the aim of delivering pure emotion through music. I would be happy if you could fully immerse yourself in that worldview.
<Deadlock Triangle>
In 2013, it was decided that he would be participating in the "RoSfest" in the United States, and he created a song that would instantly attract and overwhelm the audience, who might not be familiar with it. When you think of Asturias, you probably think of it as "tranquil and beautiful", but this song is the most transcendent and hard song ever, and it marks a new frontier for Electric Asturias as a rock band. However, even though it is hard, we want to incorporate elements of Asturian beauty somewhere, creating a thrilling contrast between stillness and movement. The title "Deadlock Triangle" (coined word) expresses the "three-way" relationship between the three front members who repeat riffs over and over again. Although it's not particularly American in mind, it does have a somewhat "Japanese" feel to it.
<Time Traveler>
I have created many "melancholy songs" so far, but this is the definitive one! The result is a song that I am confident in. It is a song that has been highly praised for its heart-rending, indescribable sadness.It has a slightly unusual structure and harmony, and is free to develop as it pleases without regard to the standard compositional formula. The title expresses the sadness of a certain psychic who appears in the Nanase Trilogy (Yasutaka Tsutsui), but of course it is also a play on a certain progressive rock song that I love.
<Tangram Paradox>
Gentle Giant is a unique figure in the history of progressive rock. Personally, I think this band is more important than the five major bands, but it seems that there are few successors who have legitimately carried on that will. I came up with the idea of putting together the motifs I had been writing down for several years in a GG style, but it was very difficult to reflect that high level of musicality. After much struggle, I finally got around to completing it. In the end, it's not a copy of GG, but an unmistakable Electric Asturias song, and I'm very satisfied with it. I particularly like the melancholy part in the middle.
The title is "Tangram Paradox"(puzzle cut into squares), which is based on the image of a geometric song. When we appeared on Cruise to the Edge, Gary Green also listened to it and gave us some compliments. Deep emotion!
<Honeycomb structure>
I started making it as a minimalist song based on a guitar riff that was very reminiscent of "Discipline Crimson." The violin melody is also a cool repetition of phrases, and in a sense it is a problematic work that eliminates emotions that have never been done by Electric Asturias. However, when it was first performed live, it was unexpectedly well-received, with some people calling it an unlikely song (?). The title refers to the structure of hexagons piled up like a honeycomb. The name is based on the inorganic, geometric image of 6/8 time.
<Suite of "Elemental">
First, when I finished "Undine" and was looking for a title with an image of water, the idea of "Four Elements" came to mind, and I decided to create four suites based on that idea. The album name was also named "Elementals" from there. This suite is inspired by the grand theme of the four major elements on Earth.
ⅰ Undine -Water Elemental-
Although it was named after the fact, it is a tranquil song that evokes the image of clear water. When composing the main theme, I used the melody and chords that came to me naturally without any effort at all. This happens once every few years, and if I could compose like this all the time, I wouldn't have any trouble. At the request of Grammy-winning producer Kevin Mackie, whom I met at RoSfest, a short version was included in the charity album "Action Moves People."
ⅱ Salamander -Fire Elemental-
The Element of intensely burning fire is expressed through a series of rock beats and technical vocals. It's the classic shuffle rock beat found in blues and hard rock, and I've avoided it because it has a muddy image, but this is my first time trying it. The song is tuned in an academic direction with piano and weeping violin, and in the middle part, variations on the riff of "Undine" gradually become more exciting, leading to a reenactment of the theme. I think the result is a dramatic classic progressive rock song.
ⅲ Sylphide -Wind Elemental-
Actually, there was originally a motif that I had created as a song, but I needed a song with the image of "wind", so I suddenly changed direction and reborn it as an Electric Asturias song. This also uses "Undine" parts in the middle part. A majestic work that imagines a wind-swept wilderness, with a melancholy melody that unfolds dramatically.
ⅳ Gnome -Earth Elemental-
I had been working on Fire and Wind smoothly, but composing "Earth Element" was very difficult. This work was completed after many revisions and revisions, as we worked hard to create a grand ending that would decorate the elusive big image of "earth," the album, and the suite. A riff with a Celtic feel, and a solid rock beat with an odd time signature. They gather together and head to the final grand finale. I think it was a fitting and spirited conclusion to the 29-minute suite.
2014.11.5 Yoh Ohyama