en-TRINITY_comment | Electric Asturias

*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. Electric Asturias, a rock band that has become a regular at festivals overseas and is steadily gaining popularity, will finally release their long-awaited third album in four years. The unique world of melodious and dramatic prog rock with a sense of sadness is alive and well, and the ambitious work "TRINITY", which combines grand scale and delicacy, and sublimates various experiments, has finally been completed. The main piece, the suite "Gorgon", is a must-listen piece that is based on the theme of the three terrifying sisters from Greek mythology who can turn the viewer to stone, and expresses the sadness of strange monsters in an endlessly dramatic manner. A total of 8 songs, carefully crafted songs and finely honed performances transcend eras and genres, inviting you to the universal "world of rock instrumental music." I would be happy if you could fully immerse yourself in that worldview.

When creating the first song on the album, I always wanted it to be a song that would instantly captivate and overwhelm those who listen to it for the first time. The standard element to create a thrilling sound that is uniquely Electric Asturias is to use tense piano sequence phrases, and this time he tried doing that with the violin. It was a hysterical sequence of notes, played at an impossible speed (!), and I had Mr. Tay play it all over again. The middle part emphasizes the lyrical and melodious aspects and changes the scene, creating a song full of elements unique to Electric Asturias, making it a listenable song. The sight of Mr. Tei playing his music in the center of the stage is just "cool".

Since I started playing Electric Asturias, I haven't been mentioned as much as an influence, but my forever favorite is Mike Oldfield. The basic idea of this song could be said to be a re-construction of Mike's Celtic leanings through Electric Asturias's interpretation. Actually, I've never been to England, but when I hear this song, it reminds me of the desolate northern land, where the wind blows from the sea. We expanded on this image and named it Wuthering Heights after Emily Bronte's masterpiece. The C part, where the violin plays the melody with the piano arpeggio, is a personal favorite that I want to listen to all the time (lol).

In 2016, I was asked to compose music for a game called "Tower of God Mary Skelter", and I created this song as the climax battle song. Ms. Tei played the original song as well, but she requested that she use an edgy violin to express the girl protagonist's confrontation with the enemy, so her performance is even sharper than usual. The interlude is a new addition to the Electric Asturias version, and is a catchy, odd-time signature tune that depicts the heated battle between Hirata and Kawagoe.

<Crow>

His father was an abstract painter, so he was interested in painting from an early age, and was particularly impressed by Van Gogh's life as a child (I didn't want to become that kind of artist). ...). This song was inspired by a painting that Van Gogh painted just before his death (there are various theories) called "Wheatfield with Crows". I created this work with serious thoughts and feelings to express the sadness of Van Gogh, who had such great talent but lived a life beyond repair. The crow on the jacket is a motif from this song. Please listen and think about the life of a genius.

<Rogus>

The game "Rogus" was released in 1987. I was in charge of the main battle theme, and I recorded it with different arrangements of "Brilliant Streams" in 1990 and "Marching Glasses on the Hill" in 2006, and it is still a popular song among fans. I recorded it in a different arrangement as a version. This song was written by a young man who has only been composing for about a year, and although there are some aspects of the song that are clumsy, such as the chord progression, I once again think that it is a song with a unique idea that doesn't care about conventional rules. We hope you can feel the power of the band, with a thrilling theme followed by a progressive solo battle.

<Suite "Gorgon"> The theme of this album is the number "3". The triangle is the unifying motif of the 3rd album Electric Asturias jacket, and "TRINITY" is the meaning of Trinity. I decided to turn the first piece, "Medusa", into a three-song suite, and I decided to create a song for each of the three Gorgon sisters, and my ideas began to emerge. Please listen to the three songs in succession. ⅰ Medusa The story begins with Queen Medusa, the main character of the Three Sisters, guided by a majestic pipe organ. Continuing from "Double Helix", Electric Asturias-style chamber prog "rock" is built with a baroque image that exudes a sense of sadness. Although it is short, it is a powerful piece with a complex structure of various elements, and the performance is passionate and fiery. ⅱ Stenno This is the most controversial and ambitious work in Asturias' history, and the first dark-sounding piece to be completed. In order to express Stenno, which means "strong woman", I started with a bass solo typical of Yannick Top, and tried to push it with dark riffs. You've pointed out various influences such as Crimson, Magma, Piazzolla...how do you feel about this new frontier? ⅲ Euryale The last piece of the suite, and the album as a whole, is Euryale, the "wandering woman". The melodious violin notes and the authentic Eleas sound, which is different from the previous two songs, develop endlessly dramatically. She is transformed into a monster and becomes immortal, and the sadness of Euryale, who has to wander forever, and the lingering echoes of the last part, touch your heart.

2019 marks the 10th anniversary of Electric Asturias's formation, and we intend to continue to face music seriously and pursue our own path. Thank you for your continued support. 2018.12.31 Yoh Ohyama