Shingetsu | |
|---|---|
 Shingetsu performing in ABC Kaikan Hall Tokyo, on July 25–26, 1979 (cover for "Shingetsu Live Akaime"). | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Japan |
| Genres | Progressive rock, symphonic rock |
| Years active | 1976–1981 2005–present |
| Labels | Victor, Musea, Zen, Belle Antique |
| Members | Haruhiko Tsuda Akira Hanamoto Yoko Ueno Miki Naoe Toshimichi Isoe Tomoyoku Tanimoto Ako Ozawa Hiroshi Ishibata Masayuki Adaniya A*mu |
| Past members | Makoto Kitayama Shizuo Suzuki Naoya Takahashi Yoichi Kamada Yoshiyuki Sakurai Masayuki Takatsu Kiyoo Suzuki Hiroyoshi Komatsu Kayo Matsumoto Takashi Kokubo |
| Website | shingetsu |
Shingetsu (Japanese: 新月) is a Japanese progressive rock band from the 1970s. A band with an originally short career, they have typically been categorised as one of the most notable Japanese progressive rock bands.[1]
Shingetsu ('new moon') arrived in the Japanese music scene on the late 1970s. Led by the "Japanese Peter Gabriel", Makoto Kitayama (recognized for his deep, wavering, mournful vocals), Shingetsu's cinematic progressive sound gained comparisons to peak-time Genesis and recognition overseas.[2][3][4]
Consisting of Kitayama, Akira Hanamoto, Naoya Takahahi, Shizuo Suzuki and Haruhiko Tsuda, the band only produced one studio album in their first run, followed in later years by two live albums, which nevertheless featured some unreleased performances. In 2015 they released an album titled From A Distant Star (originally recorded in 2005), which features songs they had written before breaking up in 1981, and a studio demo they had recorded after completing their first album in 1979.
Their studio album, the eponymous Shingetsu, often considered[5] as a masterpiece of symphonic prog, is abundant in musical arrangements: the tasteful use of soft organ/synth soundscapes, Mellotron, and 12-string guitar passages reminiscent of the UK bands of the 1970s, while Kitayama's vocals give Shingetsu a distinctive edge from western bands.[6][7][8]
The band resumed touring sometime around 2014, under the name "Shingetsu Project". While Makoto no longer tours with the band, he does still engage in studio projects with the band.
- ^ "Shingetsu".
- ^ "Detailed Reviews [Shingetsu - 1979/2004 - "Live"] - ProgressoR".
- ^ "Review: "Shingetsu : Live 25,26 July 1979 ABC Kaikan Hall, Tokyo" - Sea of Tranquility - the Web Destination for Progressive Music!".
- ^ "Shingetsu - "Live 25-26 July 1979, ABC Kaikan Hall Tokyo"".
- ^ "Shingetsu".
- ^ http://www.gepr.net/sh.html#SHINGETSU Archived 2012-03-14 at the Wayback Machine [bare URL]
- ^ "Planet Mellotron Album Reviews: S5". Planetmellotron.com. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "SHINGETSU Shingetsu reviews". Progarchives.com. Retrieved 2022-09-28.