Social Tension - It Remainds Me of Those Days. 1990 Japan

It wasn't that long ago I re-listened to, and added to the UMR, Social Tension's debut Macbethia. It Remainds Me of Those Days is a very similar experience, though even more retro sounding. This was long before the term "retro prog" even entered the lexicon. If you enjoy the heavy organ driven sounds of the early 1970 UK progressive rock scene, then Social Tension is an easy recommendation. Even considering the rather awkward vocals.

Ownership: CD: 1990 Made in Japan. Standard issue jewel box CD with obi. I do love the cover artwork on both of the Social Tension albums. Worth noting that the title is not a typo. Now whether or not Social Tension were purposely trying for a play on words with Reminds and Remains, I cannot say. A later compilation refers to it as Reminds, which of course makes more sense. Was part of a large collection buy in the late 90s.

Social Tension - Macbethia. 1989 Japan

Macbethia arrived during the boom years of the Japanese progressive rock scene of the late 1980s. Their sound is somewhat typical of the time, with brassy digital keyboards and bouncy rhythms. It takes some time for the ears to adjust to their sound and at first listen it can be underwhelming. The ELP worship is a bit obvious, and the sparse vocals aren't helping. However, there are signs that there's more here than the usual copycat prog band. Nobuo Endoh also plays a mean Hammond organ, and there's some analog Moog synthesizers as well to digest. So by the time one gets to 'Inner Vision', it's no longer Japanese happy land, but rather we've entered the mysterious world of SFF's Symphonic Pictures as well as an embryonic version of Anglagard! The title track, coming in at a whopping 19:37, is what one would call a "prog extravaganza". It's a blitzkrieg of keyboard driven (mostly) instrumental progressive rock. So if names such as Motoi Sakuraba, Ars Nova, and Gerard (especially late 90s and beyond version) get you excited, then be sure to look for Macbethia.

Ownership: LP: 1989 Made in Japan. Single sleeve. Nice artwork. Like Vermilion Sands, I'm fairly certain this album was not released with an obi nor insert. I've never seen them and I bought my copy new not long after release (1991). 

1991; 7/11/18 (new entry)