Also see Progfest 2000
From: "upnsm0ke"
<>
Kenso's site www.mplant.com/kensoenglish.html mentions "Es," which is
Kenichi Oguchi's keyboard trio; I hope they get a disc out, because he was
smokin' on Friday night! Kenso axeman Yoshihira is also going to make a guest
appearance with them at an upcoming gig.
I just realized that Kenichi Oguchi is the keyboardist on a CD I have by Ruins
called _Symphonica_ (the only album they seem to have done which is a departure
from their purely drums/vocals + bass formation...features two female vocalists
and Kenichi!). Sonuvabitch, I'm going to have to give that another listen!
From: "upnsm0ke"
<> Subject: Kenso interview
There is an interview with Yoshihisa Shimizu and Shunji Saegusa of Kenso at www.dabelly.com It's accessible from the main page.
From: "upnsm0ke"
<>
> From: David Carrillo <> > > Hey guys,
quick question here. > i was going through the prog section in a local CD
shop and I found two > titles that i'm interested in but would like you're
opinion. > First is KENSO with the album titled "Esopton" or "Esptron"
or something > like that.
_Esoptron_ is their first 'studio' album since 1991's _Yume No Oka_, and is
harder-edged while still being a typically excellent Kenso release. Kenso are
pretty much a proggy-fusion band, and Yoshihisa's really cranking on guitar on _Esoptron_.
Kenso feature not one, but two keyboardists, but don't expect anything in the
Emo/Wakey vein of things. Highly recommended!
From: greg cummins <>
Subject: Re: Pageant / Kenso
I bought a Kenso CD about 12 months ago and while the first 4 or 5 tracks were
brilliant, it included a track called "Kagome", an almost 15 minute
piece of the worst and most cacophonous piece of porcupine excrement I have ever
heard in my life; (After Kylie's newest big hit). The quality of the recordings
also sucked and were obviously done on a 1972 el cheapo Radio Shack 8 track
cartridge only in mono. I am sure they have done a lot better than this as their
popularity is testament to this fact but I'm afraid I have yet to plunge in
again unless I can be steered away from the less than perfect releases. I don't
like being burned for poor quality recordings, no matter who is playing. Read a
full review on Prog.Net... (I believe Chris Dixon has kindly left the archive up
and running).
From: "upnsm0ke"
<> Subject: Re: Pageant / Kenso
> From: "greg cummins" <> > > I
bought a Kenso CD about 12 months ago...
Sorry to hear it, but you can't stop there as far as Kenso is concerned. An
archival live CD _76/77_ was released, and of course, masters from that area can
only be cleaned up and rejuiced *so* much. The earliest Kenso albums are also
obviously going to be analog-tape recordings, but the very first Kenso CD does
have *six* bonus tracks, and the CD sounds fine overall. If you want to be
re-converted, look no farther than their 25th Anniversary live CD, _Ken-So-Gu-Su_.
Or try their fabulous 1991 album, _Yume No Oka_ (rereleased in an affordable
digipak format on Spalax) or another great live album from 1997, _In The West_.
That should get you going. :-)
Beware of Kenso bootlegs, too! I got stiffed (but I got my money back) on a
homemade "pressing" of _Music For Unknown Five Musicians_ (that
wouldn't even play past 2:05 on Track 2), and I know _Sparta_ was done up, too,
even though it IS still available, if you look hard enough. What may seem to be
OP may not be, though _MFUFM_ definitely is.
From: "upnsm0ke" <>
Date: Tue Apr 2, 2002 12:27 am
Subject: New Kenso album in sight? (Ground and Sky)
I found this while fishing around...anyone have more info? :) E-Man
New Kenso album due for 2002
A brief note from Yoshihisa Shmizu and Tatsurou Ueda: "KENSO is in the process
of recording a new studio album for release in the Spring of 2002. "At
Progfest 2000, I found myself greatly energized by the overwhelming response
from the audience, which became the driving force for this new recording.
I am delighted to tell each and every one of KENSO fans around the world that
the new album is taking shape as being more powerful and complex than any of
KENSO's previous albums."
http://www.progreviews.com/news/120801c.html
http://www1.u-netsurf.ne.jp/~kenso/english.html