Share the post "Album Review: YUKA AND CHRONOSHIP – Ship"
Cherry Red Records [Release date 11.5.18]
Yuka Funakoshi is a Japanese keyboard virtuoso who would certainly give any of Sherinian, Rudess or Norlander a run for their money and, together with her band of exceptional session men, Yuka and Chronoship deliver progressive rock of the very highest order.
I five-starred her previous two albums – 2014’s ‘Dino Rocket Oxygen’ and ‘The 3rd Planetary Chronicles’ from 2015 (2011’s ‘Water Reincarnation’ passed GRTR! by), commenting at the time that she had been rummaging deeply into her parents’ imported prog rock albums from the ‘70s.
And ‘Ship’ demonstrates that the rummaging continues…
Recorded in her native Japan (ensuring sound quality to die for), ‘Ship’ is a part-concept album – the first seven tracks being loosely based around the story of the legendary Argo from Greek mythology, the remaining four tracks being a group of just great prog rock songs.
In keeping with previous albums, ‘Ship’ is almost entirely instrumental – the wonderful exceptions being the pastoral piano led ‘Tears Of The Figurehead’ where the legend that is Sonja Kristina (Curved Air) does the honours, and two of the final four tracks – ‘Visible Light’, sung in Japanese to an almost ‘Edge-like’ guitar riff and ‘Did You Find A Star’ with its haunting piano motif and outstanding fret-work from Takashi Miyazawa.
As you would expect, the keyboard work of Yuka herself dominates – but not to the exclusion of the rest of the band and there is plenty of top-notch guitaring and, it must be said, drumming of the highest order from sticksman Ikko Tanaka.
As I said, the appreciation of all things seventies is here for all to hear, but the application of a contemporary sheen pushes all her work beyond mere pastiche.
The album segues beautifully between the tranquil and the aggressive, in the time-appointed manner of the days of yore, yet is very much a product of the 21st century.
You can hear Yes in the keys of ‘Landing’, Atomic Rooster in the wonderful Hammond work on ‘Golden Fleece’ (for me, the highlight) and even Rare Bird here and there, but there’s also the Levellers-like ‘Old Ship On The Grass’ and the almost U2 ‘Visible Light’.
The end result is a superlative album chock-full of the sounds of all your favourite progressive rock bands – yet remaining true to itself on every level.
An intriguing discovery for devotees of all rock music, but for fans of the genre, an absolute must-have.
*****
Review by Alan Jones
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album Review: YUKA AND CHRONOSHIP – Ship"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
