Quote Originally Posted by moecurlythanu View Post
in the 80s, Japanese musicians discovered the Italian Prog scene of the 70s, (and British as well,) and did their level best to honor it. When taken in that context, there's a lot to enjoy, for me at least. You seem to favor the angular stuff
Yep, yupz and partly true, but as concerns the latter: not entirely. I just never thought of the majority of 80s "symph prog" from Japan as being particularly well executed (except for some, like the names I mentioned previously). On the other hand, there were several other fairly "straight-up" progressive acts that DID make some very worthwhile stuff; Kenso, Kennedy, Mr. Sirius (and Dirge espec), Ain Soph, Mongol, Lacrymosa, Il Berlione, Zypressen and more - all of these of a somewhat more experimental nature, though. Interestingly, that very same 80s "symph" venture (think Pageant, Novella, Gerard etc.) has actually even endured over there and left a mark which is still felt with bands such as Interpose, Shinsekai and others.