Rovo are a completely original progressive spacerock jam band from Japan, featuring two drummers like the Grateful Dead. Ambient techno original Orb collaborators System 7 delve into their live psychedelic rock past and profound influences like Jimi Hendrix. Together Rovo and System 7 produce an exciting intense and futuristic sound that morphs effortlessly between tech-house beats and totally live playing, also touching post-rock textures of groups like Sigur Ros. With extended live solos from Rovo’s Yuji Katsui and Seiichi Yamamoto and of course from Steve Hillage, the Phoenix Rising builds to a stunning climax midway with the track “Cisco” that reveals a strong influence of seminal German bands like Can. One of the highlights is a brilliant live version of the Mahavishnu Orchestra’s “Meeting of the Spirits”, featuring the blend of Steve Hillage’s guitar and Yuji Katsui’s electric violin.
“This is a remarkable album: it bridges the gap between Hillage’s ’70s output and System 7 stuff amazingly well and Rovo are exceptional musicians that make this just a perfect whole. I look forward to seeing this album played live next year as I can imagine just how good its going to sound” (Gary Parsons – freq .org .uk)
“An album right up there with the best of Hillage’s work.. a rare trip of a record” (Prog Magazine)
“..simply stunning at times. If you have a decent sound system and a love of progressive rock with Ibiza-ish dance pretensions, dive right on in.” (Sunday Express)
“shows why Steve Hillage was so deserving of the ‘Visionary’ award bestowed on him at the recent Progressive Music Awards” (jonb52)
“Hillage isn’t so much a space warrior on the edge of time as an unrepentant psychedelic modernist who’s moved with the times” (Get Ready to Rock)
released September 23, 2013
01 Hinotori (Album Version)
Arranged by ROVO
Mixed by Tatsuki Masuko
Written by Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy
02 Love for the Phoenix
Mixed by Steve Hillage and Tatsuki Masuko
Written by Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy
03 Meeting of the Spirits
Mixed by Tatsuki Masuko
Written by John McLaughlin
04 Cisco (Phoenix Rising Version)
Arranged by ROVO and System 7
Mixed by Tatsuki Masuko
Written by Yuji Katsui
05 Unbroken
Mixed by Tatsuki Masuko
Written by Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy
06 Sino Dub (Phoenix Rising Version)
Arranged by ROVO and System 7
Mixed by Tatsuki Masuko
Written by Seiichi Yamamoto
07 Unseen Onsen
Mixed by Steve Hillage and Tatsuki Masuko
Written by Miquette Giraudy
Produced by Steve Hillage and ROVO
Recorded at Green Bird Studio, Tokyo
System 7 Programming and Overdubs at A-Wave Studio, London
Mixed at Float, Tokyo
Mastered by Tatsuki Masuko at Float, Tokyo
Tracks 1, 2, 5 & 7 published by Stage Three Music Publishing Ltd
Tracks 4 & 6 published by sound of rain
Track 3 published by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp & Chinmoy Music
Artwork images by Koji Morimoto
Artwork design by Andrew Debens
designbyz3.com
Video creation by Mood Magic (Haruka Sakota, Akira Watanabe and Koji Moromoto) and Yutaka Endo
Special thanks to the Phoenix Rising team:- Masushiko Ogawa (Wonderground), Yasuharu Fujiwara, Kotaro Manabe, Takeshi Fuseya (Wakyo), Shinya Suzuki (Waon Productions), Harimaoh and Rumiko Tezuka (Phoenix Supervisor)
ROVO live crew:- Noriya Maekawa, Chiaki Hirotsu, Tadashi Matsumura, Masayoshi Takada, Yutaka Endo
℗ & © 2013
A-Wave.com Ltd
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