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Tokyo-based instrumentalists LITE formed in 2003. Their debut “Filmlets” received great critical acclaim, and since then the band have toured Japan constantly, embarked on their second UK & Ireland tour last September and they have appeared at the Fuji Rock Festival.

LITE’s sound combines the precision and musicianship of prog rock with the emotionally charged cinematic compositions of art rock, in a heavier, more modern package that they describe as “math rock”. Nowhere near as heavy as mathcore or prog metal, but more so than your average prog rock band.

Shortly after that appearance, the Japanese quartet released a split CD with Funanori (Go! Team guitarist Kaori Tsuchida and Mike Watt from The Minutemen) and teamed up with Mike Watt again in February this year to host his Brother’s Sister’s Daughter tour of Japan.

With the release of their second full-length album, “Phantasia”, the intense gigging schedule has obviously paid off. The band have improved their songwriting skills and their ability to translate their energetic live performances into an impressive studio album. Their instrumental prowess comes across in splendid fashion and the result is a varied and satisfying album.

Darker in parts to its predecessor, “Phantasia” contains many influences, from King Crimson-esque jazz-rock to full-scale guitar assault as on “Contra” or the opener “Ef” which has been re-recorded and reignited with the fury of its live rendition.

Throughout, there are stories woven into these grooves; the sea-faring tragedy “Shinkai” and the melancholic “Solitude” illustrate the band’s maturity as “storyteller” songwriters.

With “Phantasia”, LITE is set to cement its reputation as one of the most exciting bands to have emerged from Japan in recent years.

The band are Nobuyuki Takeda (guitar), Kozo Kusumoto (guitar), Jun Izawa (bass), and Akinori Yamamoto (drums).

Discography 

EP’s

•  LITE (2006)

Albums

• Filmlets (2007)
• Phantasia (2008)

Live album

•  Live in Limerick (2007)

Live EP

•  A Tiny Twofer (2007)

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Tags: Akinori Yamamoto, album, art, band, cinematic, compositions, Ef, Filmlets, Fuji Rock Festival, Funanori, instrumental, Japanese, jazz, Jun Izawa, Kozo Kusumoto, LITE, mathcore, metal, Mike Watt, minutemen, musicianship, Nobuyuki Takeda, Phantasia, prog, rock, Shinkai, Solitude, songwriters, storyteller, Tokyo
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