Far East Family Band -Far Out (1973)/Nipponjin (1975) (Full Albums)

 

Far East Family Band Biography

by Geoff Orens

Regarded by many as the first Japanese progressive rock group, the Far East Family Band featured the keyboardist and future new age composer, Kitaro. A keyboard-dominated space rock band, the Far East Family Band played extended compositions that brought comparisons to Tangerine Dream and early Pink Floyd.

The group's first album was released under the band name of Far Out. After changing their name, the band released The Cave Down to Earth in 1975. Their first European release, Nipponjin -- Join Our Mental Phase Sound (1975), featured re-recorded versions of material from the previous record and the album attributed to Far Out. The group's next record, Parallel Worlds (1976), was profoundly influenced by Klaus Schulze who Kitaro met on a trip through Europe. With the first track over 30 minutes long, the album bears similarities to Krautrock legends Ash Ra Tempel. Tenkujin (1977) followed and was the band's first and only American release. By this point, the band consisted of Miyashta (vocals, synths, guitars, bamboo flute), Hirohito Fukushima (guitar, vocals, koto), and Yujin Harada (drums, percussion). It would be the band's last record. 

 http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=721

1)Too Many People - 17.00 2)Nihonjin - 19.52 3)Birds Flying To The Cave - 4.36 4)Saying To The Land - 8.27 5)Moving, Looking, Tryihg, Jumping - 1.36 6)Wa Wa - 0.52 7)The Cave Down To The Earth - 8.24 8)Four Minds - 5.58 9)Transmigration - 10.54

 FAR OUT: (then changed name to FAR EAST FAMILY BAND) Voice, Flute, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica, Synth - Fumio Miyashita Solo guitar, organ - Eiichi Sayu Voice, Bass, Sitar - Kei Ishikawa Drums, Percussion - Manami Arai

Nipponjin 0:02 The Cave 16:51 Undiscovered Northern Land 25:30 Timeless 28:24 The God Of Water 32:49 River Of Soul 34:55 The God Of Wind 43:23 Moovin' Lookin 45:56 Yamato 47:35 Mystery Of Northern Space 48:23

 Line-up / Musician Fumio Miyashita — guitar, keyboards, electric sitar, vocals RIP Masanori Takahashi (Kitaro) — keyboards, percussion Hirohito Fukushima — guitar, vocals Akira Fukakusa — bass Akira Ito — keyboards Shizuo Takasaki — drums