SIGHS OF THE WATER (E)

Sighs Of The Water is the tenth album by the Japanese progressive rock trio Gerard. Since the release of their first album in 1983, the musical style remained roughly the same throughout the years. Originally with a guitarist, their music was heavily influenced by bands like Genesis and UK, but in the current line-up with Toshio Egawa (Hammond, Korg synthesizers), Atushi Hasehgawa (bass) and Masuhiro Goto (drums, vocals) their music shows much similarities with Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The album opens with the title track, an up-tempo instrumental piece with roaring organ chords, heavy bass rumbling in the vein of Chris Squire (Yes) and powerful drums. On this basis Egawa plays both melodies and solos on the Hammond and violin-samples on the synth. From The Deep is a rather poplike track with an extraordinary beautiful and symphonic part in the middle-section. Goto does the vocals on this track and honestly speaking I’m not very keen on Japanese vocalists. I just don’t like their way of singing. Pain In The Bubble is an instrumental sounding very much like UK. Jean Nakaji, a Japanese guest vocalist, sings the ballad Keep A Memory Green having beautiful church organ and flute samples. The distorted vocals by practically ruin Cry For The Moon in my opinion, despite the very much UK-like instrumental parts. Aqua Dream, ​which is divided in two parts, is a fantastic symphonic masterpiece with nice orchestrations, subtile piano and bass. The artwork is sober and the information in the booklet is not too accurate. Still, if you would like to know how Eddie Jobson, Terry Bozzio and John Wetton would sound today, Gerard is the alternative of choice. Only the vocals should have been deleted...