Cinema (21) – Mindscape

Cinema was formed by ex- of Fromage, a famous Japanese band of the 1980s who released two albums before disbanding. Cinema are an excellent example of Japanese symphonic prog, a survivor of a style prevalent in Japan in the late 1980s and early 1990s but less so now. They feature female vocals in an operatic style and a violin/viola player in addition to keys, guitar, bass, and drums. Mindscape is their third album and shows the greatest maturity. With an additional violin player and cellist as guests, this album is their most classical sounding. Sometimes it sounds as if Cinema are about to launch into Pachelbel’s Canon, but most of the material features lyrical electric guitar over mid-tempo symphonic chord progressions from the keyboards. Cinema’s neo-classical slant here is fairly unique among progressive rock bands. Lyrics are in Japanese, though the album is heavily instrumental.