Details: 'Those who got the impulse' in the early days of rock are fortunate. The world spun by Kitayama Makoto and Hanamoto Akira, who have carved their own legendary mark on the history of Japanese rock, reflects their convictions as successors. The endless love for the era when rock was truly rock, and the purity of the homage they pay to it, It gives this album a magic that transcends time and space. - Masa Ito - From the late 1970s to the early 1980s, they led the Japanese progressive rock scene. This album was produced by vocalist Makoto Kitayama and composer/keyboardist Akira Hanamoto of the band 'Shin*getsu,' which continues to enjoy worldwide popularity 45 years after the band's breakup. This is the second album from the amazing unit 'Shizuka no Umi' and their first in six years. Their debut album 'Shizuka no Umi I' released in 2019, which was the first time they had worked together as songwriter and composer in 40 years, was praised by many for it's beautiful and ephemeral masterpiece that strongly reflects the image of the new moon. This is their first album in six years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and is composed of a 'progressive rock' part by Makoto Kitayama in the first half and a 'classic rock' part by Akira Hanamoto in the second half. Kitayama has spent a long time creating the large-scale piece '? and ×' with a complex structure, 'Gypsy in the Wilderness' with a tragic piano arpeggio theme, 'Flying Dinghy' with it's moody organ, and Hanamoto has provided short gems such as 'Close Your Eyes' with woodwind ensemble, 'One by One' with it's divine organ melody, and 'Like Love' with it's heart-wrenching folk rock melody. As befitting two people who were greatly influenced by rock from the 1960s to the 1970s, they make extensive use of vintage instruments such as Mellotron, Hammond organ, and clavinet to beautifully recreate the expression of the era when rock was at it's most brilliant. Guests include a diverse range of musicians such as Oyama Yo from Asturias, Umegaki Luna and Kurihara Tsutomu from Lu7, and Yakabe Atsunobu, formerly of PINK and Togawa Jun Band (YAPOOS).

Shizuka No Umi - II (CD)