Prog4you.com - Progressive Rock Review

: : Kasa Kasa : :

Ausia is a "new" Acoustic Prog trio from Japan. Their 2003 release "Kasa Kasa" is a true east meets west experience. My first impression of Kasa Kasa was that it was more of a classical album than a Prog album. I'll soften up on that a little but not a lot. The music is a rich blend of quick tempoed English folk accented by a very Japanese flatness. There is even a slight near eastern influence heard on the cuts Indian Rain and Kasa Kasa. The music comes across to me as very classically oriented having the structure and feel of classical composition that is often not unlike chamber music.

That being said, the delivery is very high energy! In a way I would be so bold as to describe Ausia as sort of an acoustic power trio. The fast paced music is very precise, energetic and mostly quick paced. The songs are underpinned by acoustic guitar and mandolin. There is a lot of soloing by a sometimes near frantic violin and an often breathy "lead flute" the style of which I couldn't help but liken to that of Ian Anderson.

It has always been my policy to listen to an album before I so much as glance at the liner notes or any other media material that I may have been provided with. It helps me to get a feel for things without being pre-prejudiced by the thoughts of others etc. And, as so often happens, after a few tracks had gone by I once again found myself in the position of being tempted to review a release by likening it to another. I felt that a lot of the musical influences to be very "Tullish" and I do so hate to take the easy way out. That only lasted until track six came along when I heard what could only have been Ian Anderson singing a version of Mother Goose. I immediately flushed my normal routine and scurried over to my desk to grab the liner notes to see if this could be so; low and behold it was. Ha! Relief! I suppose that I can now safely liken this work to you as having a certain Tullish influence. Influences aside, those of you who have a decidedly classical side to their Prog listening preferences will likely find this work entertaining.

The guest appearance is fun but the real story here is in the compositions of Adachi and Isso. In particular I liked Housewarming in Alaska. A slower piece with great interplay between the violin and flute. This is about normal for me though I usually find that I like a bands more relaxed and introspective pieces more than the more mechanically striving ones. Either way Kasa Kasa is a very complete and enjoyable work. A lot western and a little eastern. Interesting to say the least.

Rating: 8.0 Stars
Steven J. Mynaugh

: : Visit the Artist’s Website : :

: : Discography : :
Kasa Kasa - 2003

: : Record Label : :
Musea Records
Poseidon Records