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Ars Nova — The Book of the Dead (Reu Nu Pert Em Hru)
(Made in Japan MJC-1018, 1998, CD)

by Peter Thelen, Published 1999-01-01

The Book of the Dead (Reu Nu Pert Em Hru) Cover art

ArsNova’s fourth full studio album (not counting last years ‘best-of’), Reu Nu Pert Em Hru (The Book of The Dead) sports a couple changes in the band’s lineup, but no unwelcome surprises in either their style or attack, remaining true to the predictably hard classical-oriented keyboard-dominated instrumental rock of previous albums going back to their second Transi. Of course the news is that bassist Kyoko Kanagawa has bailed, leaving the band a duo of Keiko Kumagai (keys) and Akiko Takahashi (drums). They are joined on most tunes by capable session bassist Ken Ishita, last heard from playing on Motoi Sakuraba’s Gikyokuonsou album (note that for live dates Naomi Miura (ex Rosalia and After the Rain), has joined the band as second keyboardist — but no word yet if she will be part of the lineup on future recordings). What we have this time are five extended compositions (the even tracks) separated by a number of shorter preludes and interludes, these usually lasting a minute and a half or less, and joined together with the extended piece that follows. It is in these shorter pieces where the band most often show some welcome signs of evolution, usually taking a less aggressive approach to some new compositional idea. One of the extended tracks “Field of Iaru” is especially noteworthy for its degree of structural complexity, compositional development and articulate arrangements. But it’s ArsNova’s stock arrangements — basically three layers of full-throttle Hammond with about three layers of other synths on top of that, all full volume and in your face, supported by Akiko’s superb drumming — that some may find all too familiar. The band seems to be at the foot of the curve of a change in their sound, and hopefully that evolution will continue. Otherwise ArsNova runs the risk of becoming a one-trick pony with a pretty face. After seeing the band play live at Cocodrie in San Francisco, this writer’s vote is to keep the two-keyboardist approach, which seems to offer far more possibilities than their previous keybords / bass / drums format. The Musea edition replaces three of the six interludes with different tracks and sports different cover art, but the five main tracks are the same.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 16, 1998 releases

Related artist(s): Ars Nova, Akiko Takahashi (Cosmo Space)

 

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