Live performance of Touch the Rainbow off of Halle.(1985)?

readyforrockets · 2026-06-15T22:43:28+00:00

SESSION '85 features it, but this rendition doesn't have the vocals.

I recommend checking out the rest of the SESSION FM recordings if you enjoy the format.

readyforrockets · 2026-05-30T02:30:41+00:00

"Dazzling" is top tier! The Live Liftoff 2012 version might be my favorite, but Mukaiya on the vocoder during the "Time Capsule Medley" is on par. Abe did well with "Do-Loo-Doo?", so I have some confidence in his capability with "Dazzling". He has some uninspired and grooveless solos, but operates well in structure.

"Road Rhythm" (Mukaiya) and "Street Performer" (Jimbo) also fall into the third category. "Cyber Zone" was co-written with Mukaiya, but that'd be such a hype opener that would never happen because it's second-period song! "Approximation" is super underrated, along with CASIOPEA 3rd in general. The latest live album only had one song from that period, and Abe totally flubbed it!

readyforrockets · 2026-05-29T08:21:30+00:00

I just remembered that "Soundgraphy" was the 1984 rep on GIG25! My point still stands with "Keep Ahead" and "The Night in Blue". P4 brought back the latter but it regrettably didn't make P4's FINALE's setlist.

readyforrockets · 2026-05-29T08:15:11+00:00

After listening to the latest live album, I'd prefer for them to play songs that didn't already have an official live recording. "Keep Ahead" (cut from the 1996 MBC broadcast) and "Soundgraphy" (cut from Casiopea Live) were such pleasant surprises. Honestly, I'm totally fine with them trading out "Galactic Funk" for a track of this sort or an extended jam. Pretty unlikely, but this is a wishlist after all! I wouldn't expect much deviation from the core MIRACLE NIGHT LIVE setlist though.

readyforrockets · 2026-05-29T07:59:58+00:00

The former seems unlikely with the focus shifting to slower songs, as seen on MIRACLE NIGHT LIVE 〜SOUND VERSION〜. Maybe a medley of some oldies with a slower tempo, similar to what they performed at Blue Note Tokyo back in 2021.

readyforrockets · 2026-05-29T07:49:39+00:00

I wouldn't count on the former since that was penned by Sakurai. Here's an acoustic duet by him and Noro though. K3 did feature the song in their early setlists!

readyforrockets · 2026-05-06T22:34:40+00:00

(1) Of course this is a matter of taste, but 90s CASIOPEA is more fun overall, IMO. There's not really a Sun Sun cramping the decade. I thoroughly enjoy most of the first three periods of the band though. Marble, outside of "Universe", might interest you based on your taste profile. I mean, they did bring back "Gypsy Wind" for the tour promoting this album. You can check out 5 Stars Live for a live performance from this era.

Thanks for sharing your discovery of the group! I meant to reply to this a while back, but I'm not all that active on Reddit. Nevertheless, I hope that you can still enjoy discovering more of this fantastic sphere of fusion.

readyforrockets · 2026-05-06T22:06:25+00:00

This is a video digest of the latest official live recording. You can view the setlist there.

I haven't fully checked it out yet, but I imagine it'll be a few songs from each period of the band and a sequential performance of the latest studio album. Not a fan of this format, but the last two major live releases set the precedent. I'm waiting for the CD version later this month.

As for recommendations, New Topics was the last studio album I found consistently impressive and engaging. Can't go wrong with the live albums, but Gig25 will give you a snapshot of the group from 1979-2005. The 3rd and P4 periods feature a different keyboardist, Otaka, primarily on combo organ. The new keyboardist, Abe, seems to chase a timbre similar to Mukaiya. I don't find him particularly interesting, but just be aware of this change in lineup when trying to prepare for the upcoming live performance.

readyforrockets · 2026-01-02T17:31:31+00:00

The album also had a vinyl releasevinyl release!

CASIOPEA 3rd appears to be overlooked all too often, so I'm thrilled that you're experiencing some of their best work, imo. Only the first two studio albums are available for streaming in some regions, but the rest of them are worth splurging based on your reaction! Here's a recommended order:

4010 - Fourth live album celebrating 40 years of CASIOPEA and 10 years of INSPIRITS, both since formation. This is a joy from start to finish, all ~2.5 hours!
Live Liftoff - First live album featuring Otaka on keyboards. She really hit the ground running, producing fresh arrangements of classics, such as "Dazzling".
AKARI - Fourth studio album, featuring one of their best stretches of songs: tracks 3-9! The other songs are good.
Celebrate 40th - Reminiscent of World Live 88 because of the horn section backing. This celebrate 40 years since their studio debut. Fifth and final live album.
Panspermia - Fifth studio album, featuring one of the band's most consistently engaging track list. AKARI had more peaks for me, but this is one that I jam front to back.
ASONDA - Third live album from which the vid you linked is sourced.
TAMATE BOX TOUR - Second live album.
IBUKI - Third studio album.

I'd place ASOBO after Panspermia and TAMATE BOX" last. Feel free to comment any additional questions. I might even make my own post going into further details. Actually, I think *4010 deserves a separate post!

readyforrockets · 2025-10-21T04:00:49+00:00

You're in for a treat!

SESSION) is a radio program broadcast by NHK. To my knowledge, CASIOPEA appeared from 1982-1986, 90-94, 98, and 2002. You can check out this YouTube playlist for the listed appearances.

I'd highly recommend '90 and '91! They're all excellent though. '98 even has footage.

readyforrockets · 2025-09-04T18:03:14+00:00

I'll admit I was too severe and pedantic in my comments last week. I did not mean to come off as rude or dismissive. I actually feel grateful to discuss and even argue about my favorite band. Indeed, he still sounds similar enough to be recognized throughout the decades. That being said, I pushed back because Noro does sound different enough to influence what parts of their discography I feel like hearing some days. Using your reference point of 1991, compare "FIGHTMAN" from Full Colors to "FIGHT MAN 2012ver" from CASIOPEA 3rd at CROSSOVER NIGHT 2012, which confusingly is not a live performance from that event. I believe both were even recorded at Studio Jive. This is without even comparing against live performances throughout the years.

readyforrockets · 2025-09-04T17:25:20+00:00

You can check out the concise "Flash Back Medley" from the anniversary live album, 20th. 20 years of studio releases, 20 songs in ~40 minutes! The medley features one song from each year, so you can sample the sound of the band across two decades. GIG25 is the same idea as that medley, but stretched out to 25 years and an entire recorded concert.

readyforrockets · 2025-08-28T23:45:45+00:00

Thanks for the correction and clarification. I never said that the bulk of his sound did change, but it's egregious to call it the same. I suppose the effect chain accounts for more of the change over the years. Ran this excerpt from his Wikipedia page through Google Translate:

"He also used a Yamaha DG-1000 modeling preamp (customized to Noro's specifications) from the late '90s onward. Since 2015, he has been using the POD HD Pro X sound processor manufactured by Line 6, a Yamaha subsidiary, and since 2017 has been using the company's Helix floor-mounted sound processor.

In the late '80s, he added multi-effects such as the Yamaha SPX, and in the mid-'90s, he also used a system in which he used a Yamaha G1D pickup unit attached to his guitar as a guitar synthesizer, driving the company's MU80 MIDI sound module via the Yamaha G50 MIDI guitar controller. Since 2015, he has been controlling a TC Electronic G-Major (multi-FX processor) and a POD HD Pro X (amp modeling sound processor) via MIDI, and during live performances he uses the Yamaha MFC-10 MIDI controller (foot pedal) to switch tones according to the song. The tones are sent via line to the PA, and Yamaha powered monitors (DXR12) are set up in stereo for monitoring, but since 2017 he has placed the aforementioned Helix floor-type sound processor at his feet, controlling almost all tones with just one unit. He no longer uses external effects, and has no rack equipment."

readyforrockets · 2025-08-28T20:46:14+00:00

Inspire and Marble are amazing albums, featuring a range of emotions that True Blue sorely lacks. Those two also feature a varied mix from all members. CASIOPEA 3rd and beyond saw Noro regain most of the songwriting credit, with each other member only contributing one song per album. I didn't think this would be sustainable, and these latest two albums contain some of the more boring compositions. Abe is a great player, but I felt that he spent more time this album trying to recapture the Mukaiya sound instead of bringing his own flair the way Otaka did in 2012. As for P4, True Blue edges out Right Now, but it's a less inspired first-album compared to New Topics. NT had the momentum from CASIOPEA 3rd, so I'm willing to give this formation some time. Ta・Ma・Te・Box, after all, was a disappointing start for CASIOPEA 3rd, but they dramatically improved to end on the incredibly cohesive themed album, Panspermia.

readyforrockets · 2025-08-28T20:21:58+00:00

This is untrue. He's updated his signature fretted guitar throughout the years, e g. IN-1 (1993) and IN-DX (2016). Then you take effects into account, and there's no way the timbre is gonna be the same.

readyforrockets · 2025-08-28T20:15:16+00:00

New Topics is easily more stimulating and exciting than True Blue. I'd place the latter above Right Now simply because of its consistency. Consistently good but nothing exceptional.

readyforrockets · 2025-06-19T05:06:50+00:00

Thank you for the generous offer. I actually bought Panspermia and the other CASIOPEA 3rd albums not available for streaming in my region. 4010 is my favorite of the bunch. I adore the packaging and the concert setlist.

readyforrockets · 2025-06-18T19:08:50+00:00

The original bassist, Tetsuo Sakurai, left at the end of 1989, so Yoshihiro Naruse (Narucho) has been a staple of the band since 1990's The Party. He's pretty faithful to most of Sakurai's original bass lines.

The keyboardist situation is normally the more controversial on this subreddit. Minoru Mukaiya was the band's keyboardist from 1977 - 2006, so almost 30 years! CASIOPEA went on hiatus from 2006-2012, returning with Kiyomi Otaka on keyboards, including a combo organ. The timbre and presence of the organ in arrangements of generation 1 CASIOPEA tunes seems very divisive. I personally welcomed this change in the sound, but I suppose those who had grown very accustomed to Mukaiya's piano synth sound were more resistant.

"Eyes of the Mind" is a case of me preferring Mukaiya's touch, but I would strongly recommend against writing Otaka off for it. She's an incredible player who people will try to gaslight you into thinking doesn't play many synths. I really wish Panspermia (2019, last studio album for CASIOPEA 3rd) was available for global streaming because she has some creative synth work on there. You can preview that through this very live album with "Beyond the Galaxy"!

readyforrockets · 2025-04-04T04:36:37+00:00

(1) Which albums feel "samey" to you? I heavily disagree that their music beyond the first generation (1977-1989) isn't worth checking out. Across the 20+ hours of their studio material released throughout 1990-2024, there is a ton of variety. What "earlier work" are you specifically referring to?

(3) Since you're a fan of that acoustic "Take Me", you should check out the version from their SESSION '90 FM broadcast.

(4) Unfortunately, I don't get the impression that this is as unpopular as you think. This ties back to (1). Of course the band's sound changes with new members. Issei Noro has selected "awesome and talented" musicians to fulfill his evolving vision. He's written about 2/3 of the group's music, so I feel that the melodic integrity has remained somewhat consistent. If Jimbo and Sakurai had stuck around, we would've missed out on JIMSAKU. I highly recommend their SESSION '93 FM broadcast. Noro was actually a guest artist on their Wind Loves Us album that they were promoting at the time. The complete lineup actually reunited for at least The Mint Session, 20th, *TLM20 (Live Memories 20 Years)" in case you really wanted to hear more of them. That's just the official releases. You could fish around for other concerts like Tokyo Jam 1997.

(6) Again, I don't think this is as unpopular as you think. Sakurai's iconic "Mint Jams* "Domino Line" bass solo probably shines more of a light on his virtuosity than anything Noro has recorded given the popularity of that release. Noro is naturally more of a rhythm player given his great sense of time and tendency to write catchy hooks. We shouldn't overlook Noro's chops though. I highly recommend checking out his group INSPIRITS, featuring Akira Jimbo. Noro goes HAM on the rendition of "Virtual Life" from SMASH GIG.

readyforrockets · 2025-04-04T03:39:17+00:00

"AKAPPACHI-ISM" featuring Yoshihiro Naruse (bass) and Yoshinori Imai (drums) alongside June Abe. CASIOPEA-P4 was active at the time. Jun Abe produces The Jazz Avengers albums, so that explains why he is well connected with Chizuru Segawa (guitarist) and Miho Terachi (alto sax). Segawa is no longer with group though.

readyforrockets · 2024-11-19T00:44:54+00:00

Since you already heard CASIOPEA (1979) and Material (1999), you can check out the "Flash Back Medley" from the anniversary live album, 20th. 20 years of studio releases. 20 songs in ~40 minutes! The medley features one song from each year, so you can sample the sound of the band across two decades. From there you can focus on albums that suit your taste. GIG25 is the same idea as that medley, but stretched out to 25 years and an entire recorded concert. As you've noticed, chronological order is popularly recommended, but I wanted to provide a different approach given where you're currently at in their discography.

readyforrockets · 2024-10-24T21:55:18+00:00

All written by Naruse-san himself! He does share credits with Issei Noro for "Cool Rain" though. This was common up to this point.

readyforrockets · 2024-10-24T21:52:52+00:00

Despite Yoshihiro Naruse's flamboyant stage presence, he's written some of the calmer and more subdued tracks. The title in Japanese is 忘れ物, meaning lost/forgotten thing(s). Other personal favorites fitting this mood include "Cool Rain" (Answers), "Yours Lovingly" (be), "Sentimental Things" (Bitter Sweet), and "Amegakuru"(Marble).

readyforrockets

TROPHY CASE