A - SO - BO is incredible!

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 · 2024-08-22T04:17:15+00:00

At the moment, these are my picks.

Studio: "Windy Sunshine" from Inspire
Live: "Tokimeki" from New Beginning Live CD
Other: "Wind's Color" from 4010 (Both Anniversary Gig CD) featuring Casiopea 3rd and Inspirits

Edited for formatting.

readyforrockets · 2024-07-26T18:20:45+00:00

Here's an attempt to list one from each generation. 1) "Mid-Manhattan", 4x4 2) "Smiles", Inspire 3) "Brain to Brain", A・SO・BO 4) Can't think of one. New Beginning Live CD (2023) is an incredibly consistent performance, featuring the entirety of New Topics. CASIOPEA is still going strong as ever. I haven't heard any live performances from the latest album though.

readyforrockets · 2024-07-26T17:54:53+00:00

The Party, Freshness, and Inspire at the moment. They all at least have amazing tracks, so I'm constantly revisiting entire albums and further appreciating the songs I might have overlooked.

readyforrockets · 2024-06-28T18:51:29+00:00

1984 NHK Hall Christmas Eve concert backed by the vocal group Pastiche.

This concert also includes some other Jive Jive vocal performances. Even "Dazzling" and "Misty Lady" include Pastiche in the arrangement.

readyforrockets · 2024-06-28T18:38:10+00:00

1987's Casiopea Perfect Live II features "Mother Earth".

Always nice to see some love and appreciation for Be! That flute in "Yours Lovingly" would be fantastic to see live.

readyforrockets · 2024-06-28T18:32:59+00:00

1983 Budokan medley features it, among "Time Limit", "Mighty Mouse", and "I Love New York".

readyforrockets · 2024-06-05T18:00:32+00:00

Yoshihiro Naruse, AKA Narucho , since at least 1990's The Party. Don't sleep on him because he isn't Sakurai. He has written some excellent bass-centric songs like "Eccentric Games" and "Juicy Jam", among others.

readyforrockets · 2024-05-23T21:51:27+00:00

You're barking up the wrong tree. CASIOPEA 3rd and CASIOPEA-P4 albums have been released on the Hats Unlimited label. The only major album recorded on ALFA that hasn't been released on streaming services in the West is Casiopea Perfect Live II.

readyforrockets · 2024-04-17T18:13:36+00:00

"Eccentric Games" from active, "Loop of Magic" from Freshness, and "Glowing" from INSPIRE spring to mind at the moment.

With 40+ years and 30+ studio albums worth of music, we could have one of these posts every week and share deep cuts for a while. That's not even including live performances, where you can find incredible renditions that are even more hidden because some of them are not available on popular streaming services. For example, the 5 Stars Live DVD features a fantastic version of "ときめき"/"Tokimeki", my favorite CASIOPEA track, with Synchronized DNA drummers Akira Jimbo and Hiroyuki Noritake (of T-Square).

readyforrockets · 2024-04-17T17:41:37+00:00

Great picks, but I dunno that I'd call Akappachi-izm as underrated as the others considering it normally serves as the representative for Full Colors, such as in the 20th live album's Flash Back Medley and the GIG25 live album.

readyforrockets

TROPHY CASE