Phantasia - The Jungle Witness (1976)

Описание: ©️ 𝐏𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀 - 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒
Released in 1976, The Jungle Witness (密林の証人) is Phantasia's final collaboration with Ryo Kobayashi and the closing chapter of the Jaguar's Journey trilogy that began with Rainforest.

This album brought all original members back for one last adventure, an unexpected convergence that delivered something profound, both for the band and their listeners.

The record blends two sides of the band’s evolution. On one hand, it revisits the guitar driven afro rock that defined Jaguar, now with new maturity psychedelic progressions fused with assertive jazz phrasing and a deeper integration of Ryo’s signature saxophone work. These tracks were co-produced by the trio themselves, channeling a sound that feels raw and instinctive.

On the other hand, the album returns to the smooth textures of Rainforest, delivering elegant bossa nova and dreamy afro jazz pieces. These songs offer a lighter, more spacious atmosphere, at times lounge inspired, at times quietly mystical. Listening closely, one can imagine how each musical direction mirrors the figures on the cover,the jaguar’s earthbound energy and the angel’s divine prescence.

After this release, Ryo returned to his academic role, while the trio continued shaping the next phase of Japanese jazz fusion on their own terms.

Fun Fact:
By the time The Jungle Witness was recorded, the band wasn't fully aware of the weight this album might carry in their future discography. The Phantasia universe wasn't planned from the beginning, and this record quietly anchored much of what would come later. Fans often point to this moment as the first visual and musical hint that something greater was unfolding.

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Track List:

00:00 - Jaguar's Journey（ジャガーの旅）
02:32 - River of Miracles（奇跡の川）
05:39 - Light Over the Canopy（樹冠を照らす光）
09:22 - All Eyes Wide（すべての目が見開かれる）
12:13 - Awaken of Oneness（一体性の目覚め）
15:07 - The Primal Puzzle（原初の謎）
18:38 - A Minute of Infinite Peace（無限の平和の一瞬）
22:27 - Earth and Heaven（天地）
25:34 - Flash into Themselves（内なる閃光）
27:56 - Fragments of a Dream（夢の断片）
31:30 - Predator's Return（捕食者の帰還）
35:14 - Hidden Senses（隠された感覚）
38:41 - Dreaming in Gold（黄金の夢）
41:17 - Goodbye Ryo（さようなら遼）

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Keyboards/Saxophone: Ryo Kobayashi (小林 涼)
Guitar: Takashi Yamada (山田 隆司)
Bass: Hiroshi Nakamura (中村 博)
Drums/Percussion: Shun Tanaka (田中 俊)

Produced by Zodiac Records (十二宮音録).

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This album draws inspiration from Man or Astro-man? and Walter Wanderley.

This project utilizes AI technology to enhance visuals and audio.

All tracks and images are the property of PhantasiaRecords.

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