Linn Tetra and Linnko, from Linnko Kishi [limited time only]

Everyone who reads this blog, all five of you, are well aware that I don't have an appreciation for recently made music, and by recent we certainly mean everything after the late eighties.  But luckily I have friends who constantly push recent releases in the progressive genre, of which there are multitudes of CDs to choose from, and once in a while (cf. Gruppo Ramo from Brazil) these turn out to be exceptional, often because they have an inveterate classic 70s influence.

This Japanese violinist of whom I'm sure most of you have never heard made 4 albums in the last 18 years, and the first one is simply stunning in the variety of its ideas, mostly thoughtful instrumentals led by violin quasi sonata-like, or may be new-agey, but also classic fusion compositions and a couple of sung, more poppy tracks.  Good luck finding these CDs too, discogs has virtually no info, I'm guessing you'll have to use the Great Google's wonderful translate function again to locate them in Japanese ebay-type auctions.  Luckily RYM has a more complete list, here (ignore the idiot 2.5 rating by only one reviewer.)  Here there are traces of Renaissance  or Curved Air charm with the precision classical compositions and violin instrumentals, plus so much more to discover.  The Google-translated Japanese wikipedia page for this artist is not quite as good as the Yuji Ohno one I copied from before, so look out, because the robots are getting smarter:

Kishigeki [why is her name translated thusly?]

Kishhi Rinko (Kishi Rinko, April 2 - ) [Note the program 'translated' her name with two different spellings] is a Japanese violinist , singer , composer , actress. Regarding the alphabetical notation of "Riku", apart from "Rinko" in general romanization notation, "Linnko." 

Born in Suita city, Osaka Prefecture . Began playing the piano at the age of 5, starting to compose from this time. Start the violin from 8 years old. He grew up in Nara and moved to Nagoya, Tokyo and east due to his father's transfer.

Formed a band called "mother of LINN-TETRA" while studying at the National Institute of Music Academy of Music (Department of Violin). I am in charge of vocals, violin, keyboard and start live activity as a place of presentation of my songs. After graduating from university, start a career as a studio vocalist such as music provision, stage support as a violinist, CM sound logo and video book.


Google translate still has a lot of trouble with those personal pronouns, he thinks-- I mean, you think, he thinks. You mean.
The aforementioned sonata-like track, number 3, sounding a bit like Canadians L' Engoulevent with the violin so delicately playing above the piano:





Track 8, one of the most stunningly beautiful compositions here, is clearly indebted to all of the progressive music heretofore, especially with the mix of instruments.  Surprisingly an electric guitar appears later on, reminding me a bit of my other old new-agey favourite Canadians Amakudari.





Sample 3, track 10:





Again, blowing me away with the gentleness and intelligence of craftsmanship.  I mean craftswomanship.  I, google, say.

Incidentally, when you look at her discography on RYM note the ridiculous titles of her last 2 CDs, Tetra@party", and "Go Places! Linnko!"  I don't know what to make of that, as well as the cover of her third album: