ALTERED STATES
Genres: Jazz Related Rock, Jazz Related Improv, Composition, Eclectic Fusion • Japan

If pure musicianship is the guiding criterion, Altered States are arguably one of the greatest guitar/bass/drums trios in the history of rock, which may strike some as an overstatement but the evidence is there for anyone willing to seek out the band's Japanese label releases. The trio's music draws from a wide range of influences including progressive rock, jazz-rock, psychedelia, metal, noise rock, electronica, funk, ambient, and even country music. It should also be stated that Altered States are often purely an improvisational group, although they are also known for tightly arranged music on albums such as 1995's landmark Mosaic (featuring many guest artists) and and 1997's 6, as well as scored interludes within extended pieces (e.g, the third untitled track on 1996's 4) that take the listener by surprise; King Crimson from the Starless and Bible Black era catapulted 20 years into the future and with two decades of read more...